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A Beginning through Friendship and a Commitment to Discipleship

The C.S. Lewis Institute (CSLI) was founded in the Washington, D.C., area in 1976 by James R. Hiskey and James M. Houston.¹ The cofounders, coming from very different backgrounds, shared a love for Jesus Christ and a desire to see believers thoughtfully living out their faith in their professional and personal lives.

Hiskey, a former PGA Tour player and a golf pro, had been a cofounder of the PGA Tour Fellowship and founder of the Links Letter, which published Christian testimonies of PGA players and their wives. Hiskey had come to the Washington metro area to work with the National Prayer Breakfast and was involved in founding Cornerstone, a small community of believers in College Park, near the University of Maryland. Hiskey had visited Francis Schaeffer at L'Abri and was powerfully influenced by the experience.

Houston, an academic with a D.Phil. from Oxford University, was the Principal of Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, which described itself as "the first graduate school of theology in North America to make education of the laity its central focus."² Houston had previously been University Lecturer at Oxford, where he taught from 1947 to 1971.

Hiskey and Houston met for the first time in June 1971 in Jerusalem at a conference on biblical prophecy.³ Around 1,300 evangelical Christians from 32 countries met to proclaim their faith in the coming return of Christ and discuss the implications of the modern rebirth of the nation of Israel. Dr. Carl F.H. Henry, chairman of this Jerusalem Conference on Biblical Prophecy, called it "the largest Christian ingathering at Jerusalem since the early days of the church after Pentecost," in the first century A.D.

Hiskey and Houston shared a common burden to disciple and equip Christian working professionals to be as intelligent about their faith as they were about their profession. Their discussions led to Houston visiting the University of Maryland and Cornerstone in the fall of 1971. Cornerstone was just getting started, and Houston spoke to numerous students and faculty members. He "encouraged the community to consider the possibility of developing an institute of biblical studies designed for both lay people and those in full-time Christian ministry,"⁴ an adaptation of the L'Abri model developed by Francis Schaeffer. This concept would lead to the founding of CSLI.

Some time elapsed after Houston's visit before much happened. Hiskey remembers receiving a telephone call from Houston who was sitting with John Stott in London. Houston reported that Stott was willing to come help get things started with a Summer Studies Institute. Houston asked Hiskey if he wanted to go ahead. Hiskey recalls replying, "Sure, let's go."⁵

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The Early Years of the Summer Study Institute: 1976–1979

CSLI, initially called the Summer Study Institute, was inaugurated in June 1976 with a three-week academic program in College Park, Maryland. The Institute offered five classes taught by an impressive faculty of internationally known Christian scholars and leaders, such as Houston, John R.W. Stott, J.I. Packer, James Montgomery Boice, R.C. Sproul, Sen. Mark Hatfield, and Chuck Colson. One hundred and seventy people enrolled for the Institute's 1976 program,⁶ which included chapel services and some evening activities.

The informational brochure for the 1976 program stated that the Institute "will seek to assist the student in formulating a worldview that integrates professional training with the Christian faith, in the context of a community of believers studying and worshipping together."⁷

The first Summer Institute was later described as "a success beyond expectation,"⁸ and the Institute would offer summer study programs at the University of Maryland for three additional years. Again, world-class speakers taught, including Carl Henry, Edmund Clowney, Richard Halverson, Earl Palmer, Norman Geisler, and Os Guinness. Classes dealt with the themes of Science and Faith, the Christian Mind, and Christian Apologetics.

In the informational brochure for the 1979 summer program, the name C.S. Lewis Institute was used in place of Summer Study Institute. The organization had been incorporated shortly after the initial 1976 summer program as the The C.S. Lewis College for Bible and Theological Studies, Inc., and the name would be officially amended to The C.S. Lewis Institute, Inc. in 1995.

Why C.S. Lewis?

A question is sometimes asked: Why was the Institute named after C.S. Lewis?

Houston has explained that the name was chosen as a representation that summarized the mission of the Institute, "to create not a lot of fans for C.S. Lewis but to have 10,000 like him."⁹ Houston added that this would involve engaging with culture, including the political and cultural life, from a boldly Christian apologetic. He noted Lewis's BBC broadcasts that were the basis for the book Mere Christianity and cited Lewis as "representing an apologetic voice in Western culture." Houston also explained that Lewis was a model for the Institute's vision, encouraging people to take their faith to the same level of competence and intelligence as Lewis.¹⁰

Hiskey noted that the name was chosen because C.S. Lewis modeled the kind of discipleship that is the vision of the Institute, that is, that of head and heart, faith and vocation; the name also would be recognized and stand up on the college campus.¹¹ There was also a personal connection in naming the Institute after Lewis, as Houston had known Lewis at Oxford and had been part of a discussion group with Lewis that met monthly for six years.

The 1979 CSLI summer session brochure explained the future vision for the Institute as follows:

Beginning with these summer programs, the long-term goal is to establish a year-round institute... It will provide a serious introduction to Biblical studies for those without formal theological training, and a continuing education for those already active in Christian work.¹²

Many people in addition to Hiskey, his wife, Lorraine, and Houston were actively involved in the early years of CSLI. From the outset, there was a core group of volunteers who served together for 10 years and were the "arms and feet" of the Institute as they worked to implement the seminars and conferences.

Key members of that group were:

• Bob and Carol Hamrin
• Paul and Kathy Arveson
• Rich and Kathy Gathro
• John and Marge Bernbaum

As Bob Hamrin explained many years later, "Jim Houston lined up the wonderful speakers and the core group of young people found the churches and other places to host the seminar and they handled all of the logistics of the first 10 years of classes and seminars."¹³

A number of members of the group were from Fourth Presbyterian Church and received the encouragement and support of Pastor Dick Halverson, who would later become the US Senate Chaplain. Key volunteers included Ron and Bea Jenkins, Mike and Jenny Cromartie, John and Sue Seele, Bill St. Cyr, Sandy Sharpe, and Jane Gilmore.

Paul Arveson began recording CSLI classes in 1979, initially made available for sale on cassette tapes. Many of the early recordings are "legacy recordings" available through CSLI's website, where they can be downloaded without charge.

The early leaders of CSLI considered many issues about the specific nature and organization of the ministry. One early issue was whether the Institute should seek to provide a theological base for the National Prayer Breakfast movement.

