This non-degree program is designed for those whom God has called to leadership. A healthy church needs a committed core of leaders to give direction to all areas of church life, from small groups to pastoral leadership. This program satisfies the academic requirements for ministerial credentials with various denominations. The student is urged to check with his/her denomination concerning specific requirements.

The student who successfully completes this program is granted the Diploma in Christian Leadership.

See Courses Required for Graduation for a list of courses in this program.

Students enrolling in this program must be actively exercising a leadership role in a church or parachurch ministry at the time of enrollment. If they are not, they may apply for enrollment in the Diploma in Christian Ministry program.

The difference between these two programs has to do with the function of a component we call Beyond Academics.

All Level Two programs (Diplomas in Christian Leadership or Ministry and the Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Theology) are comprised of two important elements: Academics and Beyond Academics. While Academics focuses on knowing, Beyond Academics emphasizes doing and being. Both are important in the formation of ministers and leaders.

Academics
Level Two is comprised of 24 academic courses. Each course is four lessons in length. The student studies one course at a time. In addition to the academic studies, the student enrolls in a personalized ministry practicum each semester.

Beyond Academics
This part of the student’s preparation is totally individualized, because the Holy Spirit has uniquely gifted and called each one for His service. In addition to being part of a small group, each student has a “personal trainer”, i.e., a ministry mentor who comes along side the emerging leader to foster spiritual formation, ministry (skill) formation and strategic (value) formation.

While the academic studies give the student a good foundation of biblical and theological knowledge, Beyond Academics gives him or her a solid base of practical experience for doing the work of the ministry.

With these two important components, Academics and Beyond Academics, INSTE provides the tools needed to do the work of the ministry. Through distance education, the training students need to fulfill the vision God has given them comes to them in a practical and affordable way.