With the advance of technology in recent years, many are finally beginning to look at this global resource as more than just a hub for games, sales, and endless streams of inane pictures and mass e-mails. Educators globally are beginning to look at the internet as a tool for providing education.
Educators in the state of Iowa recognize the necessity of global education. In her article in the Des Moines register, Madeline Becker talks about the extensive benefits of education, concluding with this statement:
Here in Iowa, we understand the importance of increasing these investments. For us, it is hard to imagine what life would be like without education. It’s time for the United States to make a childhood without education unimaginable everywhere, and it is only fitting that Iowa lead the charge. Iowa’s congressional delegation can lead by co-sponsoring the Education For All Act and supporting a greater investment of our existing global education funding into Global Partnership for Education. This is an investment in our future, and the future of the world.
While Madeline seems to stay focused on the traditional classroom education, a much bigger name gave his endorsement to the online education methods. Richard Levin, president of Yale University for 20 years, has officially been announced as the new CEO of Coursera. Coursera is a higher education institution whose mission is to provide college education to people all over the world through the internet for free. With Richard Levin’s signing as CEO, they add Yale University to the list of schools that their students have access to.
Coursera doesn’t Care About Pastoral Education
Of course, as one might expect, the courses available through Coursera do not include pastoral education or Christian Ministry training of any kind. Their focus is educating people throughout the world in order to give them a better life, but that better life is defined by human perspective. The end goal of the educators at Coursera – including Richard Levin – is to help people make more money.
This is certainly a noble mission – to reach into the poor places of the world through the ready conduit of the internet and enable people to achieve a better standard of living. Yet, for all this education can accomplish, Coursera ignores the most important problem that exists throughout the world today.
Food and water are important. Without them our bodies cannot live, but there is something even more important. Jesus told His disciples “I am the bread of life…” He told the woman at the well “I am the living water…” He told Martha “whoever believes in me will never die…” and “if anyone believes in me, though he dies, he will live…” Food and water sustain our physical bodies, but only Jesus can sustain our spirits.
How does He sustain our spirits? He sends people into the world. In a discussion with His disciples, Jesus says “pray therefore, that the Lord of the harvest will send workers…” He later specifically sends His disciples, saying “Go into all the world and preach the gospel…” God calls people to shepherd – to provide spiritual nourishment for – His people.
But God doesn’t always choose the people that we think He should choose to deliver His word to His people. Sometimes the people he calls are uneducated. They are inexperienced and poor. They are broken sinners who have fled from his calling. Sometimes the people that God calls can’t afford to become educated teachers.
That is why Christian Leaders Institute exists. While Coursera, now headed by the former president of Yale, looks at the physical needs and seeks to provide, our goal is to claim the internet for Christ. We want God’s called leaders worldwide to have the education they need to be the best stewards of His calling that they can.
Coursera has been around for 2 years, and their momentum and support has grown by leaps and bounds. Educators in universities everywhere see the need for free secular education online and pitch in to do their part. They can all unite under the secular vision of saving physical bodies from hunger and sickness.
Christian Leaders Institute has been growing for ten years, with the first online courses being offered eight years ago. We have seen marvelous growth in that time, but imagine how much bigger that growth would be if Christians everywhere could get behind a vision. If Christians everywhere could join in the vision of saving people all over the world from the greatest sickness of all – the only worldwide hereditary disease: sin. As great as the impact of CLI is now, it could be much greater if Christian educators banded together in this effort.
Do you know somebody who’s called to be a leader in God’s church? Do you know somebody that you’ve observed leadership qualities in, and you think they would benefit from ministry training? Tell them about Christian Leaders Institute! Spread the word to everyone. Together we can claim the internet for Christ.
Hello, my name is Joshua Cones. I am 19 year old American living in Indianapolis, Indiana. In this
country I see many struggles all due to sin. So far, GOD has not fully unveiled the ministry dreams for me here. I currently work with kids ages 3-16 from the inner city at The Caring Place church. So in regards to ministry my dream is just to care and love people however GOD leads me to.
