Study and Serve. At the Same Time. In Your Local Church.

The Destiny Leadership Institute is a two-year online program for Christian leaders who want to grow in Bible, theology, and leadership — while serving in their local church as a required part of the program. Real training, where you’re already called. You don’t have to choose between learning and serving. Most programs ask you to pick. Leave your church for the classroom, or stay and learn on your own. DLI was built on a different conviction: the deepest training happens when study and service are woven together — in the local church.

APPLY NOW!
REQUEST INFO

Study and Serve. At the Same Time. In Your Local Church.

The Destiny Leadership Institute is a two-year online program for Christian leaders who want to grow in Bible, theology, and leadership — while serving in their local church as a required part of the program. Real training, where you’re already called. You don’t have to choose between learning and serving. Most programs ask you to pick. Leave your church for the classroom, or stay and learn on your own. DLI was built on a different conviction: the deepest training happens when study and service are woven together — in the local church.

APPLY NOW!
REQUEST INFO

Program at a Glance

  • 2 years — Four semesters, fall and spring
  • $1,500 / year — The lowest tuition of any comparable program
  • 100% online — Video lectures + monthly live webinars + discussion with real instructors
  • Required internship every semester — You serve in your local church while you study
  • Diploma in Christian Leadership — Awarded upon completion
  • Pathway to a degree — Coursework that can step toward a bachelor’s or master’s through our partner schools

YEAR ONE

Introduction to Bible — a clear, usable understanding of Scripture and the basics of Bible study methods.
Old Testament Survey — a framework for understanding and interpreting the Old Testament, with the historical, geographical, and cultural context.
Servant Leadership — Jesus’ life and ministry as the ultimate model of servant leadership.
Christian Foundations I — an introduction to theology: the Bible, God, humanity, and sin.
New Testament Survey — a framework for understanding and interpreting the New Testament.
Internship 1 & 2 — required each semester. Supervised ministry service in your local church.

YEAR TWO

Spiritual Formation —the development of the believer’s spiritual life, the disciplines, and the relationship between formation and character.
Spirit-Filled Leadership —a biblically grounded practical theology of preaching, teaching, and leading in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Intro to Christian Coaching —identifying and implementing values, vision, mission, and strategy in your ministry context.
Effective Ministry Communication —developing clear, powerful sermons and teaching; principles of pastoral care and counseling.
Christian Foundations II —the doctrines of Christ, salvation, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and last things.
Internship 3 & 4 —required each semester. Supervised ministry service continues.

Program at a Glance

2 years
Four semesters, fall and spring

$1,500 / year
The lowest tuition of any comparable program

100% online
Video lectures + monthly live webinars + discussion with real instructors

Required internship every semester
You serve in your local church while you study

Diploma in Christian Leadership
Awarded upon completion

Pathway to a degree
Coursework that can step toward a bachelor’s or master’s through our partner schools

YEAR ONE

Introduction to Bible

A clear, usable understanding of Scripture and the basics of Bible study methods.

Old Testament Survey

A framework for understanding and interpreting the Old Testament, with the historical, geographical, and cultural context.

Servant Leadership

Jesus’ life and ministry as the ultimate model of servant leadership.

Christian Foundations I

An introduction to theology: the Bible, God, humanity, and sin.

New Testament Survey

A framework for understanding and interpreting the New Testament.

Internship 1 & 2

Required each semester. Supervised ministry service in your local church.

YEAR TWO

Spiritual Formation

The development of the believer’s spiritual life, the disciplines, and the relationship between formation and character.

Spirit-Filled Leadership

A biblically grounded practical theology of preaching, teaching, and leading in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Intro to Christian Coaching

Identifying and implementing values, vision, mission, and strategy in your ministry context.

Effective Ministry Communication

Developing clear, powerful sermons and teaching; principles of pastoral care and counseling.

Christian Foundations II

The doctrines of Christ, salvation, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and last things.

Internship 3 & 4

Required each semester. Supervised ministry service continues.

