Lost and Found
My name is Cristina Alvarez. Looking for an online college-level Bible study program, I found the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about studying the Bible online, Click Here). Now, I can learn more about the Bible and what God wants for me in life.
My Story Begins
I grew up in sunny Los Angeles, California. I grew up Catholic and my parents taught me to follow God. So, I did just that. However, by the time I was 15 years old, I was going all this time to church but never really understood what was to be learned. It was a repetitive and traditional part of my culture. After completing one of my sacraments as they call it, I turned 15. My quinceanera came, and I was not feeling that I wanted to continue to attend church.
During that summer before my sophomore year of high school, my mom met a lady that attended Calvary Chapel. It was in our local city, and she invited my mom. My mom started attending and came home sharing beautiful stories of how the sermon was touching or moving for her in her life. She later invited me to attend with her, and I agreed. I started attending the youth ministry and quickly enjoyed the environment. I really loved the people’s joy and servant’s hearts. Within the year, I decided to dedicate my life to the Lord and received the gift of Salvation. I also got baptized in the church.
Later that year as a student in high school, I got into a relationship with a boy from my school. He was not saved. He was a non-believer, to be exact. Long story short, I left the church to please him. That season of my life lasted 6 years. What I had found in the church quickly got diminished for a boy. This boy was spiritually troubled and ended up hurting me in the end. When the relationship ended my mom continued to invite me to church. I just couldn’t make my way over there and always had 101 excuses to not go. I never went.
My Story Continues
Life took its course, and I got into another bad and unhealthy relationship. This time, it went differently. I got pregnant out of wedlock. Ten years later, we married. It was not because we really wanted to, but to please everyone in our lives. Our parents were very frustrated that we had a daughter but had not yet married. So, we married. A short year later, we ended in divorce. We had grown apart. It was an unhealthy relationship and an abusive one. So, I filed for divorce and left the house with my 8-year-old beautiful daughter. We then lived with my parents and started our new life.
“We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair” (II Corinthians 4:8 NKJV). One day I said a quick prayer while I cried in desperation for a change in my life. I threw a pity party in a moment of weakness and decided to search for motivational quotes on Pinterest. There it was. The verse that would save my life and put me back on the right path. The path of Jesus.
I love this verse. This verse is what pushed me and motivated me to seek Jesus once more. However, I never want to turn my back on Him again. The truth is I left God. He never left me. I had found myself in situations where I knew it wasn’t a coincidence but merely God’s favor over my life. My mother never stopped praying for me to return to the church, serve the Lord, and walk in His path.
In Christ: Finding a Bible Study Program at Christian Leaders
Today, I have fully immersed myself in all things Christ. If Christ is not at the center of something, I don’t want it. I pray for everything; before, during, and after everything. Prayer helps, it gives me peace, it provides hope, and it restores.
I am currently a baby follower. But I am thirsty for the Word and thirsty for the Holy Spirit to keep working in me. Finding this course of Bible study program by Christian Leaders is the cherry on top. I can now learn the basics and build my foundation in Christ. I am building a firm foundation brick by brick, study by study, and surrounding myself with like-minded people.
In my journey, I learned that we become who we surround ourselves with. I wish I realized that sooner. Although, life has its ups and downs, and I do not regret nor would I change a thing. Because now, I can share my testimony with others. I cannot wait to see what God does in my life next, and in my daughter’s life!
Register for a Study Account
Register for a free study account that automatically enrolls 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:
- Minister 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.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
My name is Alistair Josiah, and I live in Accra, which happens to be the capital city of Ghana. Recently, I found the Christian Leaders Institute with Tuition free ministry courses online (Learn more about studying the Bible online, Click Here).
Baptized in the Presbyterian church, I even attended a Presbyterian school for my high school studies. Even though I was born into a Christian home, I always had this assumption that my going to church was a waste of time. That was because I felt that God didn’t recognize my “time or effort.” As such, I did not really put much effort into getting to know Christ and having a close relationship with God.
However, I studied religions at the university and the philosophy of God really intrigued me. That especially sparked an interest, even though it was a personal one.
God’s Plan and Tuition Free Ministry Courses at CLI
God, however, had a plan for my life. And He began to reveal His plans for me. I procrastinated even though I know exactly what God want me to do for the advancement of His Kingdom here on earth. There is a sort of restlessness and itch now to fulfill my calling. So I yielded to the voice of God has finally led me to Christian Leaders Institute. I’m looking forward to what the future holds and hoping to use the vast scope and opportunities offered by CLI. It’s amazing to see tuition free ministry courses offered in every field of ministry. I am thankful for this study opportunity!
