Why Give to the Christian Training Center International?
Skills you learn at the Christian Training Center are applicable in so many areas of life. Learn how they are.
Skills you learn at the Christian Training Center are applicable in life. Learn how they are.
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Apologetics Conference – The relevance of Genesis with Tim Chaffey
Genesis, the first book of the Bible, is the foundation of all Christian doctrine. In it, we learn about the triune God, the origin of all matter, the nature of man, why suffering and death exists, and the reason Jesus came to sacrifice His life for us. Genesis also contains accounts of the creation, the Global Flood, and the Tower of Babel – accounts that many Christians don’t see the importance of taking literally.
But if Genesis is not true, how can we trust the rest of the Bible? Join us as Tim Chaffey of Answers in Genesis gives compelling arguments for the first 11 chapters of the Bible and their importance to our modern world.
Learn more here.
A simple story of “The Inn of the Last Resort”
Short video of what we do at the Christian Training Center International.
Hear the founders, Jay and Sally Fesperman explain about “Life is Relationships”.
Hear our current leaders, Larry and Susan Pons talk about the transformational power of doing the right thing for the right people at the right time.
The Christian Training Center International was founded in the early 1970’s as The Inn of the Last Resort. It is now known throughout the world for its outreach to families, Christian leaders, and young people. Our focus is to enable individuals – especially young men and women – to face and overcome the mounting issues and pressures in their daily lives.
Mission & Vision
Our Vision is to see generations of leaders victoriously modeling Christ in their families and communities.
Our Mission is training believers to live a victorious life through biblical Truth, experiential discipleship, and family relationships.
Life is:
1) Relationships
2) Personal Holiness
3) Biblical
4) Authentic
5) Relevant
What We Believe
We are an inter-denominational ministry, and our desire is for transformation: a genuine change of heart and lifestyle that flows out of an intimate relationship with Jesus.
We believe:
1. Jesus is Lord. We exalt the One True God who made us and gave us the Lord Jesus Christ as our salvation. Our goal is to be a people with a heart for obedience to Christ in all things. His work made it possible for us to live – eternally and now – as children of God. Jesus made it possible for us to be rightly related to the Father and to one another. His desire is for us to succeed. We believe a right relationship with Him is the first and most important step.
2. The Bible is True. God’s Word is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12-13), which we take into our minds and spirits and live out through the flesh. When Jesus asked what the greatest commandment was, He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31). The basis for everything we teach is “Life is Relationships.”
3. Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit. We desire to walk in and by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit (available to all believers) empowers Christians for living witness and dedicated service.
In the early 1970’s, Jay and Sally Fesperman had a vision to open a retreat center for businessmen. It was from this desire that they founded the Inn of Last Resort. In the simplest of words – “Life is Relationships” – Jay Fesperman defined the heart of the ministry. Since its inception, “The Inn” has been involved in training and giving counsel to numerous families, pastors and lay people. The “Inn of the Last Resort” aptly alludes to the condition of many people who have found their way to this sanctuary in the rural Smoky Mountains. As word of the ministry spread, our name was revised to Christian Training Center International.
Global Influence
In 1980, Larry and Susan Pons joined the Fespermans in the ministry. Before Jay’s passing in 1992, CTCI had grown to be more global in its influence. Expansion of the ministry’s impact began to reach overseas and has subsequently brought scores of fellow Christians here for training and renewal. During its existence, over 70,000 people from more than 60 nations have come through the doors seeking a deeper reality of God in their lives.
Our Prayer
Our prayer and focus has remained the same for years. First, that Jesus be Lord over all, through all and in all. Secondly that healthy, Godly relationships will always be the driving force of this ministry. This is the heartbeat of the ministry that the Lord has given us, and it is one we trust the Lord will continue to lead us in until He returns.
Check out our upcoming ministry programs for young adults and families. Please click here.
Our programs are like an immersion into a new language – the language of living in Jesus. The goal is fluency in the language of relationships. Programs share a sequential vision, building an understanding of relationships and family culture. The foundation is an encounter with Jesus. This encounter is the means for both insight and vision. Encountering Jesus leads a radical change in living and relationships.
Heroes Semester is a 10-week residential, “family style” living experience like no other! | — Sept 2 – Nov 9, 2019 | Participants ages 18-26 come with one purpose – to go deeper with the Lord. ow.ly/Nhag30oRYRK
Strengthening & Restoring Family Relationships — Train to Reign Program — Oct 20 – Nov 2 | Family is the most vital relationship and the one under the most pressure and attack. Come strengthen your family in a strong relationship with God. http://ow.ly/l5SU30oS5pQ
If you would like to donate to the Christian Training Center, please click here.
The Vision of the Christian Training Center International
Our staff and interns share their story of how Christian Training Center International has impacted and changed their lives.
The Christian Training Center International was founded in the early 1970’s as The Inn of the Last Resort. It is now known throughout the world for its outreach to families, Christian leaders, and young people. Our focus is to enable individuals – especially young men and women – to face and overcome the mounting issues and pressures in their daily lives.
The most effective way to learn a foreign language is through immersion. In complete immersion, students spend all of their time hearing and speaking a new language in a sequential and cumulative format. The goal is to become not only a proficient speaker, but to acquire an appreciation and understanding of a new culture. This approach describes the training process at CTCI.
Our programs are an immersion into a new language – the language of living in Christ. The goal is fluency in the language of relationships. Programs share a sequential vision, building an understanding of relationships and family culture. The foundation is an encounter with Christ. This encounter is the means for both insight and vision. Encountering Christ leads to insight and results in vision.
Heroes Semester Fall 2017 Testimonies
November 12th was the final Sunday for our 2017 fall semester group and we got to hear a little from each of them about their time here with us before they returned home.
WATCH the full video HERE.
The Life I Live
“To life by faith is to trust and obey – if you trust AND obey that’s a living relationship. There is intimacy. There is growth. There is vitality.”
On November 5th our dear friend, Herman Weits, came and shared with us about the life of his ministry.
Herman and his wife, Ross, lead Bali Christian Retreat Center which is a ministry of Words of Hope International and he came to spend some time with us while on a visit back to the states.
WATCH the full video HERE.
The Power of Testimony
“Your testimonies; the things the Lord does in your life, good and bad because in God there is no bad. He takes the bad and turns it into good. They are your prophecies. They’re the stories you have to tell wherever you go, and God will use them to touch multitudes.”
This Sunday we were blessed to have Bill Eubank, longtime friend of the ministry and CTCI board member, share with us on the blessings the Lord has given us through the testimonies He has given us and their impact on others.
WATCH the full video HERE.
2 Peter: Freedom
“When the Holy Spirit changes our earthly nature into a divinely inspired one then we are free from this world of its corruption and its lust.”
In this message, Larry Pons continues to our walk through 2 Peter and shares how we have been given freedom through faith and the Holy Spirit.
WATCH the full video HERE.
2 Peter: Glory & Excellence
“He has called us by His own glory and excellence so we are called therefore into His glory and into His excellence.”
In this message, Larry Pons speaks about Peter’s teachings and how the knowledge of God and our faith in Him is where all spiritual strength is conveyed to us.
WATCH the full video HERE.
2 Peter: Faith
“Faith makes no distinction to whether you’re a slave or an apostle. Every true believer is by faith justified in the sight of God and forgiven of all his sins.”
In this message, Larry Pons continues to walk through 2 Peter and challenges our thinking on what we actually have faith in Jesus for.
WATCH the Full Video HERE.