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A Shift Outward to Reach a Broader Community: 1980–1987

In 1980, after considerable discussion, there was a shift in focus by the Institute, as it moved its programs away from the University of Maryland to a variety of locations, mostly churches, in the D.C. metro area. The goal was to have a greater impact on the lives of Christian professionals working in the nation's capital. Between 1980 and 1985, the Institute conducted a variety of summer studies programs, seminars and symposia on biblical studies and in areas of public policy that involved issues of morality and ethics.

Institute events took place in Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Baptist churches, at Fellowship House, Cedar Point Farm, and at public venues such as the Brookings Institution. Bob Hamrin remembers that one exciting event sponsored by the Institute was a series of four lunchtime lectures by Brian Griffiths, economic advisor to Margaret Thatcher, at the Brookings Institution. The auditorium, holding close to 200 people, was packed for all four lectures. Other outstanding speakers included J.I. Packer, Charles H. Malik (former president of the United Nations General Assembly), Jim Houston, Becky Pippert, Earl Palmer, and John Stott.

Throughout its first decade, the Institute relied on volunteers to plan and implement its programs with the exceptions of Ron Jenkins, who served as a part-time executive director in the early 1980s, and Kathy Arveson, who served part time as administrative assistant. During the mid-1980s, organizers debated whether to stay the course with programming or develop into an organization modeled after a think tank.

As a result, there was a hiatus of about a year in Institute activities, after which the Hiskeys, Arvesons, and Hamrins resurrected it. In a serendipitous moment, John Bernbaum met Art Lindsley at a theological meeting at Eastern College and referred him to the CSLI leadership committee, which would lead to a new chapter in the Institute's history.

Hiskey stated that the Institute always sought to do God's work, God's way, and trusted that God would supply. He noted that the leaders of the Institute were always trying to find the right niche, doing things that others couldn't or wouldn't do.¹⁴

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Mentoring, Apologetics, and Theological Training: 1987–1998

When he met Bernbaum, Lindsley was already familiar with CSLI. He had attended one of the summer study programs, hearing lectures by Carl Henry, among others. Lindsley attended the program because he wanted to "vacation with purpose."¹⁵

Lindsley had been on the staff at R.C. Sproul's Ligonier Valley Study Center for six years and had been Director of Educational Ministries for that organization. He was currently working for the Coalition of Christian Outreach, but he hoped to do something more like L'Abri or Ligonier Valley, with a retreat center outside of a city as well as city programs.

After interviewing Lindsley, Hiskey immediately invited him to come to D.C. and serve as the scholar in residence of the C.S. Lewis Institute, albeit without a salary. Fortunately, Lindsley had financial supporters who were committed to his ministry. Lindsley would also have the title of President.

Stan Rosenberg would join Lindsley and serve as the Academic Programs Director between 1987 and 1996. Katherine Doster came to the Institute in 1993 and served as public liaison, volunteer coordinator, and women's mentor for four years. Dan Painter served as Executive Director of CSLI between January 1997 and January 1998.

Personal Mentoring

One focus of Lindsley's ministry during his time as President was personal mentoring. He regularly met with individuals on Capitol Hill with the goal of helping them integrate their faith and life. One of the people Lindsley mentored was Elizabeth Dole, Secretary of the US Department of Labor and later President of the American Red Cross. Dole was referred to Lindsley by Chuck Colson. Lindsley met with Dole once a week for eight years, discussing issues of theology, apologetics, and discipleship.

Summer Residential Study Programs on the Eastern Shore

During his first summer at the Institute, Lindsley organized a month-long Knowing & Doing conference with Steve Garber and Os Guinness at Cedar Point Farm (later called Osprey Point Retreat and Conference Center). The event featured lectures in the morning and leisure/play in the afternoon on the Eastern Shore, with an evening lecture or movie discussion. According to Lindsley, there was a L'Abri feel.¹⁶ The Institute would hold a Knowing & Doing summer conference for 10 years, lasting anywhere from two to five weeks. Guinness would speak almost daily during those conferences.

Garber later wrote:

The program changed some over the years of its existence, later drawing eager adults who wanted a week or two of a learning vacation, but its theme was the same: in the context of the cultural challenges of the modern world, how do we connect what we know with what we do?¹⁷

The Institute also held regular retreats over Memorial Day weekends at Cedar Point. James Houston regularly came from his home in Vancouver to participate in these events.

Conferences and Symposia

During Lindsley's time as President, CSLI continued to offer a variety of conferences, lectures, and symposia. One highlight was a conference titled C.S. Lewis: Life and Thought, presented in September 1995. Conference speakers included Douglas Gresham, Earl Palmer, and David Allen.

Master's Degree Program with Seminaries

A major initiative during Lindsley's tenure was the creation of a unique graduate program where CSLI, in conjunction with Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS), offered master's degrees, certificates, individual classes, and auditable classes "to equip the working laity."¹⁸ Classes were offered at churches in the Washington metro area, and students could earn a master's degree from either of these seminaries.

The program was successful, with 50 to 100 registered students each year.

A Financial Crisis—and God's Provision

On the FBI website, there is an article¹⁹ that begins:

Hundreds of charities and philanthropic donors were shocked when they saw the front page of the Philadelphia Inquirer on the morning of May 16, 1995. The headlines read, "A bankruptcy shakes world of charities."

The newspaper article referred to the criminal investigation of John G. Bennett Jr. and his operation of the Foundation for New Era Philanthropy. The article on the FBI website explains that it was eventually revealed that New Era was nothing more than a nationwide Ponzi scheme.

CSLI was seriously impacted by the New Era foundation debacle. Although the Institute's seminary program was successful, it necessitated raising more money to keep it sustainable. CSLI had received a commitment for a large donation from another foundation that was dependent on matching money from the New Era foundation. Since the New Era foundation turned out to be a Ponzi scheme, CSLI did not receive the anticipated, committed funding.

A CSLI Board meeting was held, and the Board decided to turn the seminary program over to RTS and TEDS and return to a focus on individual discipleship and conferences.