Register for a Study Account
Register for a free study account that automatically enrolls 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:
- Minister 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.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
My name is Cheyenne Stalter. I am 28 years old and live in Naples, NY with my amazing husband Chad and our beautiful 7-month-old daughter, Briar. Recently, I found the Christian Leaders Institute with Bible knowledge classes online (Learn more about Bible knowledge classes online, Click Here).
I tried college but never made it through the first semester due to a loss in my life. So, I went on to work as a nanny until I got a job at the company my mom worked at that developed medical devices for heart surgery. I worked hard there for eight years and found my way into the patent and trademark department. After having my daughter this past February, I became a stay-at-home mom and left my career. It was a tough decision, but the best decision I have ever made.
Growing Up as a Christian
I grew up as a Christian. My mother took my two sisters and me to church every Sunday, however, my dad never went with us. I was a shy kid and struggled with mental breakdowns. My mom told us what was right and wrong, but then sometimes did what she told us was wrong. So, I was a confused Christian kid for a while until my grandma took over.
My grandma was my mother’s mother. She raised me when I was little while my parents worked. She imprinted on me as a mother more than my own mother did (Now as I am 28, my mom feels bad she wasn’t there for me more when I was younger). My grandma, who I called “Mama,” taught me to pray before every meal. We also did little Bible studies every day. She even brought me to Vacation Bible School (VBS) every summer. VBS is where I was saved when I was seven years old.
As I didn’t fully understand what I was doing then, I asked Jesus into my heart again when I was 15. My youth pastor at that time was amazing. He is the one that ordained my husband and me. He climbed a mountain with us in the Adirondacks during COVID to ordain us! It was beautiful.
Drawn Closer to God
Anyways, I have always believed in God, but not until something happened that brought me closer to Him. It was Thanksgiving night in 2012. I was living with my grandparents while attending a community college. My grandma had cancer (she was a heavy smoker). She went into a coma a couple of weeks prior and slept in a hospital bed in the living room. It was around 11:00 at night. I was sleeping on the floor next to her bed when my mom woke me up to say grandma had passed.
I had been crying for weeks, asking God why He was taking her from me. She was the only one who helped me with my problems and was there for me when I was having a breakdown or having a bad day at school or fighting with my sisters. She was my best friend. But after my mom told me, I pulled the blankets over my head and didn’t cry a single tear. I felt my mom lay down on me and hug me. I could feel her warmth and compassion towards my sorrow. But as I lifted my arm around the blankets to hug her back, there wasn’t anyone there. That is when I knew God was telling me I would be alright and that “Mama” was in a better place.
My Calling to Minister to My Daughter and Possibly Other Kids
Since my grandma passed away, my life was on a constant roller coaster being on the right and wrong paths until I met my amazing husband. He is a gift from God. I truly believe we were made for each other. We bought some land in the Bristol Mountains and built our cabin ourselves. We got engaged four months after meeting, married the next year, then decided to become parents.
Our little girl is what made me search online for classes I could take to better educate myself on the Bible. I also just want to be a better Christian. I try my hardest but I am not good at speaking, so I try to show people about God by my actions. However, it’s not enough for me. I am not knowledgeable in the Bible even though I have read through it a couple of times. I also want to be a good Christian role model for my daughter. In this day in age, there is so much evil out in the world that my duty as a parent is to protect and guide her and any other kids that we may have. Especially in schools right now, and sadly, I do not see this changing or getting any better for a while.
I want to create a homeschool curriculum to teach her the correct history of our planet and our country. I want to teach her how to survive in the world as an adult and homestead and be a Christian wife and mother someday. But most of all, to know God and our purpose for being here on Earth. Maybe I can even create one that could be taught by other mothers around the country.
Bible Knowledge Classes at CLI
I have a lot of creativity and drive, just not enough knowledge yet. However, I am willing to put in the time to get there. That is my goal in furthering my Bible knowledge and taking classes at Christian Leaders Institute. I don’t have a steady income anymore, so I am very thankful to have stumbled upon such an amazing place as Christian Leaders. I am very excited to see where this takes me!
Register for a Study Account
Register for a free study account that automatically enrolls 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:
- Minister 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.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.