Training Revival Leaders: Effective Course of Study 

One of the most exciting but also tragic revival leaders was Evan Roberts. Evan Roberts was used by God to usher in the Welsh Revival of the early nineteen hundreds. He grew up in a devout Welsh home with thirteen other children. From a young age, he sought after God. He often would actively share Scriptures with his friends and co-workers at the coal mine.

A visiting evangelist named Seth Joshua led a meeting where he asked God to "bend us” to serve God and bring revival to the nations. Evan asked if that revival would happen to him first. He asked for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He asked God to "bend me.”  Evan experienced an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This young man had his heart at a surrendered place and the Great Welsh revival was started.

Evan Roberts was speaking and leading revivals throughout villages and cities. Roberts was passionate in proclaiming sincere devotion to God. He did not trust the traditional places of ministry training such as seminaries. He was concerned that either they were spiritually dead or they would douse the flame of the Holy Spirit.

Evan Roberts started a revival that was felt throughout the world. "Within 2 months of its beginnings, there had been over 30,000 converts. Within six months 100,000 converts. By the beginning of 1906, who could know? By 1910 its influence was felt in every corner of the globe”.

The tragic thing about Evan Roberts is that his fear of getting traditional ministry training at a seminary actually resulted in hurting him as a revival leader. He did not find a way to get orthodox biblical ministry training even in alternative ways. The lack of grounded orthodox views sidelined him as a revival leader. Tony Cauchi at Revival - Library wrote about Evan Roberts,

The revival spread like wildfire all over Wales. Other leaders also experienced the presence of God. Hundreds of overseas visitors flocked to Wales to witness the revival and many took revival fire back to their own land. But the intense presence began to take its toll on Evan. He became nervous and would sometimes be abrupt or rude to people in public meetings. He openly rebuked leaders and congregations alike.

Though he was clearly exercising spiritual gifts and was sensitive to the Holy Spirit, he became unsure of the "voices” he was hearing. Then he broke down and withdrew from public meetings. Accusations and criticism followed and further physical and emotional breakdowns ensued.

Understandably, converts were confused. Was this God? Was Evan Roberts God's man or was he satanically motivated? He fell into a deep depression and in the spring of 1906, he was invited to convalesce at Jessie Penn-Lewis' home at Woodlands in Leicester.

It is claimed that Mrs. Penn Lewis used Evan's name to propagate her own ministry and message. She supposedly convinced him he was deceived by evil spirits and, over the next few years co-authored with Evan "War on the Saints,” which was published in 1913. This book clearly delineates the confusion she had drawn Evan into. It left its readers totally wary of any spiritual phenomena of any kind or degree. Rather than giving clear guidelines regarding discerning satanic powers, it brought into question anything that may be considered, or that might be described, as Holy Spirit activity. Within a year of its publication, Evan Roberts denounced it, telling friends that it had been a failed weapon that had confused and divided the Lord's people.

Evan stayed at the Penn-Lewis' home for eight years, giving himself to intercession and private group counseling. Around 1920 Evan moved to Brighton and lived alone until he returned to his beloved Wales when his father fell ill in 1926. He began to visit Wales again and eventually moved there in 1928 when his father died.

Nothing much is known of the years that followed. Evan finally died at the age of 72 and was buried behind Moriah Chapel on Jan 29th, 1951.  

(http://www.revival-library.org/pensketches/revivalists/robertse.html)

Roberts had burned out. But also he did not have the ministry foundation of solid training in the sound teaching of Scripture to keep his doctrine and life balanced.

Well-Grounded Revival Leaders

What would have happened if Evan Roberts would have had ministry training that kept him walking in the Spirit and very solid in his doctrine and life?  We will never know, but what we do see over and over again is that sound knowledge of key Biblical teachings is important.

Revival leaders are not only filled with the zeal of the Holy Spirit, but understand what they believe and why. They need enough ministry training that they can stand many tests of their doctrine and life. 