Coming to know the LORD is a special and unique privilege for each Christian. Every encounter is different. Mine is very special to me because, like the parable in Luke 7:40-43, I am the servant with the greater debt. I grew up in and out of church but by the time I made it to high school I was addicted to drugs, alcohol, and smoking. I was also sexually immoral and violent. After dropping out of high school at age 17, I got a job. I started working full time and figured the meaning of my life would be working for money.
By the time I turned 18 the president and those running against him for office had begun their campaigns. While getting heavily involved in politics I came across many videos exposing corruption in the government. This opened my eyes to the work of the devil in this world. After realizing that there was a sworn enemy of my soul I realized I was helpless.
After humbly accepting this fact I knew that my only hope would be JESUS CHRIST. After reading the book of Revelation I had the fear of the LORD and all my other fears disappeared. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of THE HOLY ONE is understanding”,and I can testify that scripture to be the truth! After committing myself to the LORD he began breaking me down and stripping away the ways of the flesh mightily and with great speed. I still have a lot more transformation to undergo but in this short amount of time he has brought me across the galaxy. This journey, even with its trials and suffering, brings me life everyday as the LORD enables me to pursue him everyday.
My Pastor, Jon Susa, always ends our services with a prayer. Each prayer is different except for the end is always the same. He finishes the prayer with “And As We Change Our World”. At first, I thought him to be a slap happy motivational speaker but now I have experienced living with the LORD for a while and I truly believe we will change our world because of CHRIST living through us. GOD has not revealed all the details of my ministry purpose but I do know it involves LOVE because GOD is LOVE! Pastor Jon once said “I don’t know the future but I know who holds the future”. I find comfort in this statement when I yearn to know more about my ministry purpose.
The word evangelist sticks out to me the most. I really think of some of the preachers I have heard. In my perspective the ones whom I got a great confirmation from GOD from were evangelists. I believe GOD has put this word in my heart and I will learn more about CHRIST’S definition of what an evangelist truly is as I grow closer to him.
In my geographic location the most significant problem I see is violence. I walk and drive through very worldly dangerous parts of Indianapolis to get our kids for our Saturday youth program. I believe the fear of violence is a major obstacle preventing more Christians from spreading The Gospel here in Indianapolis.
My local church has supported me with something many churches claim to have but lack. This is love. My pastors and fellow members are all family to me and pour out love and encouragement. They are flowing vessels of GOD’s affection and this has molded me and filled my cup to overflow. I cannot contain this great love and I have to share it with others. The moment I started attending The Caring Place and every service since then the people there have just overwhelmed me with their love every time I’ve walked through the doors. This is the life changing experience that empowered me to pursue ministry. If it were not for the affection of The Caring Place people then I would not want to pour into the inner city kids. Quite frankly, a lot of the kids are difficult, problematic, annoying, and extremely lacking in discipline BUT because I saw the power love has had in my own life I desire to pour it into these kids. This builds patience and endurance. Also, I realize that their behavior gives me a slight taste of what my behavior tastes like to GOD.
Currently, my father and I have started a side business out of our house that allows us to give more and more importantly demonstrate BIBLICAL principles in our lives to customers. We often get to pray with a lot of our customers and become friends with them. GOD has blessed us a lot through this and I believe in its effectiveness. Pastor Keith Butler once told me that “Sometimes business is the best way to reach people because you can’t get them to go to church”. So, my father and I get to be the CHURCH to the people, as the WORD commands!
This scholarship at CLI is very important to me. After finishing the beginners course I realized that even though I knew a lot of the material from daily studying, I lacked discipline and order. Our GOD is a GOD of perfection and balance. He gives everything in perfect amounts. I believe since we are called to imitate GOD we should seek balance and discipline in our lives and not just swing the sword wildly. The sword has the power to cut, if you swing wildly without loving surgical intentions, you will severely injure your patient and bring condemnation upon yourself. I can see that CLI teaches us how to BIBLICALLY fish for men. This first course with its time restrictions and practical ideas challenged me to manage time better and remind me that non believers don’t think like believers. To catch them, you have to understand how they think!
