In the earliest centuries of the Church, new believers who desired to follow Jesus and serve His Kingdom entered a sacred season of formation known as the catechumenate. Those who joined this pathācalled catechumensāstudied Scripture, practiced prayer, and received mentoring from mature believers.
This process was more than study; it was a time of discernment, transformation, and preparation for baptism and leadership within the Christian community.
Today, the Christian Leaders Alliance (CLA) has revived that same spirit of formation for modern ministry. Becoming a Catechumen at CLA marks the beginning of a lifelong journey of growth, learning, and multiplication as a Christian leader.
To become a Catechumen with the Christian Leaders Alliance is to begin a journey of ministry formation and spiritual growth. Itās the first step toward ordination and a life of purposeful service.
Every Catechumen completes the Multiplying Christian Leaders Course at the Christian Leaders Institute (CLI). This course introduces students to the Christian Leaders ecosystem, which includes:
After completing this first course, you will be:
This step isnāt just academicāitās a declaration of faith that youāre ready to grow, serve, and be shaped by Godās call on your life.
In a culture filled with āinstant ordinationā programs, the Christian Leaders Alliance takes a distinctly biblical approach to ministry preparation.
The CLA ordination pathway emphasizes real study, authentic formation, and community accountabilityāmirroring the wisdom of the early Church.
As a Catechumen, you will:
This process embodies the early Churchās conviction that calling must be cultivated, not claimed.
Becoming a Catechumen is just the beginning of a lifelong journey. Many officiants, ordained ministers, chaplains, and ministry coaches within the Christian Leaders Alliance began with this simple step of obedience.
Even after ordination, every leader remains a Catechumen at heartācontinually learning, serving, and growing under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
From this foundation, you can continue into specialized ordination tracks such as:
Each track builds upon your Catechumen foundation, forming leaders who serve with both knowledge and humility.
The Catechumen step ensures that ministry leadership remains:
This model connects ancient Church formation with modern accessibility, ensuring that ministry preparation remains free, trustworthy, and globally available through the generosity of students and supporters.
If you sense Godās call to ministry, your first step begins here.
Your story of ministry formation begins today. Take your first step as a Catechumenāand begin a lifelong journey of learning, leading, and multiplying Christian leaders.
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