Hello, my name is Brenda Pascascio. Currently, I am studying at the Christian Leaders Institute to get my ministry credentials (Learn more about ministry credentials and Bible courses online, Click Here).
My husband, Egbert, and I are the proud parents of two beautiful adult daughters, who love the Lord. We currently reside in beautiful Southern California, in the United States. Our city is located about sixty miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. We’ve lived here for almost fifteen years. Before that, we lived in Hollywood, California, for twenty-two years.
My Journey
The fifth of eight children, I grew up in Belize. I grew up in a home where my mother was a Christian, but my father was not. My mother ensured that my siblings and I attended Sunday School every week. I am thankful for her commitment. It was the beginning of my relationship with God. I gave my life to Jesus in Sunday School at age seven. As I learned more about God’s love for me, I desired to live my life pleasing to him.
I strayed a bit in my teenage years. However, my knowledge of God’s Word kept me from going far off the path. I continued to attend church and got involved with the youth ministry. Egbert and I first met there and later dated. Within the next four years, we got engaged and relocated to Los Angeles to reside with family members. Two years later, we married and will celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary next month.
Egbert and I helped to plant the church that we served at for twenty-six years in Los Angeles. He was the Senior Pastor until his recent resignation. I served in several different areas over the years, including in the women’s ministry, financial and administrative, teaching, and preaching.
Healing Ministry
About fifteen years ago, I heard a teaching on healing titled, “God Wants You Well (Healing is in Christ’s Atonement).” It spurred me to research God’s Word concerning healing through those lenses. That changed my life! I spent a couple of months researching. In the process, my mind was being renewed. Immediately thereafter, I prayed a prayer in agreement with my newfound knowledge and revelation about healing, God’s grace, and the believer’s authority. Instantly, God healed me from a twenty-year-old back problem! That was just the beginning. I’ve seen many people healed, delivered, and set free over the years. God is amazing!
Ministry Credentials Through CLI
I did not pursue any credentials during those years of serving with my husband. Now, I am very thankful to Christian Leaders Institute for making credentials possible at little to no cost, at my convenience. Since I’m now in a new season, obtaining the proper credentials will make things easier for me as I continue to walk out God’s purpose for my life. My husband and I are excited about this new journey and all the things that God has for us to accomplish.
Blessings on your ministry, CLI!
Steps to Sign Up At Christian Leaders Institute
Step 1 – Register for a free study account that automatically enrolls you in the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2.
After you register, you will automatically be enrolled in the “getting started” course. You will locate the course at your “home” button when logged in. Scroll down to find the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2 Link. Click the link and open the course.
Step 2 – Complete Part 1 of this course. Then you can enroll in mini-courses or regular courses.
The Christian Leaders Getting Started Class Part 1 shows you how to enroll in courses and mini-courses. Part 2 of the course connects your calling into ministry with programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute. Part 2 will offer some ministry training and introduce you to the other programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
I am Larry Armour, from Canada. Currently, I am studying ministry classes and Bible courses free online at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about free ministry and Bible courses online, Click Here).
Challenges and God’s Provision
Born a different name within the family, I was adopted within my family, by the cousin of my mother. Challenged by mental health and her circumstances, my mother gave me up for adoption. However, by the grace of God, I was placed back into a branch of the family to be raised as their own. I had a relatively normal upbringing and childhood until early in my teen years. That was when I found out about my origin story. After that, I rebelled and also distanced myself from God. I made poor choices as an early adult from a suicide attempt to divorce to not understanding how harmful my words could be to another person.
Then, God placed me in a career where there was much loss and death and grief counseling was needed. I didn’t understand “why me” for this? About eight years ago, the doctor diagnosed me with cancer. Therefore, I went through the fearful anxious period of treatments that all patients travel. With God’s strength to carry me through, I am a survivor to be a witness to others.
Recently, my wife and I felt a sense of loss with the removal of our entire core family. These included: a young disabled person we looked after and loved for a dozen years; my wife’s brother from drug and alcohol addiction who we were nurturing and also supporting; and my wife’s mother from sudden death in a fire. All of these occurred within the space of nine months. They rocked us to our core. We again laid our weakness and grief of the situations on the Lord. He brought us peace in our fears and strength in our weakness.
