Training and mentoring Christian leaders worldwide
Forming leaders
from the inside out.
Leader Formation Institute forms Christian leaders from the heart to ministry through biblical teaching, character development, practical skills, and mentoring—strengthening the church and serving society.
Leader Formation Institute
About Us
Leader Formation Institute is a resource for Christian leadership formation, serving churches and ministry organizations through training, mentoring, research, consulting, and educational resources.
LFI
Our Team
Board
Aurel Silivestru
Corina Silivestru
Dr. Daniel Fodorean
Felicia Fodorean
Executive Team
Felicia Fodorean
Executive Director
Emanuel Natanael Fodorean
Media Coordinator
Ovidiu Zamfiroiu
Accountant
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How We Serve
We serve Christian leaders, churches and ministry teams through formation, guidance and resources.
Training Programs
Structured formation processes for Christian leaders, adapted to their stage of life and ministry.
Learn more →Seminars & Conferences
Biblical and practical training offered in churches, conferences and ministry settings.
Learn more →Mentoring
Personal guidance that supports the leader’s spiritual formation and ministry development.
Learn more →Consulting
Contextual support for churches, ministries and organizations seeking development and renewal.
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Applied research that helps leaders understand ministry realities and make informed decisions.
Learn more →Educational Resources
Accessible tools and materials for leadership formation, mentoring and ministry practice.
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Areas of Expertise
Our interdisciplinary expertise connects biblical formation with leadership practice, law and education.
Church
Applied ecclesiology, church development and ministry renewal.
Learn moreLeadership
Spiritual formation, leadership development and mentoring.
Learn moreLaw
Church law, religious freedom and the legal framework of religious organizations.
Learn moreEducation
Theological education, adult learning and educational innovation.
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Resources
Articles
Learn moreBooks & Publications
Learn moreResearch
Learn moreVideos
Learn moreMinistry Resources
Learn moreLFI Impact
Formation with lasting impact
Since 2009, LFI has served leaders across Romania and the international Romanian diaspora through long-term programs, seminars and mentoring relationships.
119graduates
600+participants
17years of formation
Start today
Take the next step in your formation
Discover a program, request mentoring or continue learning on our online platform.
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News & Events
Follow the activity of Leader Formation Institute through announcements, upcoming events and stories of impact.
Upcoming Events
- Course: “Ministry: Roles and Responsibilities”
- Ministry at Emanuel Church
- Introductory seminar for the course “Heart, Character, Ministry”
Latest News
Announcements and updates from our programs, partnerships and ministry activities.
Highlights & Stories
Leadership Formation in Romania
Leadership formation in Romania marked the beginning of the program, which was later expanded across Eastern Europe. The work included conferences and seminars for pastors, as well as two cohorts of the Leader Formation Network Romania program, whose graduates included pastors and leaders of Christian organizations from across the country.
Romania
Conferences, Seminars, and the Leader Formation Network Program
Leadership Formation in the Republic of Moldova
Leadership formation in the Republic of Moldova has included the three-year LFN (Leader Formation Network) program in Anenii Noi (2015–2018), courses for Divitia Gratiae University students from the Republic of Moldova and Central Asia, the Russian translation of Dr. Bill Lawrence’s book The Heart of the Leader, as well as various seminars and conferences.
Republic of Moldova · Anenii Noi · 2015–2018
Leader Formation Network Program
The three-year LFN Moldova program offered leaders a sustained process of biblical formation, character development, practical preparation, and mentoring. The meetings in Anenii Noi created a context for learning, building relationships, reflecting on ministry, and applying the formation model within the participants’ churches and families.
Republic of Moldova · Chișinău
Forming Leaders in Partnership with Divitia Gratiae University
Through our partnership with Divitia Gratiae University, we have contributed to the formation of students from the Republic of Moldova and countries of the former Soviet Union through courses focused on the heart of the leader, character, and ministry. Dr. Daniel Fodorean and Dr. Bill Lawrence have been involved in teaching and mentoring students throughout their spiritual and academic formation.
Leadership Formation in Ukraine
Beginning in 2011, our work in Ukraine has included seminars and conferences, as well as two Leader Formation Network (LFN) programs: one for Ukrainian ministry leaders in the Kyiv area and another for Romanian-speaking ministry leaders in the Chernivtsi area.
Ukraine · Kyiv area
Leader Formation Network for Ukrainian Ministry Leaders
The LFN program in the Kyiv area brought Ukrainian ministry leaders together for biblical teaching, reflection on the leader’s heart and character, practical preparation, mentoring, and learning in small groups. The sessions encouraged participants to apply the formation process within their own churches and ministry contexts.
Ukraine · Chernivtsi
Leader Formation Network for Romanian Ministry Leaders
The LFN program in the Chernivtsi area offered Romanian-speaking ministry leaders a sustained context for biblical formation, character development, practical preparation, mentoring, and relationship-building. Teaching sessions, small-group discussions, and practical activities supported participants in applying the formation process within their churches, ministries, and families.
Expanding the European Vision
In 2017, we sought to bring together the leadership formation efforts developed in the countries where the Leader Formation Network (LFN) program had operated. Together with the leaders involved, we discussed the continuity of this work, the strengthening of collaboration, and the possibility of expanding it into other European contexts.
Ukraine · Chernivtsi
Shaping a shared vision
The meeting in Chernivtsi brought together leaders from Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom who shared a concern for forming a new generation of ministry leaders. Dialogue, study, and planning helped clarify common values and explore European collaboration rooted in forming leaders from the inside out.
United Kingdom · Birmingham
Developing the European network
The Birmingham meeting brought together leaders from Romania, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Costa Rica, representing different cultural and ecclesial contexts. It provided a setting for sharing experiences, deepening the formation model, and identifying ways for leaders, churches, and organizations to collaborate.
Seminars and Conferences Across Europe
These images represent only a few of the places where we have held seminars and conferences. The ministry has extended beyond Europe, reaching Central Asia and even Central America.
Follow Us
Follow the work of Leader Formation Institute and connect with Dr. Daniel Fodorean through the platforms below.
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Contact & Get Involved
Connect with us, explore ways to participate, or discover how you can support the formation of Christian leaders.