The Leadership Institute was founded in 1989 in response to the desperate need for a new generation of Christian leaders with deeper spirituality, integrity and compassion. Without the development of such leaders the church will be unable to impact future generations with the gospel.

The Institute has developed a new paradigm of leadership development based in spiritual formation. It has been effectively implemented with hundreds of seminarians and Christian leaders who have completed training spanning ten weeks to two years.

The Institute is inter-denominational and national in scope, working in partnership with denominations, churches, parachurch organizations and seminaries, including Fuller Theological Seminary and Talbot School of Theology.

Dallas Willard, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California and author of The Divine Conspiracy says,

"God has used The Leadership Institute's Journey to open the souls and lives of many ministers of Christ to the fullness of what God is doing and wishes to do in our generation. I encourage those who find themselves stifled and frustrated with their work for the Lord to enter this ongoing fellowship of Christian disciples who are learning the power of the Kingdom of Heaven in contemporary reality."

Jim Burns, President of HomeWord, said of The Leadership Institute,

"I love this program. It integrates our spiritual journey with the greatest input available on discipleship and leadership development. This is education at its best."

Dr. Julie Gorman, Professor of Christian Formation and Discipleship at Fuller Theological Seminary says,

"In a day when the frantic lifestyle of ministry is unfriendly to the cultivation of the inner spiritual life, The Leadership Institute calls persons to satisfy their longings for fulfillment and focus their efforts on the one thing which is essential to survival and joy in life. I have seen pastors, seminarians and congregational leaders find renewed purpose, experience enthusiastic recommitment and exuberant energy in their 'midlife spiritual crises' and embrace life-changing patterns that have led to dramatic conversion of person and ministry. Those who take the journey will never be the same"

Don Toshach, church planter, has said: ,

"The Journey should come with a Surgeon General's warning: 'Do not participate unless you are ready to have your walk with Christ and the way you do church radically shifted and transformed.'"