Tuition

Destiny Leadership Institute (DLI) is committed to providing access to top quality ministry and leadership training at very affordable tuition rates. Our tuition is a fraction of the cost at similar institutions. This is made possible as a result of our management strategy and the generosity of our covenant partners who subsidize the cost of operation to help keep tuition rates low. Tuition is $1,500 per year. When paid in full up front, a 10% discount is applied, so that the total is only $1,350. Otherwise, the balance can be paid in 6 consecutive installments of $250.

Flex Plan

$250monthly
*paid over the first six months

Pay In Full

$1,350yearly
*10% discount applied

Tuition

Destiny Leadership Institute (DLI) is committed to providing access to top quality ministry and leadership training at very affordable tuition rates. Our tuition is a fraction of the cost at similar institutions. This is made possible as a result of our management strategy and the generosity of our covenant partners who subsidize the cost of operation to help keep tuition rates low. Tuition is $1,500 per year. When paid in full up front, a 10% discount is applied, so that the total is only $1,350. Otherwise, the balance can be paid in 6 consecutive installments of $250.

Flex Plan

$250monthly
*paid over the first six months

Pay In Full

$1,350yearly
*10% discount applied

DLI Church Partnership

Most churches don’t have the time, the faculty, or the curriculum to build a robust internal leadership pipeline from scratch. DLI gives you that pipeline — proven, turnkey, and tailorable. You keep your church’s culture and mission. We bring the academic, theological, and ministry-training structure that makes the pipeline real.

Schedule a conversation with Jonathan Buckland, Director of Recruiting and Partnerships, to talk through your church’s goals and which partnership level fits.

AFFILIATE SITE

For churches supporting a few students.

Your leaders enroll in DLI’s online program.

  • They complete required internship hours at your church.
  • As pastor or supervisor, you sign off on their internship.
  • Minimal administrative lift on your team.
  • Students get the full DLI curriculum and cohort experience.

Best for: churches that have one or two people in DLI and want to support them — without adding new program infrastructure.

EXTENTION SITE

For churches building leaders on purpose.

  • A formal partnership agreement between your church and DLI.
  • Additional resources for your leadership team — cohort support, extended curriculum guides, and coaching.
  • We help you design and launch a formal internship program inside your church.
  • Option to add custom coursework tailored to your church’s context, culture, and goals.
  • Your church becomes a local expression of DLI — shaping future leaders in your specific mission.

Best for: churches that want DLI to be part of their ongoing leadership pipeline, not just a place where a few leaders happen to be enrolled. This is where we’d love most partner churches to land.

HOW TO BECOME A PARTNER

  1. Schedule a conversation. A call with Jonathan Buckland, Director of Recruiting and Partnerships, to talk through your church’s goals and which partnership level fits.
  2. Sign the partnership agreement. A simple, written agreement that clarifies what your church provides and what DLI provides.
  3. Recruit your students. Our team will help you recruit students to become future leaders.
  4. Launch your cohort. Your first cohort begins at the start of the next semester — Fall or Spring.
SCHEDULE A CALL

DLI Church Partnership

Most churches don’t have the time, the faculty, or the curriculum to build a robust internal leadership pipeline from scratch. DLI gives you that pipeline — proven, turnkey, and tailorable. You keep your church’s culture and mission. We bring the academic, theological, and ministry-training structure that makes the pipeline real.

Schedule a conversation with Jonathan Buckland, Director of Recruiting and Partnerships, to talk through your church’s goals and which partnership level fits.

Schedule A Call

Academic Calendar

Fall 2026

Start Date: September 7th

End Date: December 13th

Webinar Dates

September 8th, October 6th, November 3rd, December 1st

Spring 2027

Start Date: February 1st

End Date: May 16

Webinar Dates

February 2nd, March 2nd, April 6th, May 4th

Academic Calendar

Fall 2026

Start Date: September 7th

End Date: December 13th

Webinar Dates

September 8th, October 6th, November 3rd, December 1st

Spring 2027

Start Date: February 1st

End Date: May 16

Webinar Dates

February 2nd, March 2nd, April 6th, May 4th