The need to pay off a significant unexpected debt created hardship for the leaders of CSLI, including Lindsley and Hiskey. Hiskey, however, has a wonderful story of provision. At a time when $45,000 was needed, Hiskey, driving with his wife in Idaho, felt he should call an old friend, a golf professional, to share what was happening. His friend listened to the story and simply said, "I can take care of this for you." He offered to pay the entire amount. Hiskey recalls that they pulled off the road and wept at God's provision.²⁰

Looking back, it is notable that, although TEDS chose not to continue long-term with its program, RTS decided to establish a metro Washington campus. Students today can earn a M.Div., M.A. in Religion, and M.A. in Biblical Studies at RTS Washington.

Although the leaders of CSLI could not know it at the time, it would not be long before the Institute would initiate new programs for heart and mind discipleship, including the Fellows Program.

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Heart and Mind Discipleship and the Fellows Program: 1998–2010

In early 1998, Tom Tarrants had recently left his position as copastor of Christ Our Shepherd Church in Washington, D.C. and was working on a doctoral program in Christian spirituality. Seeing that his academic work wasn't a full-time pursuit, he prayed for guidance—how to best serve God in his available hours. As he prayed, Art Lindsley's name came to his mind, and Tarrants thought he should follow up.

Over lunch, Lindsley encouraged Tarrants to volunteer with the Institute, focusing on discipling or discipleship training. Tarrants accepted the offer and designed a pilot project to take a group through a discipleship program. The project was advertised, and a group was formed. One of the members was Kerry Knott, who years later would become CSLI President.

The pilot project was deemed successful. By late summer, Lindsley raised the question of whether Tarrants might be interested in becoming president of the Institute, as Lindsley wanted to devote more time to writing.²²

By early October 1998, CSLI's Board invited Tarrants to become president. The Board asked him for a 10-year commitment, with the mandate of refocusing the Institute toward making disciples.

The Institute's financial position remained poor at this time, and the Board could not immediately offer Tarrants a salary. A year and a half later, a small salary was provided, which would later be gradually increased to an amount appropriate for the position and nature of the organization.

Building the CSLI Staff

As Tarrants stepped in to the role of President, he and Lindsley were the only full-time staff members. The Institute didn't have any support staff. He prayed for God to provide a secretary and asked several churches to put an announcement about the need in their bulletins.

A few people responded, and Tarrants recalls that Karen Olink was "just clearly the person for the job." Olink was totally devoted to the work of the Institute and stayed for 12 years. Tarrants states that "we could not have succeeded without her help; she was just a key person."

Another key person who came to CSLI around this time was Bill Deven, who had retired as Vice President of Finance and Administration with The Ryland Group and then served as Executive Vice President of Search Ministries for 12 years. After a meeting with Tarrants, Deven volunteered to do the Institute's books and financial reporting; he would serve as Treasurer for 15 years.

The Beginning of the Fellows Program

As President, Tarrants immediately set out to refocus the Institute toward the discipleship of working professionals. Tarrants and Hiskey discussed how best to approach the new thrust. Hiskey had what Tarrants would later call "the brilliant idea" of creating a program patterned on the White House Fellows, a yearlong program that develops a small group of highly committed people for national leadership through intense training and preparation. It would be called the C.S. Lewis Fellows Program and would focus on in-depth discipling of small groups of highly committed believers who were strongly motivated to go deeper in their faith and be more faithful and fruitful in following Christ.

Subsequently, Tarrants and Art Lindsley worked together to develop the curriculum. In 1999 CSLI began the Fellows Program, a yearlong discipleship commitment that helped believers experience heart and mind transformation.

Eleven men participated in the first class, among them, Kerry Knott. Tarrants and Lindsley served as teachers and mentors. Based on the reports and evaluation material from all the Fellows, the program seemed to be effective. The next year, CSLI made the program available to women, in a separate cohort.

The program was scalable, so over time there would be multiple groups of men and multiple groups of women. As Tarrants remarks, upon looking back, "It just kept growing." Those who went through the program recruited their friends with zeal.

CSLI's 25th Anniversary

In 2001, CSLI used a special logo for its publications, featuring the phrases "Celebrating 25 Years of Ministry" and "Soli Deo Gloria." For the Spring 2001 edition of the C.S. Lewis Institute Report, Tarrants wrote an article titled "Happy Birthday C.S.L.I.!" He noted that, like many of God's works, the Institute had seen changes since its founding. He rejoiced in recent theological conferences and events, writing,

Perhaps most significant is the role the Institute has played in the theological and spiritual formation of some of the area's men and women through the C.S. Lewis Fellows Program. Through a yearlong study series and mentoring, the Fellows are challenged to make their faith in Christ a genuine reality in their personal and public lives, touching all sectors of business, government, and education.

In that issue, Tarrants also introduced a new member of the CSLI staff, Jim Beavers, former Headmaster of Trinity Christian School in Fairfax, Virginia. His initial title at CSLI was Executive Director, which was later changed to Director of Communications.

New Publications

In 2001, the Institute's quarterly teaching magazine, Knowing & Doing, was launched. It was a retitled and enlarged version of the Report, a publication initially designed to provide brief ministry updates, which had been expanded over time. Knowing & Doing offered a wide variety of articles from nationally recognized leaders in discipleship, spirituality, theology, apologetics, and cultural analysis.

In 2003, a monthly one-page publication, Reflections, was launched. It provided a key message for daily living from the thought of C.S. Lewis.

Ministry to Area Pastors

Tarrants, who, as previously noted, had been a pastor in the Washington metro area, began a quarterly luncheon for local pastors. CSLI also conducted pastors' retreats.

Executive Vice President Position

As CSLI grew in the new millennium, improved management was needed. During the summer of 2003, Tarrants approached Tom Simmons²³ about the possibility of coming to the Institute as Executive Vice President. Simmons was a managing director of a venture capital firm. He had regularly attended programs sponsored by the Institute for about a decade, beginning with a John Stott conference. Simmons interviewed with members of the CSLI Board and accepted the position in January 2004. Very quickly he improved organizational management and financial stability.

Continuing Growth in the Fellows Program

During the first several years of the Fellows Program, enrollment was limited to 12 men and 12 women. In 2004, CSLI increased enrollment; by 2009, 47 Fellows were enrolled in the Washington, D.C., program.

The Fellows Program also expanded outside of the Washington metro area. The Atlanta Fellows Program was launched in 2005, when one of the Fellows, Patrick Litre, moved to Atlanta and offered to help with the start-up. Bill Smith would become the Director of CSLI Atlanta. In 2009, the Annapolis Fellows Program began under the leadership of Jim Phillips.

