Is There a Future for Online Correspondence Education?

How Christian Leaders Institute is Defying the Odds and Leading a Global Movement

In a world where higher education is often tied to crushing debt and limited access, a quiet revolution has been unfolding—one that asks a daring question:

Is there a future for online correspondence education?

For decades, the answer was “no”—at least from most traditional institutions. Despite the internet’s promise to democratize learning, online correspondence education was largely ignored, sidelined as outdated or inferior. But for millions around the world—especially those called into ministry—the need never went away. And today, one organization is proving that this form of education might just hold the key to a more sustainable, inclusive, and faith-filled future.

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The Origins: Education Without Access

Correspondence education began centuries ago. In 1728, a Boston newspaper advertised shorthand lessons sent by mail—marking the first known example in the U.S. Over time, postal-based learning spread across the globe, reaching farmers, factory workers, soldiers, and others who couldn’t attend college in person.

But even as universities like the University of London and University of Chicago legitimized the model in the 19th and 20th centuries, correspondence education was often seen as second-tier. It lacked prestige. It lacked funding. And it lacked champions willing to stake their future on it.

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The Internet Arrives—But Not Everyone Embraces the Opportunity

When the internet exploded in the 1990s, many believed that online correspondence education would finally flourish. After all, the potential was huge: anyone with an internet connection could access high-quality courses from anywhere on earth.

Yet something unexpected happened. Most traditional colleges refused to embrace the model.

Why? Because online correspondence education wasn’t eligible for federal Title IV funding. Without student loans and grants, it wasn’t profitable. And even though there were legitimate accreditation pathways, the lack of financial infrastructure scared off major institutions.

So the same model that could have opened the floodgates of opportunity for the poor, the remote, the ministry-bound—was left behind.

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A Ministry Calling Born in Crisis

On September 11, 2001, as the Twin Towers fell, Rev. Henry Reyenga stood in New York City, witnessing the unthinkable. In that moment of chaos, he received a call—not to rebuild steel, but to rebuild lives.

Out of that tragedy, Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) was conceived.

From 2001 to 2005, Henry and his wife Pam, with the help of visionary supporters like Rich DeVos, Ron Parr, Ed Vandrunnen, Brian DeCook, and Marty Ozinga, laid the foundation for something radical: a free, online correspondence ministry school for volunteer, part-time, and full-time leaders—especially those without access to traditional education.

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Launching Against All Odds

In 2006, CLI launched its first courses. With Jerry Lorenz building a custom Moodle platform and Dr. David Feddes as Provost, the team developed rigorous, college-level curriculum. Every lesson was designed to defy the stereotype that free or correspondence-based meant low quality.

But the biggest challenge wasn’t content—it was sustainability.

“If we couldn’t rely on federal funding or student debt,” Reyenga recalls, “how could we fund a global education movement?”

CLI chose the path less traveled: faith, donations, and innovation. Early donors helped seed the program. Courses remained free. But it wasn’t clear if this model could last—or scale.

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Is There Really a Future for Online Correspondence Education?

Fast-forward to today. Most of higher education still avoids correspondence education, especially the online kind. Critics say it’s too hard to manage, not financially viable, or not academically serious. Even though the need is massive, the support is scarce.

And yet, Christian Leaders Institute is proving the critics wrong.

With nearly 1 million student accounts, hundreds of thousands of courses completed, tens of thousands of certificates, diplomas, and degrees awarded, and over 7,000 ordained ministers mobilized, CLI has become a global leader in online correspondence education—without student loans.

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A New Generation Takes the Helm

Now, CLI’s future is in the hands of a new generation. Abigail Dominiak, the founder’s daughter, leads with a passion for scalability and sustainability. Her team—Abigail Munroe, Brianna Prince, Ann Merkle, and over 20 dedicated staff and faculty—are building on the original vision.

They introduced the “Give It Forward” model: students pay nothing to take courses but are invited to contribute through freewill donations or low educational service fees that cover personalized academic and credentialing support.

This approach has done something extraordinary—it’s made online correspondence education financially sustainable, even while keeping it globally accessible.

“We don’t charge tuition,” Abigail Dominiak explains. “We invite our students to help us keep the door open for the next person.”

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Correspondence Credibility

CLI has now achieved candidate status through the U.S. Department of Education’s recognized agency, ABHE. To get there, they had to prove that their model worked—not just academically, but financially.

That means:

• No overdependence on outside donors

• A growing stream of student-supported funding

• Clear, verifiable outcomes in ministry training and impact

Now, CLI is listed on the Department of Education website—a milestone that would have seemed impossible two decades ago.

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Global Impact and a Broader Vision

Backed by visionary donors, CLI is also expanding into multiple languages:

• Spanish, French, Russian, Ukrainian, Arabic, Chinese, and more

• New efforts in Tamil and others are underway

• A comprehensive English literacy program helps second-language learners thrive

CLI’s course offerings have also been designed to be perfect for bi-vocational ministers and Active Christians who want a ministry focus in their lives, including programs in business, philosophy, and vocational training, allowing Christians to serve both bi-vocationally and in the wider marketplace.

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The Verdict: The Future Is Now

So—is there a future for online correspondence education?

Yes. But only if we keep building it.

Christian Leaders Institute is showing the world that this model works—not just as a dream, but as a lived reality. For the student in a rural village with no college nearby, for the bi-vocational pastor working a second job, for the stay-at-home mom answering God’s call, and for the Christian leader who refuses to go into debt to answer that call—online correspondence education is not only the future, it’s the now.

And that future is being written—one course, one student, one calling at a time.

What Can You Do?

👩‍🎓 Are You a Student Called to Ministry or Christian Leadership?

The door is open. The education is free.
The only thing missing is you.

At Christian Leaders Institute, you can enroll in high-quality, online correspondence courses in ministry, theology, philosophy, business, chaplaincy, and more—without student debt. Whether you’re a volunteer, part-time, or full-time leader, CLI offers a clear path to grow in your calling.

Many students choose to give back, even if it’s just a few dollars.
We’ve found that those who give—even a small amount—are more likely to finish their courses and stay committed to their ministry goals.

👉 Enroll today at www.christianleadersinstitute.org
Begin your journey. Grow your calling. Support the movement.

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💼 Are You a Visionary Donor Who Wants to Change the Future of Global Education?

While students support operations through donations and small educational service fees, we still need major donors to build the capital infrastructure—the courses, systems, languages, and platforms that make free global ministry education possible.

Your investment helps:

• Launch new academic and ministry programs

• Translate materials into more global languages

• Build self-correcting, scalable online courses

• Reach the world’s underserved leaders—debt free

👉 Join us at www.christianleaders.org/partner
Be part of building a future where every called Christian can be trained—without student loans.