A New Creation in Christ
My name is Nathan Sanderson from Iowa, USA. The tuition-free Bible courses online at the Christian Leaders Institute are a blessing for me!
My Youth
I grew up in a good and loving family. I was a good kid and did not get in much trouble. We went to church every Sunday. I believed in the resurrection story and Jesus’ saving me from my sins by dying on the cross. But really, it almost felt like stories in a book. Church was more of a task or a box to be checked off for the week. I went to Iowa State University for a couple of years. Then, I decided to drop out and become a bus driver. While at the bus company, I met a young woman. We married and have two kids that I am very proud of.
My Alcoholism
My alcoholism started casually and socially. It was typically a beer or two and chicken wings with friends once a week. It escalated slowly, and I was drinking more and more. However, it wasn’t a problem until my marriage started to deteriorate. As the divorce became final, I got laid off from my job. This was around Covid shutdowns. I spiraled out of control at that time. It was to the point where I was drinking in the morning and at night. I even got up in the middle of the night to drink. I was drunk all day, every day. Then, I started to get sick and threw up blood. I thought that was normal and that people just did that. I frequently went to the hospital and spent a few days there. When released, I stopped by the store to get more alcohol.
During all of this, my relationship with God did not change because I didn’t have a relationship with Him. I knew the facts, and I believed the facts. However, I did not have a relationship with Jesus. Then, one day, someone invited me to a new church plant in my hometown, New City Church in Ankeny, Iowa. I gained a mentorship relationship with one of the deacons and joined his small group. Finally, he was someone I could count on and trust.
Going to church in itself did not change me. I continued to drink a lot. There were times I was drunk at church. I was driving to church with my kids in the car while intoxicated. One day, the police pulled me over. I got a 9-month no-contact order with my kids, which was very difficult. However, unfortunately, it was not enough to wake me up as I continued drinking.
Time of Change: Salvation
It came time for another child custody mediation. After my lawyer reviewed everything, he said, “Nathan, this is not going to work out well for you. You need to do something.” That day, I enrolled in a 12-month in-house faith-based program called Sheepgate. It is a division of the Adult and Teen Challenge. It is a very intense program with long days. There was lots of studying, daily chapel services, and a lot of time in the Bible. They took everything from me – my car, money, and cell phone. Every minute of the day was structured. This was all by design. Over time, Jesus started to show me who He is and what He wants from me.
Salvation in Christ
One day, a staff member gave a chapel message on Revelation 2:17. “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” It clicked during that chapel for me. No matter what I did and who I was, I am not that anymore, and I don’t have to be. He took it away. Jesus’ blood washed me clean. I knew what the Bible said about salvation and that Christ died on the cross for me. However, what I was missing was God! This is what it is all about and what He wants! He wants a relationship, and I don’t believe I had that relationship until that chapel service.
After I completed the Sheepgate program in December of 2022, my growth continued exponentially with Christ. To this day, I have no interest in alcohol. That is not me anymore. That is also not human! God took it from me. I don’t recognize the person that entered that program. I am a new person with a new cell phone number, email address, and cleaned-up Facebook. At this point, I am only in contact with Godly men. I have a new life, a new purpose, and new goals. The old me does not exist anymore.
Tuition-free Bible Courses at CLI
My liver has begun to deteriorate again. It isn’t healing the way we had hoped. I am going downhill and now need a liver transplant. Not afraid of dying or of what is going to happen, I trust God. He never lets me down.
I wanted to learn more about the Bible and life in Christ. So I searched online and found the Christian Leaders Institute. The tuition-free Bible courses are what I am looking for.
Romans 6:4 says, “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into our death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we, too, may live a new life.” We are all guilty of sin. But, praise God, we all have a gift we can accept from Christ. Jesus Christ died on the cross for us so we could be raised back to life with Him. He created us to be with Him. He wants us to be with Him for eternity. That’s what the cross is all about. God bless!
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling you in the Getting Started Class at the Christian Leaders Learning Platform. The Getting Started class will take you less than an hour to complete.
When you log in to the Learning Platform, you will notice that the Getting Started Class automatically appears on your dashboard.
The Getting Started Class will orientate you to the Christian Leaders Learning Platform and the Programs offered, including:
- Ministry Awards, Certificates, and Diplomas with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- College Degrees with the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
- Minister Credentialling (Ordination) with the Christian Leaders Alliance, including local Soul Center registration possibilities.
Note: You can enroll in tuition-free courses or mini-courses immediately without finishing the getting started class.
Find out more about women in ministry here.
