At Fusion’s inception, it was deemed of value to incorporate rites of passage into the Fusion experience. When Scott Brawner began crafting what would become the Fusion program, he was convinced that Fusion should be more than a program; it should be a process. That concept led to the development of a directed process empowering young believers to step from adolescence into Biblical Adulthood. As a result, the Fusion process is filled with rites of passage both large and small that help the adolescent begin his or her transformation into a Christ like adult. That is, a mature born again believer capable of taking personal responsibility for their faith (belief ownership) and possessing the ability to walk with Jesus for a lifetime.
Fusion’s rites of passage are a central key for instilling in Fusion Graduates the idea of a
transcendent cause; being part of something bigger than themselves (in this Case, their personal commitment to fulfilling The Great Commission and the lifetime endeavor to become more like Jesus Christ). These unique rites of passage have proven to be of great significance in the lives of Fusion participants.
What is a Rite of Passage?
A rite of passage is a process where a child comes into adulthood. Specifically, at the end of the rite of passage process, he or she has conferred on them all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of a responsible adult. In Fusion, rites of passage are used to instill discipline, give direction, and confer responsibility for service and leadership.
Rationale
Fusion utilizes rites of passage to mark milestones in the Fusion process. Given the lack of discipleship and a culture that bases reality on an individual’s feelings, the following adolescent responses generally apply:
• The longer a person maintains their relationship with Christ at merely the emotional level, the more we see adolescents hoping from event to event for their “spiritual high.”
• Conversely, the longer a person maintains their relationship with Christ at merely the emotional level, the harder it is to see transformation within the individual’s life and greater the possibility that the person leaves the church after high school graduation (no more high charged emotional community or events.)
The Fusion process is designed to provide a transition for adolescents into adulthood using rites of passage that incorporate:
• Individual and corporate discipline
• Spiritual/physical accountability
• Opportunities for pushing the physical, spiritual, emotional limits of the individual.
• Providing the individual a “safe” place to fail and be restored.
• Special intimate rite of passage ceremonies throughout the program.
Significant tasks involving:
• Domestic and international experiences in evangelism, church planting, and ministry service.
• The possibility of personal and corporate failure through the process of service.
NOTE! The Fusion process is incomplete if the individual does not return and serve the Lord through the local church or ministry.
Fusion’s Rites of Passage
Because the word “student” implies adolescent, Fusion utilizes the word
Candidate to describe a young person entering the Fusion program. The word candidate is applicable because a candidate is the prospective recipient of an award, honor, or a person seeking or being considered for some kind of position. This is exactly what is happening throughout the Fusion process.
Currently Fusion utilizes the following rites of passage in the program:
The Journey
The Journey refers to the four step rite of passage experience in Fusion. Fusion has created The Journey as a rite of passage experience that utilizes four levels of status that indicate where a person is located in the Fusion process.
The Journey is loosely based on the Camillan System, created by Marcus Cammillus in the 4th Century BC. Under the Camillan system, men were sorted into classes based on wealth. However, Fusion sorts its participants based not on wealth, but on status. In Fusion there are four separate conditions of status.
NOTE: It is good to remember that the word “status” does not imply levels of ritual hierarchy. Rather the levels of status in Fusion imply deeper commitment to personal faith, honor, loyalty, courage, and sacrifice. These are the concepts based on Jesus’ teachings that the first shall be last and the last will be first and those who would come after Christ will take up their cross daily and follow Him.
In the Journey there are four separate conditions of status:
Plebe: The plebe is the first stage and lasts only 12 days during Ground School. This is the status granted to everyone entering the Fusion program on the first morning. This status of Plebe is finished on the second Friday evening following the Exodus and the Cross Ceremony.
While there is no formal ceremony for receiving the status of Plebe, this term is utilized throughout Ground School.
Hastati: The Hastati were the youngest of the Roman Legion and were not as equipped or experienced as the rest of their fellow soldiers. Similarly, though the candidates have completed Ground School, their training and discipleship has just begun.
At the end of Ground School (usually around 8:00 PM), students make the decision whether to leave or remain in the program. This step of faith initiates the first Rite of Passage in Fusion known as the
Order of the Cross. This is the time, after two weeks of brutal testing, that students truly begin to place their trust in God and their leaders as they begin the first phase of the rest of their lives.
The Cross Ceremony begins with a foot washing by fire light initiated by the cadre, namely the Advocates. Based on Jesus’ actions at the Last Supper, Cadre signify the Plebe’s change in status by washing their feet and telling them before I spoke to you as a slave, now I call you my friend.
After the foot washing, the fire is stoked and the metal crosses are presented and the status of Hastati is conferred.
Following the Cross Ceremony, students are taken out to eat (hopefully at a buffet) and given the rest of the weekend off.
The cross that has been awarded is to be carried by the Hastati throughout the program, whether in uniform or not. The idea is to “carry the cross” as a reminder of the Hastati’s personal commitment to Jesus Christ.
Principes: History records that the Principess were the second line of Roman military formations. While more experienced than the Hastati, the Principess had yet to truly endure and prove their leadership skills in battle. Similarly, after receiving the title of Principess, the candidates are immediately sent to the ends of the earth to proclaim the Gospel to people who had never heard the name of Jesus. Following the first semester and prior to international deployment, the Hastati experience the second rite of passage ceremony in
The Journey; The Shield Ceremony.
The Shield Ceremony has traditionally been held in January and is when each member of the Hastati receives a Medieval shield representing the Shield of Faith
. The Shield Ceremony is similar to a mediaeval knighting service.
Throughout the spring, the Candidate holds the position of Principes while serving internationally.
Triarii: The order of Triarii is the final stage of
The Journey. The Triarii were the oldest and most experienced men in the Roman army. They served as the supervisors and overseers of the first two lines of men and formed the third battle line in the formation. Upon returning from international service, Candidates are debriefed and prepare for the final rite of passage ceremony: the Sword Ceremony or Crucible.
The Sword Ceremony is the final rite of passage ceremony and capstone of the Fusion experience. It also serves as Fusion graduation. During this ceremony, the candidate receives a full size medieval sword that compliments the cross and shield. Moreover the candidate is conferred all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of an adult follower of Jesus Christ. Fusion Grads are no longer referred to as “Candidates” and are considered Biblical “adults” capable of catalytic spiritual leadership and reproduction in the local church.