🎥 Video 2D Transcript: Starting a Local CLI Learning Cohort

Hi, I am Henry Reyenga, a Christian Leaders Institute presenter.

In this session, we are talking about starting a local CLI learning cohort.

A CLI learning cohort is a simple group of church members who study Christian Leaders Institute courses while staying connected to local church encouragement, mentoring, prayer, and ministry application.

This does not need to be complicated.

A church can begin with five people. It can begin with three. It can even begin with one faithful student and one mentor. The goal is not to launch a heavy program. The goal is to create a clear and encouraging pathway for people who want to grow.

A local cohort might meet once a month. It might meet twice a month. Some churches may meet weekly for a season. The rhythm should fit the church’s capacity.

A simple cohort meeting could include prayer, a short check-in, discussion of what students are learning, connection to local ministry needs, and a next-step assignment.

The pastor or mentor might ask:

What course are you taking?
What are you learning about God, Scripture, ministry, or yourself?
Where are you being challenged?
What ministry role are you discerning?
What character area needs growth?
How can the church support you?
What service opportunity might help you practice what you are learning?

That kind of conversation turns online learning into embodied discipleship.

A church could begin with a general leadership cohort. Or it could start with a focused pathway, such as officiant training, chaplaincy, ministry coaching, elder and deacon formation, micro church planting, or young adult degree preparation.

A pastor may wonder, “Do I have to teach another class?” Not necessarily. CLI provides the course content. The local church provides relational formation, prayer, accountability, and ministry connection.

This can be especially helpful for smaller churches. A rural church may not have a large staff, but it may have faithful people who can study, gather, pray, and serve. A larger church may use cohorts to organize different ministry pathways.

What not to do? Do not make the cohort only academic. Do not let people disappear into private online study without local conversation. Do not give people titles just because they are taking courses.

A CLI cohort works best when it stays prayerful, relational, supervised, and mission-focused.

Start small. Keep it clear. Connect training to ministry. Watch what God may grow.