Founder
Dr. Bill Lawrence
Dr. Bill Lawrence is a Christian leadership educator, pastor, author, and mentor with decades of experience in forming Christian leaders around the world.
A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), where he earned both his ThM and ThD, Dr. Lawrence served for twenty-four years in the Pastoral Ministries Department. He later became Senior Professor Emeritus of Pastoral Ministries and Adjunct Professor of DMin Studies. During his years at DTS, he also served for twelve years as Executive Director of the Center for Christian Leadership.
Before his academic ministry, Bill, together with his wife, Lynna, and three other couples, founded South Hills Community Church in San Jose, California. During his twelve years of pastoral ministry there, the church grew significantly and sent more than 90 men and women into full-time Christian ministry. Following his years of full-time teaching at DTS, Dr. Lawrence founded Leader Formation International, through which he has served Christian leaders in more than 40 countries. He is also an author in the areas of Christian leadership and pastoral ministry.
Over more than two decades of friendship and collaboration, Dr. Lawrence has had a significant influence on Dr. Daniel Fodorean’s development as a Christian leader, mentor, and educator. The vision, values, and formation philosophy of Leader Formation Institute have been deeply shaped by what Bill and Daniel have learned, practiced, and developed together through years of training and mentoring Christian leaders. This shared journey continues to shape LFI’s commitment to forming leaders from the inside out.
Learn more about Dr. Bill Lawrence at Dallas Theological Seminary →
Founder & Director
Dr. Daniel Fodorean
Dr. Daniel Fodorean is a pastor, theological educator, researcher, and leader formation practitioner with more than 30 years of pastoral and leadership experience. He began pastoral ministry in 1993 and served for more than two decades at Golgota Baptist Church in Constanta, later at Betania Baptist Church in Bucharest, and currently serves at Alfa Omega Baptist Church. His ministry has consistently focused on developing churches, forming leaders, mentoring pastors, and encouraging mission and church planting.
In 1997, he was one of the initiators of the re-establishment of the Constanta Baptist Association and served as its first president. He also founded Antioch Center Association, which became the Romanian partner of Leader Formation International in developing leader formation programs beginning in 2005. Today, Antioch Center Association provides the organizational infrastructure for Leader Formation Institute, where Dr. Fodorean serves as Founder & Director.
Alongside his pastoral ministry, Dr. Fodorean has developed an extensive career in theological and higher education. He is a professor and currently Dean at the Baptist Theological Institute of Bucharest, has taught at Liberty University in the United States and at the Faculty of Law, Titu Maiorescu University, and currently also teaches at the Faculty of Baptist Theology, University of Bucharest. He is the author of books and academic articles in areas related to church, leadership, education, theology, and law.
Dr. Fodorean holds a PhD in Theology from the University of Bucharest, a Master’s degree in Canon Law and Community Institutions, and a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Ovidius University, in addition to his theological degree. His academic, pastoral, and professional journey brings together the four areas that characterize his contribution to Leader Formation Institute: Church • Leadership • Law • Education. Through LFI, he continues to integrate these areas in the formation and mentoring of Christian leaders from the inside out.
View Dr. Daniel Fodorean’s CV →