“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
Christian Leaders Institute is passionate about providing opportunities that help Christians around the globe to live out 2 Timothy 2:15. In addition, we are focused on developing individuals as a whole through our student life program, no matter what academic path they choose.
How CLI Equips Christians to Grow, Lead, and Serve
Since launching online correspondence education in 2006, Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) has remained committed to one mission:
To multiply well-trained, confident Christian leaders around the world.
CLI is a free-access, donor-supported Christian education ministry, built on a firm Statement of Faith and a multiplying mission—to raise up Christian leaders for every calling and community. (Enroll in Course)
To fulfill this vision, CLI offers three distinct ministry training tracks that work together to equip believers at every stage of their calling. These tracks guide you as you grow spiritually, develop academically, and step into your ministry leadership role with confidence.
Christian Development School (CDS)
Leadership Excellence School (LES)
Christian Leaders Alliance (CLA)
How These Tracks Work Together
Each track supports a different part of your journey:
Grow and Study at the Christian Development School
Learn and Lead through the Leadership Excellence School
Serve and Be Recognized through the Christian Leaders Alliance
You can begin with one track—or move through all three as God opens new doors in your calling.
Built on Strong Leadership and a Global Vision
Christian Leaders Institute is led by a dedicated board of directors and a team of passionate administrators, educators, pastors, and support leaders. Together, they ensure that every course, credential, and ordination is built on biblical truth, academic excellence, and a heart for the Church.
With their guidance, CLI remains focused on offering high-quality, free-access Christian education and ministry training to anyone God is calling—regardless of where they live or what they can afford. All correspondence courses are tuition-free, supported by generous donations and modest administrative service fees.
Join the Movement
Hundreds of thousands of Christians from more than 200 countries have already enrolled at Christian Leaders Institute. Whether you’re a new believer, a future pastor, or someone who’s been asked to officiate a wedding, there’s a place for you here.
We offer 165+ free online Christian courses covering a variety of topics, including ministry, theology, Bible studies, practical life skills, philosophy, business, general education, and more. Learn more about them at our courses page.
Awards are the initial credentials that can be earned and require a lesser number of completed courses in a particular subject. Certificates are more advanced than awards, as they necessitate the completion of a greater number of courses in a specific subject or field. Diplomas are the most advanced credentials, demanding the completion of even more courses in a particular area of study.
Christian Leaders Alliance provides lay, licensed, and ordained ministerial credentials for individuals serving as volunteer, part-time, or full-time ministers. The credentials offer characteristics, such as the free minister training courses, local recommendations to enhance credibility, an ecumenical approach allowing you to be credentialed as a minister in Christian Leaders Alliance while retaining your local church membership or local minister credentials, and access to our Global Minister Directory.
We offer associates and bachelors degrees in Divinity, Chaplaincy, and Christian Leadership. Our degree programs are designed to give you the freedom and flexibility to complete a college degree anytime, anywhere, 100% at your own pace. In the US, our entire bachelor’s degree only costs $4,125 for administrative costs due to the donation driven-model. Additionally, our degree programs have grants and full scholarship options to ensure that everyone can attain a college degree.
“We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” – Ephesians 4:15-16
We all have each been given different spiritual gifts and unique callings to grow the body of Christ. Christian Leaders Institute has courses and credentials that can be used to equip Christians with many different callings.
Whether you are interested in serving in ministry online, at your church, or in your community, we have courses and credentials for various types of ministry. We equip Christians to serve in youth, men’s, women’s, prayer, worship, outreach, teaching, pastoral care, homeless, marriage, family, recovery and addiction help, mentorship, Bible study, crisis care, special needs care, evangelism and more.
Many of our students have come seeking training as pastors, whether they are already serving as pastors or aspiring to become one. A minister ordination, diploma, or degree path can equip them to serve effectively in their pastoral role.
Chaplaincy is another topic that we see a huge need for our students to receive training in. We offer multiple paths for students, including an award, certificate, diploma, license, and associate or bachelor’s degree in chaplaincy.
Coaching is an area of ministry that we have seen more and more students being called to pursue. Coaching helps people achieve their goals. We provide certification and ordination for those called to be Christian coaches.
Many of our called Christians want to be equipped to serve in business endeavors. We recognize that business is another way we can be an example for Jesus and it is its own type of ministry. We offer a business award, certificate, diploma and our Christian Leadership degree allows for student to triple major in Bible, Theology and Business.
We offer courses that cover the different chapters of the Bible and help expand the understanding of biblical themes. We also many have courses on apologetics and theology.
We offer courses and credentials to equip someone called to start a church. Our divinity degree is also a great option for someone seeking to start a new church.