bout five years ago, my friend, Pastor Zale Lewis, and I engaged in a conversation about the need for,

and our desire to engage in, training young men for church leadership and ministry. Not long after my discussion with Pastor Lewis, I was on the phone with a young man from Texas who told me he was on his way to the church for Purpose Institute. Not having a clue what he was talking about, I asked him to tell me more. It was then I realized that I might have found the vehicle by which Pastor Lewis and I could realize our goal. Immediately following my conversation with my young friend from Texas, I followed his instructions and, using the "Information Highway", I typed in the home address for Purpose Institute, www.purposeinstitute. com. Instantly I knew! This is what we were looking for! Purpose Institute was, and is, the perfect tool for preparing men and women of all ages for church leadership and ministry; perfect because it provided a systematic approach to leadership training and ministry preparation with an emphasis on biblical understanding. Established in 1994 in Canton, Ohio with less than twenty students, Purpose Institute has grown into a worldwide ministry and leadershiptraining program with 79 campuses in 26 U.S. states and 9 nations. There

are currently 2,327 active students (many more thari are enrolled), and literally hundreds of graduates. It is a fact that every great leader is a lifelong learner. Foundational preparation prior to ultimate effectiveness is a leadership reality; and what corporations and churches everywhere have come to realize is that systematic training speeds development as a leader. Purpose Institute has proven to be a highly effective vehicle providing ministry education for local church leaders and young ministers while allowing them to remain faithful to the local church, their work, and their families. Concerning young preachers: since there is always a separation between one's ANOINTING and one's APPOINTMENT, Purpose Institute provides an opportunity to prepare for that ministry appointment through diligent study and the benefit of classroom time with seasoned ministers, including pastors, evangelists, and missionaries. If you are a local church leader or a young minister, or if you simply desire to gain a better understanding of God's Word and His ways, PURPOSE INSTITUTE is just for YOU! The Oakdale, Louisiana campus of Purpose Institute, hosted by the First United Pentecostal Church of Oakdale, recently held its first graduation ceremony, the first in

the Louisiana District. Reverend T. F. Tenney was our guest speaker, challenging our graduates (and the rest of the congregation) to know the source of spiritual awakening. It was a "word fitly spoken." Following the message by Brother Tenney, we were quite proud to bestow upon our graduates the diplomas they so rightly deserved, given the time and effort they put into receiving them. Receiving the Diploma of Associates of Ministerial Studies was: Alan Farquhar, Sarah Lewis, and Kevin Reeves. Receiving the Diploma of Bachelors of Ministerial Studies was: Chance Lewis and Jonathan Walker. We commend these devoted church leaders and ministers for their hard work and dedication to furthering their knowledge and understanding of God's Word and His ways, and to gaining a keener insight into church leadership. We shall all be beneficiaries of their time spent at the Oakdale campus of Purpose Institute!