Transition

As Tarrants approached completing his 10-year commitment as CSLI President, he asked the Board to consider a successor. He believed that his gifts had been right for the period served but that new gifts were needed as the Institute expanded.

For reasons partly related to the Great Recession, the selection of a new President was put on hold for a couple of years. In early 2010, the Board selected Kerry Knott as CSLI President, with Tarrants remaining at the Institute as Vice President of Ministry.

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Exponential Growth: 2010–2014

Kerry Knott had a long history of senior-level government and corporate experience. He had been Senior Vice President, Government Affairs at Comcast; Senior Director, Government Affairs at Microsoft; and Chief of Staff for House Majority Leader Dick Armey.

Knott had been actively involved with CSLI for many years. As noted earlier, he was in the first Fellows class in 1999. He had served as Chairman of the Board of CSLI for seven years.

Knott had a passion for discipleship and a special interest in helping CSLI expand to additional cities in the United States and abroad. Under his leadership, CSLI launched a Decade of Discipleship in 2011, an intense focus, for at least 10 years, on making disciples.

Video resources were developed, including The C.S. Lewis Study Program and The Basic Apologetics Course taught by Art Lindsley.

Knott brought on Joel Woodruff in 2011 to serve as Vice President of Discipleship and Outreach and Director of the Fellows Program in Washington, D.C. Woodruff helped oversee the creation of a new DVD-based small-group resource titled Heart and Mind Discipleship. He also supervised a revision of the Year 1 and Year 2 Fellows Program curriculum with the goal of strengthening its evangelism and apologetics components. He developed standard operating procedures and protocols, so that the Fellows Program and other Institute programs could be replicated more easily in other cities. A City Director's coaching program was also established to provide accountability and encouragement to the new leaders of the Institute.

Randy Newman was brought on in 2014 as Senior Teaching Fellow for Apologetics and Evangelism. Woodruff and Newman developed a small-group evangelism program titled The Conversational Apologetics Course, which is now being used successfully by churches and ministries around the country.

During Knott's nearly five years as President, CSLI launched Fellows programs in six additional locales:

• Central Pennsylvania
• Chicago
• Cincinnati
• London
• NE Ohio
• Seattle

In a few short years, the number of Fellows participating in the program annually nationwide jumped from 100 to nearly 300 in nine cities in the US and the UK.

The Institute's ministry to pastors also grew during Knott's tenure, with Tom Tarrants tasked with developing this important ministry. Eventually, out of the CSLI pastor outreach, the pastors themselves launched a group called ReachDC that for a time partnered with CSLI to train churches in evangelism.

Knott had a special interest in helping parents disciple their children. Under his leadership, CSLI launched the Aslan Academy. In an article titled "Announcing the Aslan Academy: Intentional Parenting to Disciple Our Children," Knott wrote:

What do I desire most for my children? For them to grow in the knowledge and love of their Savior Jesus Christ and articulate, defend, and joyfully live out their faith in whatever calling God has for them. Helping disciple our children on this journey should be a parent's urgent priority.²⁴

The Aslan Academy was later renamed the Keeping The Faith program; it is a unique study-plus-fellowship experience featuring the Aslan Academy Small Group model centered around the Keeping The Faith guidebook. It is designed to equip parents, grandparents, and other caring adults for intentional discipleship of children and teens.

Knott's visionary leadership also saw the Institute develop a global presence, as CSLI resources were shared with mission organizations in Asia and Europe.

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The C.S. Lewis Institute 2015–2025: Further Up and Further In

After fulfilling his five-year commitment to the Board, Knott passed the baton to Joel Woodruff, who accepted the role of President on January 1, 2015. In addition to his several years of experience at the Institute, Woodruff had broad experience working in higher education, "tent-making," nonprofit administration, and pastoral ministries in Alaska, Israel, Hungary, France, and Northern Virginia. Among other things, he had served as Dean of Students, Chaplain, and Professor of Bible & Theology at European Bible Institute, where he helped train Europeans both for professional ministry and to be Christian leaders in the marketplace.

CSLI's 40th Anniversary

In April 2016, friends and supporters of CSLI gathered for a banquet to celebrate 40 years of heart and mind discipleship. The dinner was styled as a Feast at Aslan's Table and included The Greens of Archenland, Ramandu's Roast (marinated London Broil) and Not-So Turkish Delights. Attendees heard a keynote address by John Lennox, Professor of Mathematics (emeritus) at Oxford University and an internationally renowned speaker on the interface of science, philosophy, and religion. He presented lessons from C.S. Lewis and intellectually fulfilling faith. The address included a firsthand account of what it was like to attend the last lectures Lewis ever gave.²⁵

A special logo was created for the 40th anniversary, with the theme Come Further Up and Further In. The program for the banquet observed that CSLI's discipleship resources, programs, and events "are preparing men and women to 'come further up and further in' and disciple others to live a life fully devoted to Jesus Christ."

One interesting note about the 40th Anniversary Banquet: the two cofounders, James Hiskey and James Houston, and all the past Presidents attended. Moreover, all these men continued to support the Institute after that time. Joel Woodruff had several visits with Jim Houston in Vancouver, and Houston continued to support and encourage CSLI until he passed away—at age 103 in March 2026. Jim Hiskey was an active Board member until recently and continues to encourage and support the ministry of the Institute. Art Lindsley gives regular Fellows lectures and is a member of the Board; Tom Tarrants mentors men, gives Fellows lectures, and writes articles; and Kerry Knott is a Board member.

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Celebrating Fifty Years of Heart and Mind Discipleship:
A Brief History of the C.S. Lewis Institute

Looking Back and Finding God Bigger

In November 2025, Woodruff wrote a letter to CSLI friends and supporters noting the Institute's upcoming 50th anniversary and reflecting on C.S. Lewis's Prince Caspian:

"Aslan," said Lucy, "you're bigger."

"That is because you are older, little one," answered he.

"Not because you are?"

"I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger."

Woodruff observed, "In recent years, I have often felt like Lucy. While watching God grow a small Washington, D.C., ministry founded in 1976 into an international ministry, I too continue to find God bigger, and I am praising the Lord who does more than we could ever ask or imagine!"