The Apostle Paul illustrated the importance of sound doctrine many times. Here are some samples of what he said,

1 Timothy 1:3 - As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer . . .

1 Timothy 4:6-7 - If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.  Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.

1 Timothy 6:3-4  - If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,  4 he is conceited and understands nothing.

2 Timothy 4:2-3 - Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.  3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.

Titus 1:8-9 - Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.  He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Titus 2:1 - You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.

Christian Leaders Institute has put together a curriculum of study that covers the major bases of a solid seminary education. Revival leaders can lead in bringing people back to God wherever they live. We will bring solid Bible-based training to support them as sustainable leaders who will stand the various tests that can shipwreck leaders.

The Christian Leaders Curriculum

Since giving solid doctrine to new leaders is very important, I want to be very clear about the doctrinal perspective that guides the formation of our teaching materials. We are guided by a carefully prepared curriculum for the teaching of solid ministry training.

What is a curriculum? The word "curriculum" is Latin and, literally translated, means "race course." There were many living in the early 1900s who focused on what curricula (the plural form of the curriculum) should be taught. One such man was John Franklin Bobbitt, who was part of the Henry Ford and Dale Carnegie era. This was the era of efficiency, where everyone was challenged to be their very best and waste was to be eliminated. Bobbitt was sent by the USA to do social engineering in the Philippines. The American leaders wanted more of the social capital of "efficiency” of that era to drive Philippine culture. They planned to accomplish this through an elementary school curriculum designed by Bobbitt. Thus, Bobbitt designed a curriculum that he felt would pass on those American values to the children of the Philippine culture. A curriculum, then, is really the teacher's "canon” of what should be taught to the next generation. Curricula are very important.

It is also important to realize that every curriculum is constructed out of a world-view.  John Dewey, another curriculum creator, believed in a world without God. He believed that the true "god" was scientific observation and the "pastors” of society were the teachers in the public school, so he designed a curriculum that separated science from religion and held science to be superior. John Dewey's curriculum was very centered on a community of democracy as the ideal. We can see why he is still very popular.

Curricula, which form the content taught by the leaders, are themselves formed to ingrain in students certain ideals foundational to their worldview perspective. We as church leaders have as our foundation the Bible, and the Bible applies to all generations. However, if we look at the history of the church, we will notice that the curriculum that the leaders used did change. They replaced the early church curriculum with a tradition-laden curriculum that taught that the church organization, and not Jesus and His Word, was the final authority on salvation and life.

New curricula were developed at the time of the Reformation that proclaimed that people had a direct connection to God and were saved by God's grace, through faith, and supported by the church as a called body of believers. The hierarchy of the church was re-thought by the Protestants. New curricula were written and taught to the leaders which reflected the return to a Bible-based perspective.

We have many examples of curricula developed throughout history, but what makes a good curriculum? A Christian curriculum comes from a God-honoring worldview. This worldview builds upon God's Word, the Bible, as the only foundation and rule of life and teaching. At CLI, we believe all the core doctrines of a good Christian curriculum must be supported by the Bible. But what are the important points of Christianity? The historic doctrines of the church taught in the Ecumenical creeds like the Apostle's Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed.


 Christian Leaders (College) Statement of Faith

(Includes the Institute and the Alliance)

 The Bible

    The Bible is God's inerrant, infallible, reliant Word, the only final authority for faith and life. (Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 8:20; John 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21)

    Who is God?

    God is Triune, an eternal, loving unity of three divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
    (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 14:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

    God Created The World

    God created the universe ex nihilo, from nothing, and made all things very good.
    (Genesis 1-2; Exodus 20:11; Hebrews 11:3)

    God Created Humanity

    God created humanity to glorify and enjoy God and to be stewards of creation.
    (Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 8; Isaiah 43:7; Revelation 4:11; Psalm 37:4)

    The Fall

    Humanity and Creation have fallen into sin, and we are totally unable to save ourselves.
    (Genesis 3; Romans 3:12, 23; Romans 5:12)

    Who is Jesus? 

    Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. 
    (Matthew 1:21-23; John 1:1,14; 20:28; Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:14)

    Jesus' Life and Victory

    Jesus was born of a virgin, obeyed God perfectly, worked great miracles, died on a cross, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and reigns over all things.
    (Luke 1:26-35, Hebrews 4:15; John 14:11, Luke 23-24, Ephesians 1:20-23) 

    Salvation is a Work of God

    God's Salvation is merited only by Jesus' perfect obedience and substitutionary atonement.
    (Isaiah 53; Hebrews 7:26-27; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Acts 4:12)

    Salvation is Not Our Work

    Salvation is entirely God's gift, not our achievement, and is received by faith, not works. (John 3:16; Romans 1:16-17; Galatians 2:16-21) 

    The Holy Spirit was Sent to Earth and Fills us

    The Holy Spirit gives new birth, unites us to Christ, equips us with His gifts, and empowers us to be His ambassadors. (John 3:3-8; Romans 8:9-11; Ephesians 3:16-21; 1 Corinthians 12; Acts 1:8)

    The Church

    The Church is the one body of God's people throughout all generations and from all nations. (Romans 12:5; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 1:22-23; Revelation 7:9)

    Angels of God

    God's holy angels defend and help God's people. 
    (Psalm 34:7, 91:11; Matthew 18:10; Hebrews 1:14)

    Fallen Angels

    Satan and other fallen angels are dangerous but doomed. Christ is victor. 
    (Ephesians 6:10-18; Colossians 2:15; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:10-12  

    Christ will Return and the Dead Will Be Raised

    Christ will return visibly. The dead will be raised. Christ will rule the world and make all things new. (Matthew 24:30; 1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 21:1-5)

    New Heaven and New Earth

    God's people will rejoice forever in the new heaven and new earth; God's enemies will suffer forever in hell.
    (Daniel 12:2-3; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 22:1-5; 2 Thessalonians 1:9)

    God Designed Marriage
    Sexual intimacy is for marriage only. Christian Marriage is a lifelong union of a man and a woman. (Genesis 2:22-25; Matthew 5:27-32; Matthew 19:3-9; 1 Corinthians 7:1-11)

    God Relates to Families

    God's covenant addresses not only individuals but also their families. 
    (Genesis 17:7; 18:19; Deuteronomy 7:9; Joshua 24:15; Psalm 103:17; Acts 11:14; 16:15, 31)

    We Are Able to Walk with God

    As individuals, as couples, and as families, we need a daily conversation with God through Bible reading and prayer. (Psalm 1; Daniel 6:10; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17) 

    We Love Because He Loved Us

    We are called to a life of love, as depicted in the Ten Commandments.
    (Exodus 20:1-17; Mark 12:30-31; John 14:15; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 13)

    We Share the Good News

    We are called to spread the gospel to people who don't yet follow Christ.
    (Psalm 96:3; Matthew 5:14; 28:18-20; 1 Peter 3:15)


Christian Leaders is guided by our belief statement that reflects those doctrines and teachings that we believe are most foundational to Christianity. It is founded on Scripture.  And it is inspired by the historic church creeds of the faith. Christian Leaders Institute is taking the ancient teachings and putting them on the web so that called future ministry leaders will be able to reproduce these teachings and a godly walk to those people whom God calls them to lead.

The curriculum of CL is focused to build from and on the Christian capital of the past, addressing the critical issues that leaders face today. What is interesting to me is that I believe we are going back to themes that were very relevant in the early church. 

John Knox, the founder of the Presbyterian Church, was a revival leader and had zeal for an alive and vibrant church. He had all the Holy Spirit passion of any revival leader that ever lived. 

Knox prayed continually, "God, give me Scotland or I die!" Knox desperately prayed for seven years to God that Scotland would be revived back to God. God did bring revival to Scotland. And wherever Presbyterian churches exist they are a testament to the revival that God brought about by John Knox. 


Last modified: Wednesday, August 30, 2023, 8:26 AM