The National Institute of Christian Leadership thenicl.com 407-333-7106
What is the NICL? How it all began... The NICL is a year-long intensive leadership training designed to take your ministry and personal leadership to the next level. It is a leadership institute designed for church, ministry, and business leaders. The year is composed of 4 separate sessions consisting of 2½ days of intensive training. Participants may also earn up to 12 credit hours towards a Masters degree at several colleges or universities. The idea for the National Institute of Christian Leadership took root in my mind while serving as a university president nearly 20 years ago. I experimented with the concept in various iterations at two different institutions and became convinced that I could serve leaders, pastors and business people in a meaningful and significant way. Over that period of time what became the NICL took a better, clearer shape, and the material matured in sophistication in a far greater way than I even dreamed. After more than 40 years of leadership in a wide variety of settings, I knew I had experience. My question to myself was: Could I formulate it, could I translate all that experience into a coherent course that would be useful to leaders at different places in their own careers? I wondered if I could turn vast experience into transferable concepts applicable in a wide range of settings. The answer turned out to be yes, and YES in caps. The result has become the National Institute of Christian Leadership. Hundreds of leaders have already graduated from this certificate program which continues to rapidly expand both in the U.S. and internationally. The whole idea of the NICL has always been and remains PRACTICAL APPLICATION. So much of what I was taught in college, graduate school and at the doctoral level was theoretical. I was determined from the very beginning to keep the NICL PRACTICAL. I am committed to teach real approaches to real challenges and real cost and benefit answers to real leadership dilemmas.
The core of the program was originally designed with the local church and nonprofit world in mind. I have been gratified, however, to see how many from the business world have found tremendous benefit as well. It has been rewarding to see the 50-something pastor of a megachurch, a female small business owner, a youth pastor in his 20s, the president of an international missions agency and the CEO of a burgeoning construction company all studying and learning together. The NICL s students have even included two university presidents and one state senator. Though most of the NICL s students are Americans, others have commuted (four trips in a year) from as far away as Brunei, Israel, Australia, Canada, Puerto Rico and Albania. In other words, the material seems to apply easily across cultural, as well as professional, boundaries. From the very beginning, a part of my vision for the NICL was to gently usher back into formal education veterans who, because of career realities, had exited the process. I found many mature leaders in substantial positions of leadership who had given up hope of ever getting a graduate degree. Seven universities now give as much as a full year of advanced standing toward their master s degree to leaders who earn a certificate from the NICL. One university even grants NICL graduates 12 hours which is one-third of its MBA program. There is no educational requirement to enter the NICL and certainly no obligation to go forward into any of the graduate schools which accept the NICL certificate. However, dozens of NICL grads have gone on to earn higher degrees. From a burden to offer challenging practical education and advanced training to leaders in the field, came an idea, a dream that would not let go of me through the decades. That pressing burden and the dream it produced gave birth to the National Institute of Christian Leadership. Dr. Mark Rutland Director, NICL What Will You Learn? Board management & finances Leadership Management Strategic leadership for growth Maximizing effective organizational start-ups and re-launches Recruiting and sustaining a healthy volunteer base Staffing: getting the right person in the right place Preaching and Worship
Benefits of the NICL Only Four Sessions throughout the year (once a quarter) to minimize the time you re away. Flexible schedules to fit your needs. No Pre-work required and extremely minimal course work. Executive leadership training to sharpen your skills and take your church to the next level. Earn twelve credits toward a Master s degree. Spouses Attend Free. Designed specifically for church, ministry and business leaders. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Session Overviews Change Dynamics Dr. Rutland expounds on Leadership vs. Management. He shares how leadership is about doing the right thing, and management is all about doing things right. While he addresses how to balance leadership with management to maximize your team s potential, you ll learn valuable principles to steer your organization toward growth. Strategic Growth As you identify your key leaders personality types, you can ensure that you have the right balance in your organization in order to take it to the next level. Learn how to recruit, manage and keep volunteers to help your organization grow. Transformational Management Learn how to effectively lead those around you, communicate ideas and expectations accurately and manage organizational finances. Learn to turn the ship for organizational growth. This session focuses on Board management and finances. Communication & Worship Learn how preaching & worship can work together to effectively communicate the message of Christ. This session will stretch your skills as a public speaker or worship leader and help you focus and obtain the objective of your worship experiences each week.
Class Locations and Dates Testimonies I highly recommend NICL to all pastors, leaders, and businessmen whose goal is a greater excellence in their ministry. Dr. Rutland is honest, transparent, engaging, and highly successful. The class size is small enough to be intimate but filled with powerful leaders. If you are seeking to sharpen your leadership skills, spend the money and take the time for NICL. Your life, your ministry, your business, and your career will take a new direction to help you affect your world Rev. Larry Stockstill Director, The Surge Project
About a quarter way through the first session of the first three-day cohort, I became strongly disappointed. As a person with a PhD in Hebrew and Old Testament studies from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, you can imagine that I have read one or two books, and sat through at least a few lectures. I realized that I was disappointed that after this three-day session, there were only three more across the coming year and then it would be all over! Hopefully, Dr. Rutland will compose a second-year curriculum so that this can continue. The fruit has already been immense, and we are most grateful. Dr. Paul Hughes Senior Pastor, theriverfellowship.com I have for many years desired to continue my education. When I was introduced to NICL I found an educational process that fit both my schedule and goals. The quality of higher learning was in no way compromised by a unique approach to graduate level learning. As a result of completing this year of study I have enrolled in a fully accredited graduate school that has accepted the work and certification from NICL and applied credit toward my degree. I am certain the pursuit of a Master s degree and possibly the eventual pursuit of a PhD would have either been put off or never attempted had it not been for Dr Rutland and the NICL. I am 50 years old and I feel like there are many more open doors for me now. I am excited to see what this next level of learning will bring. Pastor Phillip Williams Senior Pastor, Cornerstone Church Become a more effective leader today. Whether you want to expand your influence, grow your church, re-launch your ministry or even earn credit hours towards your Masters degree, the NICL will give you the preparation, training and tools you need to make 2016 a year of growth. Register Today. Visit thenicl.com or call 407-333-7106 Space is Limited.