Prayer is always priority number one in my life. It would be a great blessing to receive as many prayers as possible! As far as what to specifically ask, ask for everything! We have a GOD who can give it all! In addition, the more I grow in CHRIST the more I see the real distance of how far I fall short of CHRIST’s glory and I need his all! I have so many flaws. Please pray for GOD to continue to mold me and be led by THE HOLY SPIRIT. Also, please pray for more opportunities to minister to people and that they be discipled and nurtured in THE WORD OF GOD. Thank you all who read this and I can’t wait to spend an eternity in Heaven with you worshiping our LORD! GOD BLESS!
My name is Teresa Eads, I’m 49yrs old and I live in East Tennessee, USA. I am married and have two children that are grown. They have blessed me with seven beautiful grandchildren. My husband and I sing and play bluegrass gospel music. We love going to other churches and venues when invited. Many folks tell us that they receive such blessings from our music.
Some of my earliest and most precious memories from my childhood are going to church and my great grandmother reading stories to my brother and me while lying in the middle of her feather bed. I always went to church even though my parents didn’t always attend. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was 12 although I wasn’t baptized until I was 33. I can remember talking to friends at school and on the school bus as well as other places about Jesus. Even, praying with them during VBS as they accepted the Lord. So, looking back I guess I have been in ministry all along. God has called me even when I was young.
I have served as Sunday school teacher and worship leader in church. I also helped to begin the first home school groups (when it wasn’t popular) in our area. In most recent years, I have worked with the local Women’s Care Center, talking to young women and counseling them against abortion.
The Lord has placed this feeling of “You need to be ministering to people” more and more onto me. It’s hard to explain to folks. The more I try to do otherwise, the more He put someone in my path that needed counseling, prayer, teaching, hand holding, encouragement, etc. People would just come up and tell me, “You should be a preacher”.
I live in the South. The majority here are of the belief that women should not be in charge of a congregation. I kept trying to let it go, but as you know, if God wants you he will get you. We were visiting a church in our area one Sunday and they had an evangelist there that day. While he was preaching and singing and giving words from the Holy Spirit, he kept looking over at me. Yes, he said it. The Holy Spirit told him that I was going to be in ministry and possibly a healing ministry. Holy Spirit told him to tell me to stop overthinking it. Just do it! So, I quit running before God decided to throw me overboard and into the belly of the fish. Amazingly, when I stopped running and said yes, the heavy gnawing gut urging stopped. Amen!!! Hallelujah
I have a wonderful church family, and they do believe that I have been called into ministry. It is a very small Baptist church. However, I really do not have a denominational preference. Our Pastor still clings to the theory of “No Women Preaching in the Pulpit” so I do not expect to be ordained by him or our elders. But I know that God has called me and that is enough.
Right down the road from my home is a Bible College and the tuition is $10,800 per year to attend. Just like many people in our country and especially in our state, the economy has not been kind. On our income we cannot afford for me to take classes there. Our church is very small and could not help me either. So, I began searching for other ways to get more knowledge of what the Lord has called me to do. There are many places online.
Most are not what they say they are and other are very expensive. Then I came across CLI. This is truly a blessing from God.
This is absolutely the plan He has for me. God has called me and I cannot turn back. I am so thankful for the donors and others that have put this wonderful gift of learning together online. Now folks like me can get a more rounded education to preach the gospel to the entire world. What a blessing!!!
Where He leads me I will follow, as the hymn goes. Indeed, God has called me and I would be happy for the Holy Spirit to lead us to more churches and more areas with opportunity to evangelize and do healing serves for people.
I ask all of you to please be in prayer for me to be more open in response to the Holy Spirits urgings. So the He may use me more abundantly.