1T4-8 is a father-and-son ministry of the Christian Valor Society. It teacher physical and spiritual reality-based self defense. The program seeks to foster courage, manners, etiquette, and gentlemanliness in all spheres of life in those who join it and to impress upon its members their spiritual, moral, and physical responsibilities to their family, Church, community, and country. In a day and age when the societal ethos stands against responsibility and courage to do what is right, CVS endeavors to foster men who will stand as a lamp for Christ in a dark world, its motto standing against the mistaken and deceived notion of the age — virtuti nulla ignavia — Cowardice is not a virtue.
“Boys are treated like defective girls.” This sentiment by Michael Thompson in the February 6, 2007 issue of Newsweek highlights a major problem in our society today — the feminization of society and the masculine gender. As author John Eldridge has noted, the Church has not escaped this feminization. God created mankind male and female. He designed the differences. Boys should not be treated like girls, but increasingly they are. What the Church and society need are men — men who are physically, emotionally, and spiritual tough and courageous, as well as tender-hearted, kind, and submissive to God and all lawful authority that flows from Him.
1T4-8 takes its name from 1 Timothy 4:8 “Physical training has some profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise for the life that is now, and the one that is to come.” To accomplish our goals we utilize the biblical themes of physical exertion and struggle as a tangible metaphor for the pursuit of spiritual discipline and training in righteousness. The program is physically and spiritually rigorous. It requires the individual pursuit of, and demonstration of progress in, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual fitness. Adherence to the attendance policy and evidence of progress is required to continue in the program. Graduation is not assured, it must be earned.
1T4-8 is not a "drop-off" program. It is open to fathers and sons (age 5 and over) who together attend, study, sweat, and grow in such areas as just and righteous self defense, Christian valor, bodily exercise, respect, prayer & fasting, the way of the Christian Warrior, godly guidance in relating to women, and our cultural heritage.
1T4-8 Instructors:
Chip Hammond is the founder and Chief Instructor of 1T4-8. He is an ordained minister and the pastor of Bethel Presbyterian Church. He holds a Kukkiwon certified Black Belt and is an ETS certified Self-defense instructor.
Paul Goze is an ordained deacon at Bethel Presbyterian Church. He is a former MP with extensive
self-defense training. He holds the rank of Black Belt Instructor in 1T4-8 and has instructed in the program since 2004.
Dan LaPre is an ordained elder at Bethel Presbyterian Church, and is an avid athlete (cyclist). He holds the rank of Black Belt Instructor in 1T4-8 and has instructed in the program since 2004.
Andrew Voell has studied in the 1T4-8 program since 2006, and was appointed to the rank of Tan Belt Instructor in 2008.
Ed Raley has studied in the 1T4-8 program since 2006, and was appointed to the rank of Tan Belt Instructor in 2009.
Deadline for registration and payment for the 2010 season was June 1. The 2010 program begins Thursday night, June 17, 7:00 PM, at Bethel Presbyterian Church, 19856 Evergreen Mill Road Leesburg, VA 20175, and will meet weekly on Thursday nights though August 26. Other nights for testing will be scheduled once the program is under way. The closing program will be on Friday, August 27.