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 Ministry Award
- Christian Leaders Connection (3 credits)
- Christian Basics (3 credits)
- Ministry 101 (3 credits)
- Complete the Deacon Minister Ordination Class (1 credit)
- Get three recommendations from your local community, possibly including a Christian Leaders Alliance ordained mentor.
- Receive your official ordination documents from Christian Leaders Alliance, sent through the Christian Leaders Institute offices.
- Be ordained by the laying on of hands.
- Be included in the Christian Leaders Alliance ordination directory.
- Complete the additional 15 credits of ministry training
- 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)
- 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
Ordained Small Group Minister Training Requirements Review:
- Christian Leaders Connection (3 credits)
- Ministry 101 (3 Credits)
- Christian Basics (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: 26
Ordination Calling Walk
Ordination Calling Walk
My name is Charity Sanchez, and the following is my ordination calling walk story. Currently, I live in Plainwell, MI. Obtaining my Deacon ordination with Christian Leaders Alliance will assist in my ministry. It opens doors that otherwise remain closed without a proper ordination. As a deacon called to ministry in the local church, I have conversations with people not connected to a church or seminary setting.
It is interesting to see how people who profess a faith, describe what it means to be a good person. When asked, their answer is usually somewhat related to, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” They rarely mention being so generous as to give up their comfort to tend to the needs of another.
Ordination Calling Walk and Journey
For me, one of the transformational aspects of the Christian faith is the call to social justice, to holiness, to the mandate to transform the world in the name of Jesus Christ. Deacons have a specialized ministry. We have a specific area in which we connect the people of God, the church, and the world with compassion and justice. This task is a challenge and an opportunity at the same time.
I felt called to be involved in Celebrate Recovery and have been the last several years. I recently trained the leaders at my church. We launched our chapter in January 2019, and I am the ministry leader. The free classes online at the Christian Leaders Institute has enabled me to concentrate on my calling versus working extra hours or a second job to cover the cost of tuition. I can work it into my schedule and do it at my own pace without feeling overwhelmed.
Prayer Requests
In conclusion, I ask that you pray for me to continue to encounter, connect, and transform those around me for the glory of God and His kingdom. Please also pray that the finances are there for all He calla me to do and that revival comes to His people.
Julian’s Ordination Story
Julian’s Ordination Story
Hi! My name is Julian, and the following is Julian’s ordination story. I’m married to my wife of almost eight years and have three young children in Harrisburg, PA. I’m an entrepreneur with marketing experience and have been helping companies market online for nearly nine years. Previously, I worked in the tech industry as a consultant and young leader in the insurance industry. I grew up overseas moving to many different countries in Africa, Australia, and Asia when I was a child.
Sharing the Gospel, talking about the Bible, helping companies succeed with marketing, writing music, and seeing Jesus completely change people’s lives are all activities I love. I became a follower of Jesus Christ as a teenager. I called out to Jesus for help, and I found Him and the help I needed instantly. During the next two years, God revealed himself to me in powerful ways. I initially decided to pursue ministry full-time but ran into a few roadblocks in life.
Calling to Minister
Now, many years later, I’m feeling the calling to minister again. The bi-vocational approach appeals to me and seems to be God’s calling on my life right now. I’ve traveled with full-time missionaries and ministers in my life and seen God’s work first hand. I have also seen God’s work in my hometown in my life and other’s lives through our discipleship program at church. However, recently, I hunger for more training. Christian Leaders Institute provides a way to learn, grow, and prepare for what God has ahead while still managing my responsibilities at home.
Currently, I have a ministry in Uganda that teaches English, tailoring, and discipleship. We also helped build a Christian K-12 school for children and orphans with no access to school otherwise. Please pray that our ministry goes to the next level with permanent funding. Pray also that we can get internet installed so that we can get the students started at CLI. We would love to have CLI as part of the high school curriculum! We are only $12,000 away from meeting our budget to complete the school.
Julian’s Ordination Story: Training at CLI
The Lord has put the CLI ordination on my heart. It has been a joy to go through the training. It has helped to deepen my understanding and walk with God. But most of all, I have enjoyed learning the history and surrounding stories to the gospel during the classes. It has added a richness to my knowledge.
This deacon ordination with Christian Leaders Alliance is my way of stepping it up in my responsibility with God. His calling on me as a worker prompted me to want to learn more, deepen my foundation, and have an official ordination license that I can present if asked. The local process was a bonus. It created the opportunity to get support from my peers and get feedback. That has led to rich insights from friends and family and opportunities for growth.
Thank you, CLI, for the vision, love, and effort you put into creating this ministry for the Lord and being part of Julian’s ordination story.
Ordained Mission Worker
Ordained Mission Worker Journey
My name is Amber-Leah Timmons, and I am becoming an ordained mission worker for my Lord. I founded a Christian counseling and coaching service as well as The Katie Schmidt Foundation. I am blessed to be a student at Christian Leaders Institute since 2018. Jason Andrew Seyler and I are engaged. We have one beautiful daughter who is from my previous relationship. We live in Canada.
Early Life and Conversion
I am the only child of my mother and father. However, I am the second oldest of six children who are half and step-siblings. My parents did not model Christ-like behavior and are not Christians. However, I gave my life to Jesus at a young age. As I became an adult, I was tempted by worldly sin. Soon, I realized that I needed to change because I am a Christian.
Calling to Ministry and Ministry Journey
I ministered to peers as a teenager and found that I had a knack for sharing Christ with others. This fact made me very curious about possibly doing mission work. This year I applied to do local mission work with SIM Canada. Last year, I ministered to children in Pakistan over Facebook messenger video through a live feed. It was a most rewarding experience.
My calling to ministry began after my second baptism in the fall of 2017. I felt an urge to serve the Lord, so I attended a local Bible study where I was invited to preach and lead worship and prayer. Then, in January 2019 I moved from Kitchener, Ontario, to Stratford, Ontario. My local church has agreed to help mentor me and see me through during my studies. Also, they are considering me for their Sunday school as one of their teachers in the fall.
Ordained Mission Worker
As I said earlier, I have been studying at CLI since 2018. The courses strengthened and renewed my Bible connection and my walk with God. I feel a revival happening in my life and I feel an insatiable urge to evangelize. They give me the knowledge I need to go forward to reach my dreams and goals for ministry as an ordained mission worker.
The Deacon Minister Ordination course at CLI has been beneficial for me and my ministry. I have applied to be ordained with the Christian Leaders Alliance. This deacon minister ordination will assist my ministry by giving me the credentials and education I need to succeed. I am currently volunteering at my church in pastoral care alongside my Pastor. This ministry has been formative to my ministry future by allowing me to study, whereas I could not afford to study elsewhere. Please pray that I will be humble and able to help others.