While Woodruff's observation applies to much of CSLI's history, it particularly applies to many aspects of the 2015–2025 period discussed in this section.

By the time of the 40th anniversary celebration, CSLI had found itself with active discipleship ministries in 14 cities, including five sites added in 2015 and 2016. By 2018, CSLI had programs in 16 cities in three countries: Canada, the UK, and the US. With this kind of accelerated growth came a need for increased funding and staff members.

In answer to prayer, Joe Kohm, a recently retired Major League Baseball agent, lawyer, writer, and founder of CSLI–Virginia Beach stepped up to the plate in 2018 to become CSLI's first Vice-President for Development. Over the next years, Kohm and Woodruff would work together to seek God's provision for this growing ministry. Although there would still be lean times when executive staff would defer salaries for a month or two, gradually, the new fundraising-development plan began to see results; CSLI growth continued, not with a lot of financial margin but a balanced budget. God provided, often in surprising ways and enabled CSLI to thrive through its 50th anniversary.

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COVID-19 Pandemic and God's Provision

In the first quarter of 2020, CSLI, along with the rest of the world, faced the uncertain challenges of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Providentially, just prior to the pandemic, the Institute had built a small video and audio recording studio alongside its offices, with a view toward producing podcasts and video recordings for multiple contexts. The studio was completed in February 2020, just in time for CSLI to offer regular livestream and virtual events to people around the world looking for Christian biblical teaching and resources.

In a November 2020 letter, Woodruff observed:

When the lockdowns and quarantines began in early March, many questioned whether the discipleship ministry of CSLI could continue to function effectively. The inability to meet in person, decreased giving due to a slowed economy, and a sudden shift in most people's lives to the immediate focus of navigating a world-wide pandemic seemed overwhelming.

Woodruff explained, however, that:

The Current and Past CSLI Presidents and Cofounders with John Lennox at the 40th Anniversary Celebration: (l to r) Kerry Knott, Jim Hiskey, Tom Tarrants, Lennox, Jim Houston, Joel Woodruff, Art Lindsley (2016)

We prayed, and God heard us and answered. People around the globe were thirsting for answers to questions they had never asked before as Covid-19 shifted the very ground beneath their feet. This opened the door for new ministry opportunities... CSLI was able to adapt new technologies to reach more people than ever before.

In one notable livestream event, Os Guinness addressed the topic "Purposeful Living for Today and Beyond." Reflecting the times, he began with the words, "I'm speaking from quarantine to all of you presumably in quarantine," and observed that it was "an extraordinary time for reflection and self-examination." This talk is still available as a video recording or as adapted for a special edition of Broadcast Talks.

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Podcasts

Toward the end of 2020, CSLI initiated a podcast ministry with three podcasts:

1. The Side B Stories with Jana Harmon — which would later become eXskeptic: Unlikely Stories of Belief. In this conversational podcast, Harmon interviews former atheists and skeptics from different walks, backgrounds, and generations who for various reasons struggled with belief in God. It has long been in the top 1 percent of podcasts worldwide.
2. Questions That Matter with Randy Newman — In this podcast, which Newman continued until he passed away in May 2024, he talked to guests about a wide range of topics: evangelism, faith and culture, Christian discipleship, and more. Interviewees and topics include:
   • Nigel Mumford: On Healing
   • Sandy Smith: C.S. Lewis's Childhood in Belfast
   • Sam Allberry: Sexuality and Gender
   • Nancy Guthrie: The Blessedness of Reading the Book of Revelation
   • Chip Hammond: Christianity and Jazz
   • Jared Kennedy: Discipling Children
3. The Knowing & Doing podcast — features articles narrated by Aimee Riegert from our teaching magazine, covering a wide variety of subjects from nationally recognized leaders in discipleship, spirituality, theology, apologetics, and cultural analysis.

In July 2025, CSLI introduced the Questioning Belief podcast, hosted by Kathleen Noller, which addresses objections to Christianity through in-depth discussions with experts. Drawing from her background as a former atheist and her experience in apologetics, Noller invites people to explore thoughtful responses to serious questions about faith.

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The Fellows Program

The Fellows Program was already in a growth phase when Joel Woodruff took over as President in January 2015; in that year, the Institute was able to open new Fellows Programs in Virginia Beach and Loudoun County, Virginia. By the fall of 2025, CSLI offered the Fellows Program in 26 cities across the US, Canada, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.

An innovative satellite model introduced in 2024 has helped enable the program's expansion; this allows CSLI to leverage an existing Fellows hub city and the use of technology, to deliver the program to additional cities. CSLI is currently training more than 400 men and women annually to become disciple-makers in their churches, workplaces, homes, and families. Thousands of Fellows have been equipped since 1999.

Although the primary Fellows Program lasts for one year, CSLI offers two additional programs for commissioned Fellows of the Year 1 program:

• Year 2 Program — builds on Year 1 by providing additional insights and resources aimed at even deeper spiritual maturity, personal holiness, and intentional witness in all spheres of life.
• "Life, Faith and Writings of C.S. Lewis" — a supplemental program first offered in 2021, developed with a view toward discipleship and takes participants through a wide range of readings, movies, and other materials not only to become more knowledgeable about the life of C.S. Lewis, but also to learn from him as a spiritual mentor and, more important, come to know the Lord Jesus Christ more deeply.

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Publications

Regular publications have continued to be an important part of CSLI's ministry. Although the Institute has continued to publish paper versions of many of its publications, it has, like many other organizations, increasingly relied on web versions.

Broadcast Talks (2015)

In 2015, CSLI introduced a new quarterly publication, Broadcast Talks, which presents ideas to cultivate Christlike thinking and living. Each issue features a transcription of a talk presented at an Institute event. Authors and topics addressed include:

• Andy Bannister: "Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?"
• Daniel Dreisbach: "The Bible and the American Founders"
• Carl Trueman: "Obsession with Self Identity, Sexuality, and Rewriting History: How We Got Where We Are Today"
• Jerry Root: "Spiritual Warfare in a Material World"
• Amy Orr-Ewing: "Is Christianity Oppressive or Liberating for Women?"
• Os Guinness: "America's Present Crisis"

Challenging Questions (June 2023)

In June 2023, the Institute launched a two-page publication titled Challenging Questions, tackling important topics about faith in a winsome and thoughtful yet concise approach. Although the answers may not be exhaustive, they address the core of the issue and are designed to be easily shared with others.

