Welcome to CSLI Chicago
Discover how discipleship is changing lives in Chicago.
Applications for the Fellows Program are now closed.
We are no longer accepting fellows' applications, please email us if you have any questions or concerns.
Year One Fellows Program
Instructions: New APPLICATIONS ARE NO LONGER BEING ACCEPTED. Please note that unless otherwise indicated you are required to have two recommendation forms, one from your pastor or ministry leader AND one from a non-related person who knows you well. To learn more about the Fellows Programs, please click here.
To share the recommendation link with your pastor/ministry leader and friend, simply click on the Recommendation button under the relevant program, copy the link, and paste it into an email to send to your recommender. Unless otherwise noted, your application package will not be complete until we receive both recommendation forms along with a completed application.
The C.S. Lewis Institute in Chicago is designed to develop disciples who can articulate, defend, share and live faith in Christ in public and personal life. The Institute works in partnership with local churches and ministries to help believers glorify God by becoming mature disciples of Jesus Christ who impact the spheres of influence to which God has called them.
The Fellows Program
The CSLI Fellows Program offers a year of intensive training that leads to significant life-change. Unlike many discipleship programs, the Fellows program focuses on discipleship of both heart and mind. It involves Bible study, classic readings, lectures, group processing, personal spiritual mentoring and accountability — all in the context of a small group of like-minded believers. This year-long program is designed for those who want to live as fully committed disciples of Jesus Christ and make an impact for him in the world.
Download the Fellows Program Brochure
IMPORTANT DATES:
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0 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 24486 Fellows Event: Chicago Fellows Commissioning https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=fellows-event-commissioning-of-year-1-and-year-2-csli-chicago-fellows&event_date=2026-06-06®=1 https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr 2026-06-0606 Jun, 2026Saturday, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm UpcomingThe Elm, 23 W Harris Ave, La Grange, IL 60525, USA
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0 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 25508 GLOBAL EVENT: 2026 Study Tour of C.S. Lewis’s Belfast & Oxford https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=study-tour-2026-tour-of-c-s-lewiss-belfast-oxford&event_date=2026-06-20®=1 https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr 2026-06-2020 Jun, 2026June 20, 2026 12:00 pm - June 28, 2026 10:00 am UpcomingBelfast, Northern Ireland & Oxford, England
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0 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 21646 LOCAL EVENT: The Eagle & Child Society (Chicago) 7:00 PM CT https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=local-event-the-eagle-child-society-chicago-700-pm-ct&event_date=2026-06-26®=1 https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr 2026-06-2626 Jun, 2026Friday, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm UpcomingThe Galway Arms, 2442 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL, USA
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0 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 26940 GLOBAL EVENT: C.S. Lewis Institute Summer Academy https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=global-event-c-s-lewis-institute-summer-academy&event_date=2026-07-12®=1 https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr 2026-07-1212 Jul, 2026July 12, 2026 2:30 pm - July 16, 2026 12:00 pm UpcomingUniversity of St Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary, 1000 E Maple Ave, Mundelein, Lake, IL 60060, USA
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0 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 25547 STUDY PROGRAM: In the Footsteps of the Apostles (Turkey & Greece) https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=biblical-study-program-in-the-footsteps-of-the-apostles-turkey-greece&event_date=2026-09-12®=1 https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr 2026-09-1212 Sep, 2026September 12, 2026 3:00 pm - September 26, 2026 9:00 am Upcomingİstanbul, Türkiye
VIEW OUR FULL CALENDAR BY MONTH.
Broadcast Talks
A quarterly publication that presents ideas to cultivate Christ-like thinking and living.
Challenging Questions
Each month an important question about faith is addressed by a key scholar or leader.
Knowing & Doing
Featuring teaching articles from nationally recognized leaders in discipleship, spirituality, theology, apologetics, and cultural analysis.
Spiritual Check-Up
A tool for assessing one's growth in Christ
Bible Reading Plan
Read through the whole Bible using a plan that has been helpful to many people connected with the Institute.
Our free Resource Library
Offers a variety of recordings from nationally recognized speakers, and our growing audio, video and print library. Featuring free content from past seminars, including names like John Stott, Greg Ogden, J.I. Packer and Chuck Colson.
Give Today!
The discipleship ministry of the C.S. Lewis Institute is made possible through your financial gifts, prayers and volunteerism. It can't be done without your partnership in this ministry.
