Welcome to CSLI Northeast Ohio
Discover how discipleship is changing lives in Northeast Ohio.
Now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 Fellows Programs
Instructions: Click APPLY to start your application. 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 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 Northeast Ohio is devoted to developing disciples who can articulate, defend, share and live faith in Christ in public and personal life. We are an extension of the C.S. Lewis Institute in Washington D.C., which began in 1976 and stresses discipleship of mind and heart. 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. This discipleship occurs through:
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 18315 GLOBAL EVENT: Discovering Beauty, Goodness, and Truth – 8:00 PM ET https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=global-event-discovering-beauty-goodness-and-truth-800-pm-et&event_date=2023-03-24®=1 https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr 2023-03-2424 Mar, 2023Friday, 8:00 pm - 9:15 pm Upcoming
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0 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 17553 GLOBAL EVENT: 2023 Study Tour of C.S. Lewis’ Belfast & Oxford https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=global-event-2023-study-tour-of-c-s-lewis-belfast-oxford&event_date=2023-06-24®=1 https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr 2023-06-2424 Jun, 2023June 24, 2023 12:00 pm - July 2, 2023 10:00 am UpcomingBelfast, Northern Ireland & Oxford, England
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0 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 18008 GLOBAL EVENT: 2023 Biblical Study Program in Israel https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=global-event-2023-biblical-study-program-of-israel&event_date=2023-10-08®=1 https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr 2023-10-0808 Oct, 2023October 8, 2023 12:00 pm - October 20, 2023 5:00 pm UpcomingBen Gurion Airport - Tel Aviv, Israel
VIEW OUR FULL CALENDAR BY MONTH.
Broadcast Talks
A quarterly publication that presents ideas to cultivate Christ-like thinking and living.
Reflections
A monthly one-page message for daily living featuring thoughts from C.S. Lewis.
Dawn Treader News
Monthly e-newsletter with activities and ideas geared to help parents disciple their children from preschool through the teen years.
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.
Northeast Ohio Staff

Michael Zalar
CSLI City Director, Northeast OhioMichael Zalar is the City Director of the Northeast Ohio C. S. Lewis Institute. He is a retired school…
Team Members

Michael Zalar
CSLI City Director, Northeast OhioMichael Zalar is the City Director of the Northeast Ohio C. S. Lewis Institute. He is a retired school administrator and currently serves as Assistant Professor of Educational Administration at Ursuline College. Mike graduated from the University of Toledo (B.A., 1982), Miami University (M.A.T., 1987) and Bowling Green State University (Ph.D., 2005; E.M.O.D., 2018). He also has completed certificate programs in biblical studies, discipleship, and spiritual direction. Mike is a graduate of the CSLI Fellow’s Program and previously served as a member of the Advisory Board. Mike has been married to his beautiful wife Donna for over 39 years and together they have five adult children and seven grandchildren. Mike’s goal is to finish the race strong with integrity.

Bethann Valantine
Fellows Program Director, Northeast OhioBethann Valantine, Fellows Program Director, joined the team in Northeast Ohio in 2013, after serving 13 years at Pregnancy…
Team Members

Bethann Valantine
Fellows Program Director, Northeast OhioBethann Valantine, Fellows Program Director, joined the team in Northeast Ohio in 2013, after serving 13 years at Pregnancy Help Center as Development & Events Director, as well as working in Frontline Development with Mentor Leaders, a non-profit, humanitarian organization. Mentoring and discipleship has always been a passion, with the intention of equipping future generations to aspire to reach the abundant life promised to us. Another passion is her family. Beth is married to Walter; and has a daughter, Sarah, a son-in-law, Daniel, a son, Jon Michael, and a daughter-in-law Gabrielle, as well as 3 grandchildren. Bethann’s desire to intentionally go deeper with God brought her to the C.S. Lewis Institute as a Fellow and a mentor, and currently is overjoyed to hold the position as Fellows Program Director.

Daniel Semelsberger
CSLI, Resident Scholar, Northeast OhioDaniel Semelsberger, CSLI Resident Scholar, serves as the Resident Scholar for the Northeast Ohio location of the C.S. Lewis…
Team Members

Daniel Semelsberger
CSLI, Resident Scholar, Northeast OhioDaniel Semelsberger, CSLI Resident Scholar, serves as the Resident Scholar for the Northeast Ohio location of the C.S. Lewis Institute. Daniel holds multiple degrees in history from Mount Vernon Nazarene University (B.A., 2009) and Miami University (M.A., 2012), and a degree in cultural apologetics from Houston Christian University (M.A., 2019). As an alumnus of the Fellows Program, whose life and faith have been enriched by the program’s emphasis on formation of the heart and mind in equal measure, he works in his present role to ensure that current Fellows and Inklings benefit by sound, high-level teaching that both challenges and encourages them in their study and growth. He resides in Akron, Ohio, with his wife and a pair of rambunctious feline house guests.
Contact Us
C.S. Lewis Institute
Northeast Ohio
P.O. Box 4970
Youngstown, Ohio 44515
Michael Zalar, City Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (419) 262-5500
Beth Valantine, Fellows Program Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (330) 881-0235
Newsletters
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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. . .
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