The drive from Roanoke to Reston was particularly beautiful last month. Not only was the Shenandoah Valley spectacular, as always, but the traffic on 81 was, thankfully, lighter than usual. As I trekked northward, I thought back over my Centurions experience.

I was part of the first Centurion class in 2004. I smiled to myself as I remembered my first weekend residency in the spring of 2004. We stayed in this large, maze-like training complex in Northern Virginia. It was part hotel and part conference center. Our class quickly bonded as we shared the experience of continually getting lost like mice in a maze. The conversations around the tables were rich and energizing. I remember meeting Regis, Diane, Maurice, Donald, Joe and many other kindred spirits It was obvious that these people were serious about living out their faith and teaching others how to think Christianly and apply Biblical truth to all of life.

The year long Centurions training is rigorous and involves distance learning and networking. The reading assignments are challenging. Several weekend residencies are included. Those who complete the requirements are commissioned as Centurions and sent out. The network of Centurions grows each year. Centurions stay connected and join regional cohorts after becoming commissioned. The cohort is a geographically based network that enables Centurions to serve one another through encouragement, prayer and resource and idea sharing.