Small Groups or Bible Studies are a staple of a local church. Local volunteers often fill these leadership roles at the local church. Christian Leaders Institute has designed a program of study that brings free ministry training to Christian Leaders. This program includes 26 credits of ministry training.
Steps to be ordained as a Small Group Minister
- Enroll at Christian Leaders Institute and complete the Getting Started Class: Scholar Orientation
- Complete the Deacon Minister Ordination program (10 credits)
- Take additional Ministry Training (20 Credits)
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- Ministry 101 (3 Credits)
- Old Testament Survey (3 Credits)
- New Testament Survey (3 Credits)
- People Smart for Ministry (3 credits)
- Church and Ministry (3 credits)
- Developing House Churches (3 Credits)
- Deacon Minister Ordination (1 Credit)
- Ordained Small Group Minister Class (1 Credit)
Total Credits: 20 Additional Credits
- Take the Ordained Small Group Minister Class (1 credit) and order your updated ordination credentials. – Ordained Small Group Minister (1 Credit)
This one-credit hour class is for those leading small groups or Bible Studies. The dynamics of this course are centered around leading small groups at local churches. Your studies will focus on three areas. The first is Biblical content. The second is relationships and group dynamics. The third is communication.
As an Ordained Small Group Minister, your training will be for the following roles:
Small-Group Minister
House Church Minister
Bible Study Leader
Sunday School Teacher
Cell Group Leader
Online Ordination Study and Recognition
Pursuing God’s Purpose for My Life
Greetings! My name is Gabe Brown. I am pursuing God’s purpose for my life. It includes online ordination study and recognition at CLI and with CLA. I am thankful to complete the Deacon Minister Ordination course at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online free Bible courses, Click Here). It is also a blessing to get ordained with the Christian Leaders Alliance.
I have a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. For the past eleven years, I have been working as a tax accountant. During that time, I participated with the worship team at church and helped out as a volunteer where needed. Currently, I am playing the drums at Faith Christian Church in West Monroe. My wife, Carolyn, is the Worship Pastor there. It is a great blessing to be a part of the worship team. I help her with her ministry as we lead our congregation into a beautiful time of praise and worship each Sunday morning.
Online Ordination Study and Recognition
Therefore, I am excited to be a student here at the Christian Leaders Institue. I am very grateful to have found such a wonderful place to learn and grow as I continue to answer the calling on my life. Ultimately, I’m pursuing the Commissioned Minister Ordination. With this online ordination study and recognition, I will be well equipped for whatever doors God may open for me so that I may help further His Kingdom.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the Christian Leaders College.
Answering God’s Calling
Answering God’s Calling Is Sometimes Delayed, Yet Worth the Wait
My name is Dan Fisher, Sr. My wife is Ana Daresa Fisher. With two grown children, I now enjoy helping raise my two wonderful stepsons. I am also answering God’s calling to ministry. Studying at Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online free Bible courses Here) and Christian Leaders College is part of that journey. Getting licensed as a wedding officiant with the Christian Leaders Alliance is also a part of it.
Early Life and Conversion
I have two sisters, and my father called me the “caboose” since I was the last born in 1957. Both of my parents enjoyed showing us the value of attending church each Sunday. Through my sixth grade years, we attended Baptist Churches, then moved on to a Christian Missionary and Alliance church through my high school years.
Back in the fifth grade, something came over me as I sat one Sunday morning listening to the Baptist minister tell about the love of God through Jesus Christ. Suddenly, I knew the truth: I am a sinner. That hurt, because I knew it was true. The call to come forward and accept Christ into my heart scared me. My heart was pounding, and I just couldn’t get up and walk forward. However, one week later as I sat in that same pew, my pastor gave the offer once again. Those previous seven days had tugged at me. Now was the time. So, I stood up, walked forward, prayed, and asked Jesus into my heart.
Following high school I joined the U.S. Navy for five years, then returned to my hometown and bounced from job to job, finally entering a job I was able to retire from.
Calling to Ministry
Many years ago after I returned home from the Navy, I received the calling to go into the ministry. With work restraints, raising my two wonderful children, etc., that calling and my desire to serve our Lord as a minister was delayed. I am now answering God’s calling.
Throughout the years I have acquired many, many biblical references and study materials.
Ministry Training
While I had some college education in the 1980s, completed numerous courses through the Church of the Nazarene and other Bible courses through the mail, I never received a formal degree, which has been my desire. Through Christian Leaders College, I received my Bachelor of Divinity Degree. Praise God!
Ministry Journey
In the past, I taught both Children’s and Adult Sunday School, enjoyed the time as a Youth Leader, and filled in for my pastor. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I wish nothing more than to be submissive to God’s plan in my life. I have weighed this decision carefully. I know it will be a long haul for me. But do you know what? I’m not alone! There are also many people out there who have and are now putting forth enormous effort to become trained to serve our Lord.
So what’s the reward? If only one person accepts Jesus into their heart through these efforts, it’s worth it! Now that I retired, I continue to prepare myself for the journey God has for me. It includes being qualified to perform marriage ceremonies as a Licensed Christian Wedding Officiant. It does not stop there. I plan to continue to take advantage of courses through CLI and CLC to strengthen my knowledge and ability to serve others.
Personal Life
My wife Ana Daresa and I served in our Baptist church where we live now. Our two young boys have enjoyed the youth group there as well. When I marrIed Ana Daresa on November 15, 2018, God gave me another opportunity to raise a family again. At 64, it’s hard to imagine this blessing…God is so awesome!
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the Christian Leaders College.
Wedding Officiant Training and Credentialing
The Bible tells us that marriage is not defined or ordained by humankind. Further, it is a union joined by God (Matt 19:6). Therefore, the officiant performing the wedding must do two things. First, they make the day unique for the bride and groom. Then, they also share biblical, foundational truths regarding the lifelong journey the couple is beginning. That truth is taught in the wedding officiant training at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online free Bible courses, Click Here) and the credentialing branch, Christian Leaders Alliance.
The officiant can not take their responsibilities lightly. Yes, the role is to focus on the couple, connecting their story to the day. Outwardly, it may appear that it’s about the flow of the ceremony, the rituals, vows, rings, etc. However, it’s really about bringing together a union that God designed long ago. To effectively do so, the officiant must be clear on this responsibility as a representative of the Lord.
Couples want the day to be special and often ask those close to them to officiate the ceremony. However, the government, which validates the marriage through its laws, has a say on who can perform and certify the process. That person must be a recognized member of the clergy. The solution for many is to get pastoral credentials through an ordination mill. That process may meet the requirements of the government, but more is needed.
Fulfilling the Wedding Officiant Ask
Wanting to fulfill the request of close friends to marry them had me searching. I searched how to accomplish that with a sense of the seriousness of the ask and legitimacy to do so. As a Christian, becoming ordained by completing an application and paying a fee did not sit well. On top of that, many of the ordination mill “churches” did not have a statement of faith that matched mine.
I came across the Christian Leaders Institute, whose mission was to provide Christian education and wedding officiant training and credentialing to officiate weddings. I enrolled and found the courses are relevant and engaging. The content is consistent with Christian teachings. Completing the training will help me better fulfill my responsibility of overseeing a God-based union between this young couple while doing so with legitimacy.
In discovering the Christian Leaders Institute, I have realized the extent of the educational courses offered by the institute. Therefore, I look forward to future classes.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the Christian Leaders College.