Catalog

Core classes:

Getting Started in Ministry Training: An Introduction to Christian Leaders Institute: A Reproducible Walk: Professors: The Christian Leaders Institute Team | (Core) 3 credits (No Outside Books required) New classes starting each month: Must complete in four months.

The course gets you started. This ministry training course is the core orientation to the home discipleship and evangelism thinking and practice of Christian Leaders Institute. This Course secures your scholarship. You will study how to get a reproducible walk with God!

Church History (core) Dr. David Feddes | 3 credits
The church is almost 2000 years old. A significant ministry training emphasis is church history. This course looks at major events and key persons in the history of the Christian church. Such study helps us to see God's faithfulness in the past and to better understand the church's present challenges and opportunities.

Pastoral Care and Marriage (core) Rev. Henry Reyenga Jr. | 4 credits (No Outside Books required)
This ministry training course is essential for being an effective pastor. This course will cover listening skills, important relationship boundaries, conflict resolution, marriage issues including preparing couples for marriage. This important ministry training course can be taken with your spouse if you have one.

Systematic Theology I (core) Dr. David Feddes | 4 credits
Important for ministry training is good doctrine. This course considers core biblical doctrines about God, humanity, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and salvation. (Can be taken either before or after Systematic Theology II.)

Preaching Methods(Core)  Steve Elzinga  | 3 credits (No Outside Books Required)
This class aims to help you “fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Tim 1:6) in order to proclaim the Word faithfully and effectively. Areas of emphasis include: (1) blending accurate biblical interpretation with contemporary relevance; (2) preaching as an overflow of personal holiness; (3) sharpening communication skills; and (4) integrating weekly preaching at church with daily Bible reading by the congregation at home. This is a core ministry training class that will enhance your ministry. This course also gives some basic instruction on worship issues as well.

Hermeneutics and Exegesis (Core) Dr. David Feddes, Dr. Jeff Weima, and Dr. David Graves | 3 credits (No outside Books Required)
How to interpret the Bible is an advance part of your ministry training. This course deals with key issues in how to interpret the Bible. Students learn steps for studying a passage and practice using various study tools, including computer software, to become more skilled in understanding biblical passages and preparing sermons.

Systematic Theology II (core) Dr. David Feddes | 3 credits
Ministry training must include understanding of sound doctrine. This course considers core biblical doctrines about Scripture, the church, and the future. (Can be taken either before or after Systematic Theology I.)

Church and Ministry (core) Rev. Henry Reyenga Jr. | 4 credits (No Outside Books Required)
This ministry training core course explores some key aspects of pastoring a church: praying, setting priorities, training other leaders, delegating, visiting, handling pressure, and more. It also offers guidance for dealing with important transitional events, such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals.

Personal and Family Godliness (core) Rev. Joel Miller | 3 credits
An important part of your ministry training is your walk with God that is worth reproducing, and a family life that is worth multiplying.

Electives:

Church Planting (elective) Rev. Henry Reyenga Jr., Rich DeVos | 3 credits
Advance Ministry training includes this elective. Church planting begins with the church planted in you own life, marriage, and family. This advanced ministry training course looks at the intentional efforts necessary to plant reproducible and sustainable churches. This course will also help you come up with a “Bible culture,” home discipleship style church planting plant.

Old Testament Survey (elective) Dr. David Graves | 3 credits
This class explores God's Word in the Old Testament, paying particular attention to literary, historical, and theological dimensions. Your advance ministry training course of study will benefit from Old Testament Survey.

New Testament Survey (elective) Rev. Pedro Aviles | 3 credits This course explores God’s Word in the New Testament, paying particular attention to literary, historical, and theological dimensions. Your advance ministry training course of study will benefit from New Testament Survey.

Biblical Greek I (elective) Dr. David Feddes | 4 credits
This is the first in a sequence of three courses on basics of New Testament Greek, (elective for Diploma of Ministry; required for Diploma of Divinity). This course make your ministry training deeper as you study the original language the New Testament was written in.

Biblical Greek II (elective) Dr. David Feddes | 4 credits
This is the second in a sequence of three courses on basics of New Testament Greek, (elective for Diploma of Ministry; required for Diploma of Divinity). This course make your ministry training deeper as you study the original language the New Testament was written in.

Biblical Greek III (elective) Dr. David Feddes | 4 credits
This is the third in a sequence of three courses on basics of New Testament Greek, (elective for Diploma of Ministry; required for Diploma of Divinity). If you make it this far in your Biblical Greek expertise, you will be able to read the New Testament in Greek. This would be a gem in your ministry training

Challenges in Counseling (elective) Dr. Drew Brown | 3 credits
This course's approach to counseling blends Scripture and the soul. Starting with issues of self-discovery for the counselor himself, the course then offers a model of counseling which combines “soul care” and “spiritual direction.". Finally, we will examine how to approach some common and difficult problems in the lives of people who seek pastoral counseling: alcoholism, depression, pornography, parent-child conflict, doubt, and more. For those who are studying advanced ministry training this will be a fine addition in your course selection

Christian Apologetics (elective) Dr. Voddie Baucham and Dr. David Feddes | 3 credits
This ministry training course is designed to introduce students to basic issues in apologetics (defending and contending for the faith). The course will emphasize Biblical Worldview and Cultural Apologetics, the application of apologetics to contemporary cultural issues.

Missiology (elective) Dr. David Feddes 3 credit hours
This ministry training course take you into advanced missiology. This studies the culture of missions as the gospel is proclaimed through out the world.

C. S Lewis and His Influence Elective Dr. David Feddes (elective) 3 credits
This ministry training course advances your knowledge of one of the great thinker in Christian tradition. Get ready to be challenged.

Understanding Suicide and How to Minister to Surviving Loved Ones (elective) Dr. Ken Dignan | 3 credits
This ministry training class develops understanding of the unique grief and deep sense of loss that comes to a family that loses a loved one to death by suicide, and discusses how to minister to them.