Sample questions include:

• "Why Would a Good God Allow So Much Suffering?"
• "How Can a Loving God Send People to Hell?"
• "Does the Modern World Face a Crisis of Meaning?"
• "Are Miracles Possible?"

Released eight times a year.

Advent Devotionals

CSLI has published four Advent devotionals:

1. A Savior, Who Is Christ the Lord!: With Insights Gleaned from Biblical Archaeology, Culture, History, and Geography (2021)
2. Scriptures and Music from Handel's Messiah (2023)
3. The Amazing Prophecies Fulfilled by the Birth of Jesus Christ (2024)
4. Carols and Scriptures for Advent (2025)

Three of the Advent devotionals include music.

Publication Updates

Earlier publications have undergone change. In 2023, CSLI discontinued producing new editions of Reflections. However, nearly 250 editions of this timeless publication are available on the Institute's website, each offering a key message for daily living from the thought of C.S. Lewis.

Also, there was a hiatus in the publication of Knowing & Doing after Spring 2020, but publication restarted in Fall 2024 with a challenging article by Tom Tarrants titled "Will You Be Ready?" The current format involves publishing individual articles rather than a set of articles to comprise a longer magazine.

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A New Website Reaches Millions

In May 2022, CSLI launched a new website. The older website had become technologically obsolete. Also, the Institute wanted a redesign to allow users to find resources by subject area and provide better search capability.

The new website was an immediate success:

• Old website: ~15,000 visitors per month
• Fall 2022: 60,000 visitors per month (400% increase)
• 2026: Tops 160,000 visitors monthly

The new CSLI website won two awards:

• 🏆 Gold Award from MarCom Awards — among the best nonprofit websites
• 🏆 Gold Award for Website Redesign by dotCOMM Awards

In 2025, the Institute launched a new, separate online courses website. It provides video-based courses with quizzes, discussion questions, and a printable certificate for those who complete the course. The website includes both older and newer courses, and CSLI continues to add courses. Some older courses not included on this new website are available on CSLI's regular website as "legacy courses."

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Study Courses

CSLI has continued to develop new study courses. Notable study guides include:

Title	Author(s)	Year	Features
Discipleship with C.S. Lewis: A Guide to Mere Christianity for Small Groups and Mentoring Relationships	Joel Woodruff	2020	21 studies using the Bible and Mere Christianity
The Call: Finding and Fulfilling God's Purpose for Your Life (Study Guide)	Joel Woodruff	2025	Six-part video series with Os Guinness; includes "To Each Our Task" questionnaire
The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses (Study Guide)	Joe Kohm & Joel Woodruff	2021	Insight into Lewis's work
The Abolition of Man (Study Guide)	Joe Kohm & Joel Woodruff	2023	Five-part video series with Bryan Hollon
The Chronicles of Narnia (Family Guide)	Christin Ditchfield	2025	Video lectures by Ditchfield

The Call, first published in 1998 with an expanded 20th anniversary edition (2018), is a modern-day "classic" about calling or vocation from a Christian perspective.

CSLI also developed a nine-month small-group study program called Journey, designed to help thoughtful believers become better-grounded disciples of Jesus Christ. An apologetics element provides insights about how to share the gospel in a respectful, winsome, and effective manner. This learning and growth take place through study, small-group processing, fellowship, prayer, and obedient response. Journey focuses on a number of key biblical themes that Jesus taught His disciples.

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Events

CSLI has continued to sponsor a variety of events, some global and some local, including in cities where the Institute offers the Fellows Program. Some events are in-person only. Some are livestreamed, and some are prerecorded and broadcast virtually. Videos of many of these events are then posted on the CSLI YouTube Channel, which now has more than 50,000 subscribers worldwide.

Notable Events:

2016 C.S. Lewis Institute Summer Conference
The Spiritual Formation of C.S. Lewis
Featuring lectures by Lyle Dorsett, held at the Marion E. Wade Center, Wheaton College (IL). The lectures by Dorsett are available on video.

Authentic Friendship across Racial Divides
With Chris Morris, Tom Tarrants, and Randy Newman: Three men from very different racial and ethnic backgrounds and upbringings share how they have developed a deep and meaningful friendship in a racially divided world. Listen in as they share poignant stories that show the pain caused from racism and the hope that comes from the Great Equalizer, Jesus Christ. This discussion is also available on video.

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The Global South

CSLI's ministry to the Global South has grown considerably. Christian church leaders from Kenya, Pakistan, India, among other countries reached out to CSLI, requesting help in developing discipleship training for their young leaders.

After much prayer, CSLI felt led to move in this direction, and over the past several years has established strong partnerships with church leaders from various evangelical denominations in the Global South.

CSLI has produced two Bible courses in partnership with Kenyan Christians who filmed, wrote, and developed:

• The Ufalme Experience on the Lord's Prayer
• Jesus and the Ten Commandments

As Woodruff has observed:

These resources are not just for people in the Global South but recommended for those of us in North America, as our Kenyan brothers and sisters' approach to living out their faith will challenge and inspire you in ways outside of our Western cultural norms through their art, music, teaching and stories.

The Institute has also developed a means of training recent high school and college graduates in Kenya with skills to support some of the website and administrative tasks of the ministry of CSLI.

CSLI is also developing relationships with leaders of Bible colleges in Pakistan, Kenya, India, Hong Kong, and other places and is providing training courses online to equip leaders in churches in the Global South.

On March 7, 2026, the Institute's first C.S. Lewis themed event on the continent of Africa was held in Kampala, Uganda, with Aseka Taabu and Matt Miller. Also, CSLI–Nairobi (Kenya) is planning to conduct its first Fellows Program this year.

The Institute's Global South ministry, and broader international ministry, is significantly enhanced by its new website and online courses website.

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International Study Tours

In recent years, CSLI has conducted international study tours, often offering two per year. The Institute has offered three types of tours:

Notable Tour: Israel, October 2023

One tour of note was the most recent tour in Israel, which began on October 8, 2023. However, on October 7, Hamas attacked Israel. Joel Woodruff was already on-site where he and his wife, Dolly, gathered with a total of 26 other program participants who had arrived in Israel prior to the terrorist attack. Another 10 or so participants were unable to make it to Israel as their flights were canceled due to what became the Hamas war with Israel.

