Gulf SouthLeadership Institute

Ministry Leadership

“Building Communities, One Leader At A Time”

GULF SOUTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTEP.O. BOX 3352 • SLIDELL, LA 70459

CALL US:Toll Free: 888.988.8309Office: 985.641.8427

E-MAIL US:gsli@gulfsouthleadership.org

admin@gulfsouthleadership.org

FIND US ONLINE:www.gulfsouthleadership.org

Table of Contents

Profile .............................................................................................................2

History .............................................................................................................3

Core Values ......................................................................................................4

Programs and Services ....................................................................................4

Certificate Program Course Descriptions ......................................................5

Instructors and Life Coaches..........................................................................8

Notice of Non-Discrimination

Gulf South Leadership Institute does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, denomination, age, disability, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital status or other legally protected classification in hiring, promotion, or terms and conditions of employment and/or in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, consulting policies, and any other administered programs or activities.

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PROFILE

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Gulf South Leadership Institute is to ignite innovative, healthy, and progressive leadership and management practices within various social contexts.

VISION STATEMENT

Gulf South Leadership Institute promotes a higher standard of living, based on active, constructive leadership and management practices, and leadership training and development for the Gulf South Region and beyond.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The Gulf South Leadership Institute (“GSLI” or “The Institute”) exists as a leadership or management resource center for churches, faith-based organizations, non-profit organizations, businesses, and educational institutions within the Greater New Orleans Area.

The Advisory Board, Board of Directors, Executive Director, Instructors, and Staff of GSLI are committed to the maintenance of a leadership resource center where Christian character and positive values are foundational to training and education. The Institute’s leadership training and consulting programs are tailored to provide knowledge, skills, and values, which result in clients:

1. Possessing leadership qualities, which motivate them to function within the leadership ministry of the church and/or business environments, as well as the community at large, in a way that advances ethical leadership and management practices.

2. Passionate about influencing the religious, social, educational, and business communities with leadership and management principles and moral character consistent with the life and teachings of Christ and His apostles and their code of ethics.

3. Engaging actively in their communities as citizens who are concerned about the quality of life for all.

4. Successfully pursuing the attainment of personal and professional goals, and promotion within their field of endeavor.

5. Striving towards a legacy for the next generation by supporting and actively engaging themselves in the training and development of young leaders.

6) Cultivating an awareness of the inter-connectedness all people and seeking opportunities to promote peace, goodwill, and the enrichment of life within the global village.

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HISTORY

Gulf South Leadership Institute is a non-profit organization committed to leadership training and development, inspired by the premise that community development happens in the context of people development, and we believe that as we train one leader at a time we add quality to the communities around us. Healthy, creative, and safe communities are a result of innovative, healthy, and progressive leadership and for this reason, the team at Gulf South Leadership Institute highly prioritizes encouraging and developing such leadership.

Realizing a weak leadership base within a number of the churches across the state of Louisiana, some of the leaders within the Greater New Orleans Area began to dialogue about the possibility of establishing a Bible college. Their conversations grew more progressive in April of 2008, leading to the contacting of some established Christian Colleges and Universities for advice on how to turn the vision into a reality. Christian Colleges and Universities that were contacted in the process included: Dallas Christian College, Johnson Bible College, Great Lakes Christian College, and Kentucky Christian University.

Dialogue continued between the above-mentioned institutions, and the local leaders, namely: Todd Petty, then Preaching Minister at Christian Church of Slidell; Tim Martin, then Executive Director for Building Better Communities; and Rick Grover, then the Church Planter and Preaching Minister for Journey Christian Church in New Orleans, it became obvious that a leadership training and development program was desperately needed in the area. It was also evident to all who were a part of the dialogue that a Bible College would be a big undertaking, but a leadership-training institute could be achieved.

In the process of identifying an established Bible College that would play an advisory role for the process, Todd, Tim, and Rick contacted Dr. Keith Keeran who was then President of Kentucky Christian University. Dr. Keeran was intrigued, and agreed to meet with these leaders over the phone in July of 2008. At the end of that meeting, he sensed the Lord was leading, and suggested bringing a Graduate Student of Kentucky Christian University under a partnership through the International Alliance of Christian Colleges and Universities (IACCU). Dr. Keeran assured the team of his support of what he called, “a herculean task.”