BECOME A WEDDING OFFICIANT
& Open Up So Many Doors For Ministry Roles
Getting licensed as a Christian wedding officiant is a possible first step to other minister roles because it can help you develop the skills and experience you need to be effective in minister service.
When you become a wedding officiant, you are responsible for planning and leading a wedding ceremony. This requires communicating effectively, connecting with people (see People Smart for Ministry), and managing a group. It also requires a basic understanding of Christianity.
Christian Leaders Institute is your gateway to many minister roles, starting with the Christian Wedding Officiant. These minister roles include men and women.
If you enjoy the work of being a wedding officiant, you may want to consider pursuing other minister roles, such as:
- Field Minister: The field minister gives you training and ministry competence to be influential as a volunteer minister, especially in helping your pastor at your local church. You will also be able to perform wedding ceremonies, of course.
- Licensed Minister: A licensed minister has in-depth training to serve confidently in many minister roles, including officiating funerals and visiting hospitals.
- Ministry Chaplain: A ministry chaplain provides spiritual care as a volunteer to people in various settings, such as police or fire stations. The ministry chaplain may also assist a professional Chaplain at a hospital or prison.
- Coaching Minister: A coaching minister is trained to coach from a Christian worldview.
- Ordained Minister: An ordained minister means that you can pursue more roles and responsibilities in ministry, including seeking career options in ministry.
Each of these ministry roles can be specialized. As a Licensed Wedding Officiant, you may want to pursue a marriage or sex conversations specialization. You would take an in-depth marriage course.
No matter what kind of minister role you may choose in the future, getting licensed as a wedding officiant can give you a valuable start in your ministry career.
BENEFITS OF BEING A WEDDING OFFICIANT
- It helps you to build your network. When you officiate weddings, you meet new people and build relationships with the couple, their families, and friends. These relationships can be helpful in your future ministry service. Perhaps you want to take a mini-course on holding a Bible Study. Click here
- It helps you to learn about different cultures and religions. When you officiate weddings for couples from different backgrounds, you will learn more about their culture and religion. Check out a free comparative religion course. This knowledge will be helpful as you are better equipped to minister to people from all walks of life.
- It helps you to develop your leadership skills. See Free Leadership Course. When you officiate weddings, you will be called upon to lead a group of people and make decisions on the fly. It helps you develop your leadership skills, which are valuable in any ministry career.
If you are interested or called to explore more ministry, getting licensed as a wedding officiant can be a great way to get started. It is a relatively easy process that can open up many doors for you in the future.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How far will the studies at Christian Leaders Institute take me?
The free courses at the Christian Leaders Institute can be used for advanced roles in ministry with the Christian Leaders Alliance, such as Evangelist, Commissioned Minister, and Minister of the Word. Click here for more info.
Christian Leaders Institute free course can be used to get a degree from CLI’s Leadership Excellence School. Click here for more info.
Will these programs conflict with my denomination or local church credential track?
The Christian Leaders Alliance credential can be apart from a denomination’s track or included. Some denominations embrace dual credentials; some do not. From Christian Leaders Alliance’s perspective, you will hold the clergy credential. We offer ecuministry credentials. Click here for more info.
Is the program of Christian Leaders Institute biblical?
Yes. All the teaching is based on the study of the Bible.
Christian Leaders Institute teaches from a Biblical Statement of Faith. Each subject area welcomes God and the study of ministry. We call this Ministry Science. We believe that all vocations have a ministry angle to them.
Can I quickly get into life coaching?
Yes. you may start as a wedding officiant. You can continue your studies to become a Coaching Minister if that interests you. You must enroll and complete Life Coaching Ministry and Semi-Directive and Directive Ministry Coaching.
Can I pursue a professional ministry degree?
Yes. You have access to college degrees through CLI’s Leadership Excellence School. Many college partners for advanced study recognize these degrees.
How do I become a minister with the Christian Leaders Alliance? Click Here to find out more.
Hearing from God
Hello, my name is Linda Fry, from the United States. The accessible Christian ministry training study opportunity at the Christian Leaders Institute is equipping me to serve the Lord.
I am a proud wife, mother to two beautiful daughters, and grandmother to a wonderful granddaughter. I am a disabled veteran, a federal employee, and a devoted family member of the church of God. That said, most importantly, I am a child of the risen Savior. I have come a long way in finding and answering my calling of ministry, which I do not take for granted.
My Journey
I started as a young girl in sunny California, then rural North Carolina. Quiet and polite, unfortunately, I was the victim of sexual trauma that lasted into my teen years. During that time, I faithfully went to church and waited for rescue from my living conditions.