Flights to the US out of Israel were suddenly cancelled for the participants in Jerusalem. The group's first priority was to pray for those who had already suffered due to the terrorist attack and for the Lord's guidance for the CSLI group. Determining that God had them there for a reason with no clear way out of the country at that time, they prayed for the Lord to lead them each step of the way and to help them in God's timing to find a way back home.

After a couple of days, the group found themselves at Ein Gev on the Sea of Galilee at a kibbutz hotel—far away from the conflict in Gaza but not immune to the crisis as others at the kibbutz were Israelis who had been evacuated from their homes on the Lebanese border where Hezbollah had been firing rockets. One memorable evening, hearing air-raid sirens, everyone descended to kibbutz bunkers. Fortunately, it was a false alarm, but the panic and fear in the eyes of children and adults alike brought home the reality of the war.

Following this incident, the CSLI group gathered and prayed again for the Lord's leading, asking that He close or open doors according to His will. It was agreed that the group should stay together, being safer with more communal resources. They soon discovered that the Israeli airline El Al was flying to the States. When Woodruff tried to book the group on a flight out of Tel Aviv, however, despite using multiple credit cards, none would go through.

The next morning, Woodruff had a prompting, he believed from the Holy Spirit, that the group would be able to fly out of Israel on the Etihad Airlines. Having no experience of or prior knowledge of this United Arab Emirates (UAE) airline, the group reached out to Etihad, which confirmed that they could book the whole group on a flight eight days out from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi. From there, participants could get home to the States via their original carriers. It turned out the Abraham Accords between Israel and the UAE allowed Etihad to offer flights when none of the American airlines would fly.

Over the next eight days, the CSLI group traveled to a variety of biblical sites, praying for peace and for God to work in the lives of the people they encountered. One day, some Israeli Jews evacuated from their homes saw the CSLI group rededicating baptismal vows in the Sea of Galilee. Asking if the CSLI folks were Christians, the Israelis requested prayer for them and their situation. God was at work even in the midst of this war.

The CSLI group also felt the prayers of thousands of believers who prayed for them during this tense tour. Amazingly, as the CSLI group spent time in Galilee and Jerusalem, they felt the peace of the Lord which passes all understanding. By God's grace, they all returned safely, sensing thanksgiving for their safe travel as well as sadness for the losses experienced by both Israelis and Palestinians in the conflict.

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Staff, Volunteers, and Other People

Joel Woodruff notes frequently hearing a comment: "How do you accomplish so much across so many different cities and countries, and through so many different mediums when you have such a small staff?"

He responds: "God is the multiplier of our efforts as He brings volunteers, donors and thousands of people to this ministry who serve sacrificially and wholeheartedly. God multiplies our few offerings of 'loaves and fishes' and uses them to feed millions."

CSLI currently has five full-time and four part-time staff members working for the global ministry. Most but not all are based in the Washington, D.C., area. This does not include the city directors, many of them volunteers.

Staff

• Tom Simmons, Executive Vice President — 22 years at the Institute. His financial, organizational, and business savvy provides wisdom to assure the smooth operations of the Institute and the well-being of the staff and city directors.
• Semy Godo, Senior Administrative Manager — Joined September 2016. Many people who call or visit the Institute experience her warmth and professionalism. Coordinates volunteers, plans events, oversees the publications process, and provides organizational and communications skills for the CSLI international study programs.
• Dave Chaves, Technology and Product Development Manager — Involved in cross-cultural missions in East Africa for more than 10 years; associate missionary with the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders. Technology expert who developed the Kenyan website team and is program manager of the Kenya discipleship program. Beautifully designed CSLI's Advent devotionals.
• Joe Kohm, Vice President for Development — Over the past decade has helped CSLI through faithful prayers, hard work, responsible follow-up and relationship building with donors. As the ministry has grown, so has the revenue stream. Has also planted long-term seeds, promoting planned giving, to help secure the mission of CSLI in future generations.
• Cameron McAllister, Director of Apologetics — Newest addition to the CSLI staff, filling a gap and developing cutting-edge resources to address the questions being asked by the current and next generations. Ability to read the culture and articulate biblical responses that can be applied practically in real-world situations.
• Tom Tarrants, President Emeritus — Mentors men, lectures and writes, and, for the 50th Anniversary of CSLI, is publishing a new book on discipleship titled Following Jesus: A Guide to Growing in Authentic Discipleship.
• Barbara Ramey — Faithfully works behind the scenes with the website team and focusing in particular on the Fellows Program curriculum and resources. Her prayers and hard work have enabled CSLI to improve the logistics and planning for the Fellows Program across its multiple sites.
• Barry Bradshaw, Bookkeeper — Master's in accounting; facilitates financial nonprofit best practices and developing helpful reporting tools so the organization can better forecast its financial needs.

Contractors

• Crystal Sarno (Perspectives Group) — Nearly two decades of layout, design, and marketing for CSLI. Seeks to design visuals that capture viewers' attention and stretch their minds beyond the text to better understand what God might be doing.
• Mark Rosera (Perspectives Group) — Faithfully handled videography and sound work for the past two decades; includes video and audio editing of podcasts and small-group resources.

Amazing Volunteers for CSLI

More than 250 volunteers serve as mentors, editors, events facilitators, and more. The mentors serve an essential role in the Fellows Program.

• Gordon Babcock — Website program manager; helped with the build of both the new website and the online courses website.
• Ed Glancy — 14 years as an editor and project manager; editing CSLI publications and helping develop CSLI study programs and courses.
• Aimee Riegert — For more than a decade, "the voice of the C.S. Lewis Institute" narrating recordings for hundreds of CSLI's Knowing & Doing articles, CSLI's annual Advent devotionals; also helped write the Keeping The Faith curriculum to help parents and grandparents disciple children. Her Podcast of Knowing & Doing articles has an average of 4,000 listeners monthly.
• Mike Unger — University professor and economist; editing documents and facilitating virtual classes and the local Washington, D.C. area Fellows groups.

