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When you study by mail no one knows if you are the one who is studying. You could apply using your name but your mother, father, brother, sister or cousin could do the lessons and no one would know it was not you. When you study by mail no one knows if you understand the lesson or not. There is no one to help answer your questions. In The Center for Leadership Development (CLD) the students meet once a week in a power group to discuss the lesson they studied at home and answer any questions they had.

When you study by mail, no one knows if you are using the lessons that you study in your ministry at your local church. In CLD every student must have a teaching ministry. It can be leading worship, teaching Sunday school, leading a cell group, telling the gospel or preaching. Each student must have an opportunity to share the lessons that they are learning at home with other people. When you study by mail, no one knows if there is change in your life because of what you are studying. No one knows if you are growing and developing in your spiritual life. In CLD each student meets with their center leader once a month to talk about their spiritual lives. The center leader is a “coach” who has a role to teach, encourage and correct the student in his/her personal life and ministry responsibilities in the church. The center leader can also give direction to the student in any plans or aims that they have in their personal lives.

The Center for Leadership Development (CLD) is a non-formal, local church training program that gives existing church lay leaders the theological knowledge and ministry skills needed to grow and multiply their local church. CLD is not a business, it is an education program. CLD is not a Bible school, but similar to a Bible school. We describe CLD as a Bible School in the local church. Each local church is an education center where the students learn about the Bible and have the opportunity to develop in their ministry skills as they serve God at the same time that they study about Him. Students can study Christian theology on their own. They can study at home or on their lunch break. They can study wherever and whenever they have available time. CLD is not the same as studying by mail or the internet. When you study by mail you do not have to write tests. In CLD you have a mid term and a final exam test for each book that you study. Students are graded on their homework, tests and service in the church.

CLD or the Center for Leadership Development exists to train leaders, who can train leaders. Our training program is designed to equip each Thai local church with a leadership team that serves the Lord with eagerness and aptitude.

The CLD Program provides local believers with the opportunity to have a Bible School training opportunity within the church. Churches can use it develop new leaders from within their congregations, choosing leaders with potential from amongst their own people. CLD’s goal is to train Thai men and women to effectively lead others, especially for those who already serve in their churches. We want to help them develop into effective disciplers, who are able and train others in serving God and their fellowman.

CLD is different from most correspondence courses because of what we teach and how we teach it. Our goal is to develop both the skills AND the character needed to lead and care for the spiritual lives of others in a way that bears fruit.

Our curriculum and system provide training in many areas - shepherding, teaching Sunday School, discipling, teaching new believers, leading cell groups, church planting, evangelism, etc.

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Center for Leadership Development

Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. 5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:1-6

Everywhere we go this time of the year, we see beautiful Christmas decorations and we hear joyful sound of Christmas carols. To the majority of the world, all of these are just part of business commercials, but to us Christians, this is a sign of joyful celebration in welcoming The Child, Jesus Christ, Who God has given to the world, to us, for a very clear purpose. This Child is given to bring light and hope, peace and joy to this dark world.

I believe that this Child, Jesus Christ, is the Model for all humankind. We are created in the image of God and are sent to this world by Him Who created it. In a similar way to Christ, we are sent to this world for a purpose. We are to bring peace and joy, light and hope into this world.

All of us were once a child given by God to our family. When we were born, we brought great joy and happiness to our parents, our family and relatives. We brought many changes to our parents’ lives and the lives of all who come in contact with us. We became a part of a family network – loved and cared for by many people of this world.

This Christmas, and for many years to come, whenever we see signs of the world welcoming the Child Jesus Christ, Who is our Lord, let us remember to live out our purpose of life which is to bring peace and joy, light and hope into the lives of people who God placed in our lives and to the part of the world which God placed us in. May God grant us all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.