Dr. Keeran gave the team the name of a student who was at the time getting ready to graduate with a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership and was interested in establishing a leadership-training ministry in a mission field. On July 18, 2008, Todd Petty and Tim Martin made a phone call to Wimbai Mutonono, a single man at the time, with a passion for leadership ignited in the mission fields of Zimbabwe, Africa. On August 14, 2008, Wimbai took a trip to tour the Greater New Orleans Area to identify the potential of a leadership training and development program, and at the end of his four-day stay, felt the Lord’s call to move. In October 2008, Wimbai moved from North Carolina with the assistance of the Louisiana Evangelistic Association, and he has continued to serve as the first Executive Director of the Gulf South Leadership Institute.

Gulf South Leadership Institute was established as a non-denominational leadership resource center for churches, ministries, and faith-based organizations within the Greater New Orleans Area, and was granted 501 (C) 3 status by the IRS in July 2009. Since its establishment, the Institute has experienced steady growth, and has served a number of ministries and organizations.

As previously stated, GSLI has a vision for leadership training and development for the Gulf South Region and beyond.

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Gulf South Leadership Institute is a private, faith-based, non-profit organization with a non-denominational focus and approach to leadership training and development. It is the Institute’s goal to assist all ministry leaders, business leaders, and community leaders for the purpose of growing healthy communities and neighborhoods.

The Advisory Board and Board of Directors agree GSLI will be guided by no creed but the Scriptures and teachings thereof, which inspire the following core values:

THAT GOD is not only the omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent Creator of the universe, but also the loving Father, Provider of all life, and righteous Judge.

THAT THE BIBLE is God's divinely inspired revelation to man. These Holy Scriptures are not to be added to, nor subtracted from, by anyone.

THAT JESUS is the Christ, the Son of God, who came to earth in the fullness of time, as Savior and as Messiah. This same Jesus is recognized as the only begotten Son of God, born of the virgin Mary, crucified on the cross after a sinless life on earth, raised bodily as Lord from the tomb, ascended into heaven as King of Kings, and is coming again to reclaim those who have accepted Him by faith.

THAT THE CHURCH is the divine institution by which God has provided for the preaching of the Gospel and the salvation of the world.

THAT THE UNITY of all followers of Christ can be realized based on a return to the original pattern for Church doctrine–in practice, in politics, and in life as seen in the New Testament.

To this end, it is the intentional goal of the Board Members, Staff, and Instructors of the Gulf South Leadership Institute to endorse unity, by promoting learning and networking environments for leaders from all social sectors of life.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Ministry Leadership Certificate

Gulf South Leadership Institute’s Ministry Leadership Certificate is designed to equip aspiring and involved leaders for vocational or lay ministry. The GSLI Certificate Program is designed with flexibility and convenience in mind. This certificate is available for leaders serving within churches, para-church organizations, or faith-based non-profit organizations and is geared towards laying a solid biblical foundation for ministry. Gulf South Leadership Institute’s Ministry Leadership Certificate is an eight-course program totaling twenty-four (24) semester hours.

CORE VALUES

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Seminars and workshops

Leadership seminars are offered periodically and usually over a weekend in-between class modules. These leadership seminars are open to all leaders and aspiring leaders. Seminars will have a general focus, in some cases, and in other cases focus on a specific area of leadership or ministry. Seminars will be scheduled on a one-day basis and in some cases on a day-and-a-half schedule, depending on the material to be covered. The Gulf South Leadership Institute will be featured at various Christian conferences in the Greater New Orleans Area and the Gulf South Region to present leadership workshops to encourage and equip ministry leaders. The Institute will also host conferences in its different locations (Slidell, New Orleans East, Mandeville, and Kenner) focusing on a specific area of Christian ministry (e.g. Worship, Christian Education, Small Groups or Discipleship) or a specific aspect of leadership (e.g. Servant Leadership, Transformational Leadership, or Value Based Leadership).

