WEA Forms Partnership to Advance Training of Evangelicals Leaders Worldwide

By Eric Young, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, August 17, 2010

The Leadership Institute of the World Evangelical Alliance has formed an educational partnership with a Bible-based university in downtown San Francisco, according to an announcement last week.

And through the partnership with Olivet University, thousands of evangelical leaders across the globe will be trained while also receiving internationally recognized credit for their work, say WEA directors.

"The technological expertise of OU is a great asset and will assist in helping train thousands of leaders across the globe," commented Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, international director of the WEA.

"We are excited by this development," added Dr. Rob Brynjolfson, director of the WEA Leadership Institute (WEA LI). "We are committed to attaining the highest standards of training, while ensuring that the real world skills and qualities needed for effective National Alliance leadership are met."

Founded in 2008, the WEA LI culminates the efforts of the seven regional and 128 national alliances associated with the WEA, and today provides the evangelical alliances with effective leadership development programs and resources.

According to WEA, Olivet University has played a role in the Leadership Institute curriculum development from the beginning. Olivet University, a school accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education, is one of the WEA's 13 Global Partners.

"We think highly of the WEA and the great work it is doing around world," commented Dr. William Wagner, president of Olivet University, in last Wednesday's announcement. "The WEA Leadership Institute is about training leaders for the future and Olivet University is grateful to be a part of it."

Starting in 2011, the WEA LI Certificate in Association Leadership will be offered jointly for credit at Olivet University, which has colleges that specialize in theology, music, journalism, graphic design, information technology, business, and language.

At that time, OU students from around the world will be able to use the certificate as a concentration in Association Leadership at both the Bachelor's and Master's degree levels.

Though OU's central campus is physically located in San Francisco, the school has students enrolled from around the world through its online programs.

On the web: Olivet University Facebook