Chicago Staff
Karl “KJ” Johnson
CSLI City Director, ChicagoKarl “KJ” Johnson, Lt.Col., USMC (Ret.) is the Director of the C.S. Lewis Institute in Chicago where he oversees…
Team Members
Karl “KJ” Johnson
CSLI City Director, ChicagoKarl “KJ” Johnson, Lt.Col., USMC (Ret.) is the Director of the C.S. Lewis Institute in Chicago where he oversees programs that foster the discipleship of heart and mind. He’s been a C.S. Lewis Fellow since 2008 and holds a Masters in Military Studies (Marine Corps University) and two Masters of Arts from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Systematic Theology and Philosophy of Religion). KJ retired after 20 years in the Marine Corps where he served as a helicopter pilot, operations officer, and weapons and tactics instructor. He’s a veteran of numerous deployments as well as multiple humanitarian assistance/disaster relief missions—most notably Operation Unified Assistance (2004 tsunami) where he served as the Air Mission Commander for former Presidents George H.W. Bush and William J. Clinton.
Eric C. Redmond
Professor, Teaching Fellow CSLI ChicagoEric C. Redmond is a Teaching Fellow for C.S. Lewis Institute Chicago, the Executive Director of the Moody Theological…
Team Members
Eric C. Redmond
Professor, Teaching Fellow CSLI ChicagoEric C. Redmond is a Teaching Fellow for C.S. Lewis Institute Chicago, the Executive Director of the Moody Theological Seminary for Compelling Biblical Preaching in Chicago, and Associate Pastor of Preaching, Teaching, and Care at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park. He has a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Capital Seminary and Graduate School and a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary. Most recently, he is the general editor of Say It! Celebrating Expository Preaching in the African American Tradition which the Preaching Magazine calls the 2020 Book of the Year. Dr. Redmond is also a fellow of the St. Augustine Cohort for the Center for Pastor Theologians. He and his wife, Pamela (a Chicago C.S. Lewis Fellow and mentor) enjoy leading small groups and serving young adults.
Rachel Smiertka
Fellows Program Coordinator, CSLI ChicagoRachel Smiertka serves with the Chicago branch, supporting administrative efforts and contributing to the mission through her organizational skills…
Team Members
Rachel Smiertka
Fellows Program Coordinator, CSLI ChicagoRachel Smiertka serves with the Chicago branch, supporting administrative efforts and contributing to the mission through her organizational skills and heart for service. She has worked with multiple nonprofit organizations, gaining experience in operations and administrative support. Rachel participated in the C.S. Lewis Institute Fellows Program, completing both Year 1 and Year 2, where her faith and commitment to discipleship were further strengthened. Born and raised in Illinois, Rachel now lives in Chicago’s West Loop with her husband. She is actively involved in her church community at Moody Church, where she enjoys serving and volunteering. In her free time, Rachel loves hiking and reading. She is passionate about loving God and desires to spend her life faithfully serving Him.
Contact Us
C.S. Lewis Institute
Chicago
1433 W. Leland Ave. #1
Chicago IL 60640-4673
Email: kj@cslewisinstitute.org
Phone: (312)543-3222
Newsletters
Receive our Newsletters
Sign up to receive publications and updates from the C.S. Lewis Institute in Chicago.
Brochures
Overview Brochure
The C.S. Lewis Institute offers life-changing discipleship for those who are ready to be intentional about spiritual growth in Christ, and who desire for God to use them in powerful ways for His Kingdom. Read more. . .
Pastors Network
Join the Pastors Fellowship
The C.S. Lewis Institute desires not only to assist churches in making disciples, but also to encourage and equip pastors. The C.S. Lewis Institute Pastors Fellowship in Chicago seeks to minister to the ministers by providing timely and useful teaching and instruction via a series of luncheons. Please contact us at kj@cslewisinstitute.org to be informed on Pastors Fellowship gatherings.
Testimonials
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Recent Podcasts
Finding Freedom from Fear and Destruction – Dr. Lisa Stanton’s Story
by Jana Harmon, Lisa Stanton on May 8, 2026What if being brilliant, successful, and disciplined still...Read More
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The Faith of Charles Wesley
by Aimee Riegert, William L. Kynes on May 1, 2026
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Intellectual Property: Creativity and Ownership in Law and the Bible
by Kathleen Noller, James Edwards on April 17, 2026
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Recent Publications
Celebrating Fifty Years of Heart and Mind Discipleship: A Brief History of the C.S. Lewis Institute
by J. Edward Glancy, Joel Woodruff on April 16, 2026The C.S. Lewis Institute (CSLI) was founded in...Read More
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Why Do We Need Disagreement?
by Cameron McAllister on April 1, 2026
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The Christian Vision of Meaning
by Cameron McAllister on March 15, 2026