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

BIB 500 – Getting Our Story Straight (Survey of the Old Testament)

This course is an overview of the contents of the Bible as seen through the motif of the mission of God. Students explore background information necessary to convey the story that holds the Bible together. While the course does not presuppose knowledge of the Bible, those wanting to hear the story again will benefit.

BIB 501 – Survey of the New Testament

The course introduces the students to historic, geographical, and cultural background information of the New Testament, specific to concepts, ideas, and theology. In days when preaching and teaching of the Word is becoming more focused on modern, rather than contextualized application, it is crucial to go back to the roots and see some key tenets of the New Testament through the prism of the 1st century A.D. The course will employ a variety of sources from Early Christianity, and 1st Century Judaism to study the New Testament.

BIB 503 – Life and Teachings of Christ

Students come to know Jesus' purpose and significance by studying the major events and movements of His life as presented in the four gospels. Confidence in the gospels as historical resources is also attained.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

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BIB 504 – Acts Alive

“Acts Alive” is a short course on the Luke’s second volume, the Book of Acts. This course focuses on the main storyline of Acts with particular attention to Luke’s purpose in writing Acts according to his major themes. Acts is revealed as a missional document inviting the church deeper into God’s mission.

BIB 505 – Guiding to Green Pasture

In this exegetical treatment and modern application of Paul’s letters to the evangelists, Timothy and Titus, students confront the modern challenges and the biblical design of the work of an evangelist. This course offers an understanding of the letters to Timothy and Titus with a specific focus on understanding the leader as a shepherd.

BIB 506 – Introduction to the Bible

This course is an introductory study of the Bible. The sixty-six books of the Bible are set in chronological order and correlated with the corresponding periods of biblical history. Included in the study will be a brief analysis of each book, noting the theme, historical development, personalities, main events, and progression of the redemptive system.

BIB 507 – Greek Tools for Bible Study

Greek Tools For Bible Study is designed to prepare preachers, teachers, and leaders with limited or no foundational knowledge of the original languages. This class will focus on giving a basic understanding of the Greek language, and is geared towards providing a working knowledge of the tools that can help to delve deeper into the meaning of Scripture.

CHL 500 – Foundations of Biblical Leadership

This course will provide an integrated analysis of Biblical leadership. The understanding of Biblical leadership is vital to being an effective leader in a Church or in any faith-based organization. Students will build this understanding on a biblical foundation of leadership. Students will focus on Biblical leadership while incorporating subjects such as communication, mission, vision, values, best practices, future/developing models, measurement, staff development, contextualization, strategic mapping, and administration.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

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CHL 501 – Missional Leadership (Dynamics of Servant Leadership)

This course explores how servant leadership, even recognized in the business world, supports any understanding of legitimate power in the context of the Kingdom of God. Further, this class will explore how servant leadership is the basis of all missional leadership.

CHL 502 – Developing Local Church Leadership

This is a practical seminar, involving a lot of interaction and participation. The purpose of this seminar is to implement Biblical strategies for local church leadership development. Each church is different in its own way, but the leadership must be set in such a way that it helps the church grow and influence people in the community. The leadership of a local congregation plays a vital role, thus the seminar will look at biblical models of leadership and examine how they are implemented in churches in the U.S.

CHL 506 – Transformational Leadership

Social and business environments are constantly changing, and with constant changes new challenges surface. Transformational leaders help organizations or communities navigate through the change process. Students examine organizational leadership in the context of managing continuous change, innovation, and adaptation. Topics include models and theories of leadership and change management; behavior of individuals and teams in organizations; and communicating strategic intent.

CHL 507 – Value Based Leadership

Leadership can be both beneficial and destructive. The authority that God gives to just a few people to lead weighs heavily on the shoulders of those who carry it, whether they realize that or not. What are the guidelines that should be foundational for any leader? At what point are the guidelines needed? Why is it important to reinforce values and morale for the leadership? What part does such reinforcement play on the culture and ethos of leadership? What leadership are we cultivating today – in our families, churches, communities? This seminar will discuss Christian values as the foundation and guidelines that each

leader must have.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

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ADMINISTRATION

Wimbai Mutonono (M.A.) – Executive Director, Instructor, and Life Coach

Wimbai Mutonono, is a native of Zimbabwe, Africa, who came to the United States in January of 2000 to pursue studies at Kentucky Christian University. Prior to that, Wimbai had completed a Bachelor of Science diploma program with Zimbabwe Christian College. He also has a Master of Arts degree in Leadership Studies from Kentucky Christian University.

