Christian Leadership Training Program
Certificate in Christian Leadership (CCL)
Peer learning groups, or clusters, are composed of up to eight students and one group facilitator in a mix of cultures. Applicants need to be recommended by the leadership of their church community or organization. Cluster members pursue a series of nine courses over three years and then an integrative project in year four. Each participant also meets regularly with a mentoring leader of their own community of faith.
Courses include materials adapted from Timothy Leadership Training, Communities First Association, etc. After successful completion of the nine courses and the final mentored experience, the Capstone Project, the student will be awarded a Certificate in Christian Leadership. The Capstone project is an active learning experience, requiring significant effort in the planning and implementation, demonstrating essential knowledge and skills learned and integrated, as well as preparation of a final written and oral report.
This certificate does not claim any recognized vocational preparation. Individual or groups of churches and organizations may choose to accept this training as fulfilling their requirements.Curriculum
Year One
Caring for God’s People (14 lessons)
Christian Stewardship (11 lessons)
Biblical Preaching(14 lessons)
Year Two
Teaching the Christian Faith(12 lessons)
Serving God in Work and Worship (13 lessons)
Biblical Family Relationships (7 lessons)
Year Three
God’s Plan for Sustainable Development ( 10 lessons)
Old Testament Survey (15 lessons)
New Testament Survey (15 lessons)
Year Four
Course Descriptions
Caring for God’s People (pastoral care)
“Visitation is the foundation of effective ministry,” someone said. God repeatedly initiated visits to His creation and His people, most especially in the person of Jesus, in order to accomplish His plan of redemption. We leaders hear His call to join Him in this ministry of caring. In this course you will learn to visit and listen, to offer comfort and guidance, including inviting reconciliation and being present in crises.
Christian Stewardship
“About 500 verses in the Bible talk about prayer. About 500 verses talk about faith. Over 2000 verses talk about our material possessions.” Do you think God wants us to be generous stewards (managers) in caring for His creation? In this course you will learn to care and share in the use of God’s good gifts (time, talent, terrain, treasure and much more), to plan and report, including budgeting and being accountable.
Biblical Preaching
Preaching is like sowing seed. Though we do not see the results immediately, when preaching focuses on God’s Word it will not return empty. Learn how to choose and preach a biblical text, how to identify and proclaim the good news of the text, how to organize and illustrate an effective sermon, and how to preach for results.
Teaching the Christian Faith
As in biblical preaching, communicating God’s Word through effective teaching produces learners who are transformed in knowledge, attitudes, and actions. This course will teach you to design lesson plans that teach for these results, using age appropriate activities to communicate the message of the biblical text.