The Catechumen and the Catechumenate in the Early Church

In the early Church, a catechumen was a believer who had recently turned from paganism or Judaism to Christianity and was preparing for baptism and full participation in the life of the Church. The word catechumen comes from the Greek katecheo, meaning “to be instructed.” These new believers entered a structured process called the catechumenate—a period of spiritual formation, teaching, and moral transformation designed to prepare them for a public confession of faith and a life in Christ.

The catechumenate often lasted several months or even years. Catechumens received instruction in Scripture, prayer, and Christian living, gradually learning the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the ethical commands of Christ. This process was more than academic; it was relational and transformational. Sponsors (often called godparents) walked alongside catechumens, mentoring them through worship, repentance, and spiritual growth. Finally, after demonstrating genuine faith and moral integrity, catechumens were baptized—often at Easter—becoming full members of the Christian community.

This early model of discipleship laid the foundation for how Christians across centuries have been trained, mentored, and equipped for ministry. The catechumenate was not just about learning doctrines—it was about being formed as disciples who would one day disciple others.

The Catechumen Pathway at the Christian Leaders Alliance

The Christian Leaders Alliance (CLA) continues this ancient pattern of spiritual formation through a modern catechumenate—beginning with the Multiplying Christian Leaders Course .

This free foundational course, offered through the Christian Leaders Institute (CLI), functions as a 21st-century catechumenate experience. New students—today’s “catechumens”—are invited to explore their faith more deeply, discern their calling, and begin preparation for possible ordination as volunteer, part-time, or full-time ministers.

What Catechumens Experience in This Course

In this course, learners:

• Discover the biblical meaning of being a multiplying Christian leader.
• Develop a testimony as the seed of their ministry impact.
• Begin discerning their gifts, testimony, and calling to ministry service.
• Become a CLA Catechumen—receiving the Catechumen Credential that launches them into study programs at Christian Leaders, including access to the Catechumen Package (ID Card, CLA Ordination Handbook, Ministry Shirt).

From the Early Church to Today’s Global Mission

Just as the early Church raised up new disciples to carry the gospel across the Roman Empire, the Christian Leaders Alliance raises up multiplying Christian leaders to carry the gospel across today’s world—one catechumen, one calling, one community at a time.