Wimbai served in various leadership roles over the years, including President of the Student Council and Head Librarian at Zimbabwe Christian College. He also has cross-cultural teaching and mission experience in Haiti. Wimbai’s personal ministry objective is, “to be instrumental in establishing a leadership development program that will be biblically sound and culturally relevant to the needs of today’s current and emerging church leaders beginning with the Gulf South region.”

Wimbai is married to Olena Osypchuk-Mutonono, who also graduated from Kentucky Christian University with a Master of Arts in New Testament. Olena volunteers with the Institute as an Instructor focusing on New Testament studies.

FACULTY

Stanley N. Helton (D. Min)

Stanley (Stan) N. Helton currently serves as the preaching minister for the First Christian Church in Hammond, Louisiana. Previously he served as the preaching minister at Tammany Oaks Church of Christ, Mandeville, Louisiana. Prior to that he was academic dean and professor of Bible at Western Christian College in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada from 2003-2009. Before moving to Regina, Stan worked with the West Suburban Church of Christ in Berkeley, Illinois, an inner suburb of Chicago. He has also served as the senior minister for the Carrollton Avenue Church of Christ in New Orleans (1996-2001).

Stan holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Abilene Christian University (2009). Additionally, he has earned a Master of Divinity degree (1999) and a Master of Science degree in Doctrinal and Historical Studies (1992) from Abilene Christian University. Stan

earned his Bachelor of Arts degree (1988) in Biblical Studies from Oklahoma Christian University.

He married Patricia in 1988, and they have one child, Rachel, who is currently a student at Oklahoma Christian University.

PERSONNEL

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Gerald Taylor Sr. (M.A.)

Gerald and his wife Angelia serve as lead church planters at The Church at New Orleans East (TCANOE). They are natives of Memphis, Tennessee who came to New Orleans by way of Chattanooga, Tennessee, where for twelve years Gerald served as Preaching Minister at Avondale Church of Christ. Gerald has also served as Preaching Minister at churches in Texas and Oklahoma for a total of 32 years in ministry.

He is currently a candidate for the Master of Divinity at Temple Baptist Seminary (TBS) in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He has received the Master of Ministry and the Master of Arts in Biblical Studies at TBS. Prior to that, Gerald earned the Master of Education in Community Counseling at the University of Central Oklahoma. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas.

Gerald and Angelia have six adult children who all reside in Tennessee with the exception of the youngest, also Angelia (Lele), who is a Psychology major at Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Olena Mutonono (M.A.)

Olena Osypchuk-Mutonono holds a Master of Arts degree in New Testament from Kentucky Christian University and is passionate about teaching New Testament Survey and an Exegetical Study on the Gospel of John. Olena became a Christian through the ministry of Crimean-American College (CAC), now Commonwealth International University (CIU) in Simferopol, Ukraine, where she went to school to become a teacher of English and subsequently an Instructor of the New Testament.

After graduation from Crimean American College and Kentucky Christian University, she taught English and New Testament Survey at her alma mater in Ukraine for seven years.

In 2009, she married Wimbai Mutonono and together they moved to the U.S. to serve the Greater New Orleans area at Gulf South Leadership Institute.

GULF SOUTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE’S COMMITMENT TO QUALITY

Gulf South Leadership Institute is committed to providing positive and supportive training and coaching environments in which clients can examine their giftedness, potential, experiment in various leadership and ministry possibilities, and engage their full potential while committing to a lifetime of servant-leadership to the church, the community, and the world. To achieve this, instructional and institutional assessment efforts regularly analyze the level of student learning, and introduce changes to improve progress and achievement.

PERSONNEL

GULF SOUTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

P.O. BOX 3352 • SLIDELL, LA 70459 Facebook: www.facebook.com/GSLINOLA Twitter: gslinola