The Ministry of the Deacon
Developing Effective Deacons to Serve the Local Church
Welcome to Church Life Online! On this distance learning platform we offer dynamic Bible based courses for general knowledge as well as for specialized theological instruction. In our Christian churches, there are many roles and responsibilities open to leaders and congregants for which they must be adequately trained and prepared for in order to serve effectively in their local churches and communities. One significant area of church practice which must be rectified in the modern church is a reliance on old outdated traditions or lack of knowledge and structure. Here at Church Life Online, we aim to provide you and your church community with sound biblical based training in different areas of study including ecclesiastical governance, church leadership, conversational apologetics, and spiritual growth. Browse our selection of courses and find out what is right just for you.
Your Instructor
Dr. David Ireland is the author of some 20 books including One in Christ, What Color is Your God?, Secrets of a Satisfying Life, Failure is Written in Pencil, Perfecting Your Purpose, The Skin You Live In; The Kneeling Warrior: Winning Your Battles Through Prayer, and Raising a Child Who Prays.
He is founder and lead pastor of Christ Church, a 9,500-member multisite, multiracial congregation in northern New Jersey, representing over 70 nationalities. Former diversity consultant to the National Basketball Association, Dr. Ireland has led chapel services for the New York Giants, New York Jets, and at the U.S. Pentagon. Ireland has appeared on numerous television shows including The Dr. Phil Show, The CBS Evening News, and The 700 Club. He has traveled to more than 75 nations and built a reputation of teaching culturally relevant messages that inspire and empower his global audiences. He is a well-respected columnist contributing to such media outlets like Fox News, Huffington Post, and Patheos. Through his community development corporation, he offers a home for victims of domestic violence, a youth leadership institute, and a statewide abstinence-based program offered in partnership with New Jersey schools. The Rev. Ireland has an earned doctorate degree in organizational leadership (Regent University) and has completed post-doctoral work at the University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Marlinda, have been married since 1984 and have two adult daughters.