I grew up in a family network where children were to be seen and not heard. Children were responsible for obeying and complying with adults. If they didn’t, they brought shame on themselves and were treated like an outcast or a troublemaker. I hated what was happening but didn’t know how to stop it. I felt like a fraud at church because I was active in the choir, Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, and any other program, but I could not be honest about what was happening in my home. It felt like God had forsaken me and that I was damaged goods.
When I was 13, the pastor baptized me at the local church. I was determined to give my life to Jesus. However, my change did not change the circumstances. Eventually, I gained the courage to report what was going on. However, instead of the relief I expected, the news ripped my family apart, and I felt more alone and forsaken.
Challenges
At that time, I turned away from God and family. I could not trust anyone, and I thought God could not love me if He allowed all these things to happen. To make a long story short, I made one wrong decision after another. I graduated and left home the next day to marry a man I barely knew who was fighting his past mistakes. We had our daughter a couple of years later. She gave me the courage to love someone again.
I started going back to church, but something was missing. Unfortunately, our marriage was not healthy, so we decided to divorce. Therefore, to care for my daughter, I joined the military. While in basic training, I again experienced sexual assault and felt abandoned by God. However, I prayed for help repeatedly, and I felt the pull of God’s love on my heart.
I suffered many days and nights, However, I knew something was different. After Basic Training, I went to Advance Training and was immediately sent to Iraq. I would love to say I was not scared, but that was not the case. I was afraid. But I had started a real relationship with the Lord and felt settled even in my fear. I did not feel alone and knew God was with me, whatever the outcome.
Healing and Hope
Once I was sent back to the States, I reunited with my daughter and other family members. It was challenging, but I let go of a lot of the past and was ready to walk boldly in the future. However, I got deathly sick at this time. As I was still on Active Duty, my care was through the VA hospital. I remember the doctor asking someone if they had the contact information for my next of kin. It was a horrible time, but God was with me. Then, God brought me a man (who would become my husband) to help me recover.
I am unsure when God started to re-hard-wire my soul, but I do know when I felt the first real shock wave. I was in the VA hospital for a psychological evaluation. The Tech asked me how I was doing. I told him, “I am truly blessed. The God of all things has restored my soul. I am humbled that His Holy Spirit resides in such an unworthy vessel.”
The Tech looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, “After all you have been through, how can you say that?” At the time, the left side of my face was paralyzed and my left eye was closed shut and swollen. I could barely move my left arm, and I could not open my mouth on the left side. At that very moment, I knew that the life I gave to Jesus when I was just a little girl was a treasured gift in His heart. Through slurred speech, I said, “Because He loves me.”
Calling from God and Accessible Christian Ministry Training
Once again, the Lord touched my soul and gave me the desire to preach His Word. Like all sinners, my first thought was, “Not me, Lord. There has to be someone more qualified than me.” I finished my Bachelor’s Degree and, subsequently, my Master’s degree while recovering over ten years ago. I was unsure if I wanted to return to school. Because of my illness and mobility problems that would occur suddenly and last an unspecified amount of time, I had to do many of my studies online. I had a hundred excuses: I couldn’t afford to return to school, I didn’t have time to take classes, etc.
But, thankfully, the Lord of all creation had a plan for me. I prayed for the courage to take action toward this calling, and I began searching for authentic and God-based online classes (there were many options to pay a small fee and receive a certificate without training).
Accessible Christian Ministry Training
However, the Lord led me to Christian Leader’s Institute. I knew I needed to listen more closely when God spoke and learn how to respond to what He said. I needed God-breathed, accessible Christian ministry training. Therefore, God led me to CLI purposefully because He wants me to be obedient to the Great Commission and go out and make disciples. It is not so people imitate me, but that they would walk in the ways of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This opportunity to continue my education through the generosity-driven model that Christian Leaders Institute provides allows me to answer the ministry call on my life with a quality God-filled education. Thank you, CLI, for wanting to grow God’s people to step out and move according to the Spirit confidently.
May God bless your organization in all things and forever!
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling you in the Getting Started Class at the Christian Leaders Learning Platform. The Getting Started class will take you less than an hour to complete.
When you log in to the Learning Platform, you will notice that the Getting Started Class automatically appears on your dashboard.
The Getting Started Class will orientate you to the Christian Leaders Learning Platform and the Programs offered, including:
- Ministry Awards, Certificates, and Diplomas with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- College Degrees with the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
- Minister Credentialling (Ordination) with the Christian Leaders Alliance, including local Soul Center registration possibilities.
Note: You can enroll in tuition-free courses or mini-courses immediately without finishing the getting started class.
Find out more about women in ministry here.