Centurions Program Prepares Believers for Battle
by Nikki Studebaker Barcus, Special to Home Times
Centurions. Battle-hardened, spear-wielding, stone-faced members of the Roman army. Professional officers employed by Caesar, centurions were generally responsible for the training and discipline of the 83 men under them--not the 100 that common belief holds. These warriors might attain their elevated rank through election, appointment, or promotion. The qualifications for a centurion were men 30 years-old or older, who were literate, had previous military experience, and had the right connections. They were chosen for their stature, strength, and skill in using the weapons at their disposal.
A new group of Centurions is quietly infiltrating every facet of America today. They don’t carry spears of wear helmets with tall red plumes. You won’t recognize them by their shields or see them marching in rank. They wear tennis shoes and baseball caps. They don business suits and carry briefcases. In fact, this new generation of Centurions are homemakers and law makers; ex-prisoners and law enforcement officers; parents and college presidents; and others from the realms of the political, Christian, and secular cultures. What makes these new Centurions stand out is the way they see the world. And Chuck Colson is leading the charge.
Since it’s inception in 2004, the Prison Fellowship/Breakpoint Ministries Centurions Program has trained and equipped over 640 people to view the culture with a biblical worldview and to teach others to do the same. Facets of the program include an in-depth understanding of orthodox Christianity and tools for presenting spiritual truths to friends, family, co-workers, and even strangers in a non-threatening and an engaging manner. The tagline, “Turn Your World Right Side Up”, encapsulates the programs’ main goal which is to help believers engage their current spheres of influence and then explore ways in which they can expand their influence from there. It is the manifestation of Jesus’ challenge in Acts 1 when he told the disciples, “and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Likewise, the Centurions Program seeks to give commissioned members a network of partners who are united in their quest to impact the world with the power of faith.
Two Florida graduates of the program, Jeanne Dennis of Jacksonville and Patricia Webb of St. Augustine, have done just that. Dennis (www.jeannedennis.com) uses her ministry of speaking, writing, and encouraging families to experience the joy of true faith through intimacy with God, “conveying truth through word and song”. She helps believers apply biblical truth to their lives and aids them in passing this “heritage of truth” on to others.
As a result of her training with the Centurions Program, Patricia Webb wrote and taught the course “Politics and the Christian Faith” prior to the November 2008 elections. Together, the women have partnered to expand their influence, using Heritage of Truth (www.heritageoftruth.com), an on-line television program and blog which include interviews, resources, and information for people with a desire to grow in their faith and learn how to pass this faith on to future generations.
Dr. Gary L. Johnson, Executive Director of Missions for the Miami Baptist Association is also a commissioned member of the Centurions Program. He committed to the challenging course to “push himself” and “to grow personally” in his spiritual life. As a requirement for the program, each participant must develop and execute a program that helps others to understand and engage the culture with a biblical worldview. Johnson’s project entailed a 10-session course geared toward young adults. Since his initial teaching of the course, Johnson has had the opportunity to present the material several more times, in a variety of settings in his work as an overseer to more than 330 churches. He says of the program, “It didn’t change my worldview. I had biblical worldview before, but hopefully now it’s a little deeper and maybe a little wider.” His training impacted most areas of his daily life. “It helped me to process more of our society—movies and the media—to sift through things with a biblical worldview.” This processing has its downside. Johnson jokes, “I can’t watch a movie now without trying to figure out what the producer is trying to say. I wonder about what’s really the point of the movie. It’s ruined my movie-watching.”
Sue Thielke (frameworkproductions@gmail.com) from Vero Beach is a two-time graduate of the program. She completed the Centurions Program in January 2009 and finished with the second commissioned class of Centurions II last year. A retired executive from Pan American Airlines, Thielke combined her business savvy with her Centurions training to develop Framework Productions, “a production company that equips other ministries”. Using a team of talented artists, Framework Productions employs music, art, and video production to aid other ministries in reaching their audience in an engaging and innovative way. Choosing to use cyberspace as the platform, Thielke describes it as “ministry through the back door”. Framework Productions develops top-notch projects for ministries that “exemplify a Christ-centered lifestyle and worldview”. But instead of stopping there, the 501(c) 3 company makes the same productions available to other similar-focused ministries. The production can then be personalized to the individual ministry, giving them a professional-quality product without starting from scratch each time.
For those interested in the Centurions Program, the commitment of both time and money is substantial. The program includes required monthly reading/movie critique assignments, teleconferences/forums with Christian cultural leaders, monthly meetings with accountability and prayer partners, and two weekend-long residency trips to northern Virginia to learn directly from Chuck Colson and other leaders. The financial obligation is $999.00 plus materials, in addition to travel expenses relating to the weekend training sessions. When asked whether the time and financial obligation were worth it, Sue Thielke said, “The Centurions Program is a big time commitment and it does cost a bit, but wow…it has changed my life and many others.” Details of the program requirements and applications for consideration are available on the website (www.CenturionsProgram.org).
The differences between the Roman centurions of old and these modern-day Centurions are many. But there are a few similarities. Roman centurions were required to be vigilant, temperate, active, and ready. They led their comrades from the front, by example, and were the first soldiers over the enemy’s walls or through the breach. This new group of Centurions would make their Roman counterparts proud as they train others and lead them into battle for the minds and faith of the next generation.