Senior Fellows of CSLI

A group of senior fellows who help the Institute in its ministry. As experts in their fields, these men and women provide biblical counsel in their respective areas:

Dr. Randy Bridges, Dr. Lyle Dorsett, Dr. Jana Harmon, Dr. Bill Kynes, Dr. Art Lindsley, Rev. Stuart McAlpine, Dr. Matt Miller, Dr. Jim Phillips, Dr. Jerry Root, Dr. Tom Schwanda, Dr. Tom Tarrants and Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer.

Board of Directors

The Institute has also been blessed over the years with a committed, prayerful, and godly Board of Directors. God has used the Board to help the Institute focus on its mission, provide wisdom, and encourage staff. They have provided sound legal and financial advice and have helped steer the Institute toward its expansion by encouraging the staff to continue the Institute's outreach into new cities and nations.

Called City Directors and Leaders

Since CSLI began expanding into cities outside of Washington, D.C., the ministry has grown in large part due to the called and committed leaders who run the local C.S. Lewis Institute programs. These leaders capably take on the hard work of relational discipleship ministry that God uses to transform the lives of countless individuals for Christ and His Kingdom.

These leaders come from a wide range of backgrounds, including military, business, medicine, government, law, and ministry. Some serve as volunteers, some as "tentmakers" who make their income through another job while serving the Institute, some take a stipend, and some raise their salary through the ministry of the Institute.

The CSLI city leaders have been meeting annually—a city director's retreat—since 2012; following the pandemic, they also have met monthly via Zoom. These regular meetings and retreats have helped bond a collegial group of leaders who share ideas, pray together, and carry one another's burdens.

One of the prayers of the C.S. Lewis Institute is that God will continue to send more godly and gifted leaders, allowing the ministry to make more Christlike disciples of Jesus in more cities and nations around the world.

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The Passing of James Houston (1922–2026)

On March 15, 2026, James Houston, cofounder of CSLI, passed away at the age of 103. Joel Woodruff sent out a eulogistic message to the CSLI family, sharing some personal memories.

I witnessed Jim's joy in the Lord personally on multiple occasions and as recently as last November when he graciously anointed me with oil and prayed for me, but one moment stands out for me. About 17 months ago, a week or so before Jim's 102nd birthday, I was able to visit him in Vancouver. I asked Jim, "What has God been showing you or teaching you recently?" He thought for a second and then out from under his t-shirt pulled up a silver cross necklace which he was wearing.

"Joel, lately I've been reminded of my pride which can hinder my relationship with Jesus and with others. The enemy or my flesh will whisper things like, 'Aren't you amazing, Jim. You've written so many books and done so much in your life.' It's in those moments that I must surrender my pride at the cross of Christ and give all the glory to God for what He's done in and through my life by His grace. And so, I had my children make this cross which has inscribed on the back 'Surrender pride at the cross of Christ.' I wake up every morning, take a look at this cross, and renew my commitment to Jesus by surrendering my pride and all that I have to my friend and Lord."

Woodruff shared further:

Hearing these words from a saint who exemplified humility and who had been walking with Jesus for close to a century was inspiring. I'll never forget it. Jim's desire was to be wholly committed to his Lord, and so even at 102 years old, he was growing in his walk with Jesus and listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. May we do likewise.

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The C.S. Lewis Institute: 2026 and Beyond

In Joel Woodruff's aforementioned November 2025 letter, he praised God for what He has done. Then, in looking forward, he presented three "Golden Anniversary Initiatives." As the Institute continues its mission of developing wholehearted disciples of Jesus Christ who will articulate, defend, share, and live their faith in personal and public life, these initiatives are areas of current special focus.

Initiative 1: Develop Next-Generation Christian Apologists to Address the Crisis in Meaning and Identity

Woodruff observed that Dr. Tyler VanderWeele, Professor at Harvard University's School of Public Health, states that today's youth are experiencing a "crisis in meaning and identity." Some studies attribute this to the fact that many teenagers and young adults are struggling with social isolation and loneliness. The ill-effects of social media, AI, political party antagonisms, and a lack of church attendance and religious practice have served to distance them from healthy communities. As a result, Generation Z and Millennials are searching and asking different questions than the generation of their parents in an unstable cultural landscape.

Woodruff continued: "In response to this crisis of meaning and identity, the C.S. Lewis Institute is positioned well to address the questions of today's youth and point them thoughtfully and imaginatively to the gospel of Jesus Christ."

He stated that we are thrilled God recently brought some new and talented next-generation apologists and writers to the CSLI team including:

• Cameron McAllister, CSLI Director of Apologetics
• Dr. Kathleen Noller, host of our new podcast, Questioning Belief
• Dr. Thiago Silva and Dr. Matt Miller — gifted writers to help thoughtfully address the younger generation

McAllister's research has pointed out that while evidentiary questions such as the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the reliability of the Bible remain vital, many today are focused on questions surrounding meaning, identity, sexuality, and significance. Noller is addressing some of these questions through interviews with scientists, scholars, and other experts through her new podcast.

Initiative 2: Train International Christian Leaders in the Growing Global Church through Cross-Cultural Discipleship

Much of CSLI's expansion beyond North America originated in requests from Christian leaders who needed training materials for Christians in the Global South. With new tools, including a website that reaches nearly 2 million people annually from 180 countries and an online courses website that offers free courses globally on apologetics, evangelism, discipleship, and the works of C.S. Lewis, CSLI is now helping train international leaders through digital media.

Also, CSLI is establishing partnerships with church leaders in Kenya, India, Pakistan, Hong Kong, and other parts of the world and has established its first Institute in the Global South in Nairobi, Kenya, where Aseka Taabu is the City Director.

CSLI has been able to create two new video discipleship courses for the East African context by working with local Kenyan pastors and leaders who executed the writing, art, videography, and production of these courses.

With more Christians living south than north of the Equator, CSLI feels called to develop training materials in cross-cultural discipleship.

Initiative 3: Disciple This Generation and the Next to Christian Maturity

In 2026–2027, CSLI will be running the Fellows Program and/or other local discipleship programs in 32 cities in five countries—the US, Canada, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Kenya. CSLI intends to continue to open programs in new cities and satellite cities in the coming years to help disciple this generation and the next to Christian maturity—all of this as a servant ministry to the local church.

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— Celebrating Fifty Years of Heart and Mind Discipleship —