Learning
Looking back on my life, I see a pattern of control and rebellion on my part. Some of us seem to learn the hard way by default. Many folks talk of their struggles on their paths. I’ve always found this for me to be somewhat limiting. It focuses on the negative or positive labels as we define ourselves. God made each and every one of us perfect for His purposes. My life events were for learning and instruction whether I realized it at the time or not. Many were fearful and unpleasant. Some were joyous and rewarding. All of them are also in the past at this point and time.
My wife and I are active members of the “serve” team in our church. Service is something I have come to appreciate more and more in my life. My life and career have me blessed with empathy, ears to listen, and patience. However, I don’t have them to the level of Job). Recently at work, someone reintroduced me to Mathew 18:21. (70 x 7). It changed my perspective of where I thought my patience was and humbled me greatly as a reminder. He has given me gifts to enjoy the outdoors and nature, art, carving, and cooking. I have discovered many talents I did not know I had. I will always be a work in progress. And I will love every minute of this journey walking towards God.
The classes at the Christian Leaders Institute will strengthen my knowledge and my understanding. The online free ministry classes and Bible courses are what I need. Thank you, Lord, for CLI!
Steps to Sign Up At Christian Leaders Institute
Step 1 – Register for a free study account that automatically enrolls you in the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2.
After you register, you will automatically be enrolled in the “getting started” course. You will locate the course at your “home” button when logged in. Scroll down to find the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2 Link. Click the link and open the course.
Step 2 – Complete Part 1 of this course. Then you can enroll in mini-courses or regular courses.
The Christian Leaders Getting Started Class Part 1 shows you how to enroll in courses and mini-courses. Part 2 of the course connects your calling into ministry with programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute. Part 2 will offer some ministry training and introduce you to the other programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute.
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 Spiritual Journey and Calling
Hi! My name is Carrie Olson. I am a 46-year-old widow, with two grown children, and four wonderful grandchildren. God has called me to help others through life’s battles with coaching and ministry. So, I am studying life coaching and ministry courses at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about free ministry and Bible courses online, Click Here).
I live in the beautiful but windy state of Wyoming. Originally, I am from East Tennessee, and also spent many years of my young adult life in Colorado. I think that having lived in different parts of the country has given me some unique perspectives on life and cultures. However, the root of my personal and spiritual journey started in the heart of what is known as the Bible belt, in a small town outside of Chattanooga that lies at the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.
First Steps in Faith
I grew up in a very religious family. Though my parents didn’t necessarily make it a point to go to church every Sunday in my early years, I was sent when at all possible. My mother made it a point to read me Bible stories. She also made sure I said my prayers every night and before meals, at a minimum. My uncle was a Baptist minister. He and others in my life often told me about God’s Word and the saving power of Jesus.
There were several summers when I spent time at my uncle’s house and went to Vacation Bible School at his church. I was around 9 years old when he asked me one day if I’d ever accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. We talked about it. It was that day that I first asked Jesus to come into my heart. At the age of 12, I was baptized in a small but spirit-filled Southern Baptist Church. The day of my baptism was the first time I recall feeling what could only be defined as the peace of the Holy Spirit. However, that feeling was fleeting. It would be years before I came to understand what salvation really entailed.
Challenges and Questions
On the day I was saved, I fully believed it. I did my best to be a good Christian and believe with faith. However, in my early childhood and on into my early teen years, I experienced multiple traumas. These sometimes caused me to question whether or not God was really there and listening. I tried to push those thoughts away though and pressed on.
As a teenager, I advanced in my spiritual growth. I joined the church youth choir and other activities. However, my past traumas continued to plague me as well as the usual difficulties of growing into adulthood. By my early 20s, I began attending an Assembly of God Pentecostal church. For the first time in my life, I saw people speak in tongues and talk about laying on of hands, and spiritual healing. I felt at home there and usually left service feeling renewed and uplifted. Still, I had questions. Mainly, the question was: “Why had certain bad things continued to happen in my life?”
Eventually, the traumas led me to question if there was a God. For about a decade, I studied various religions, ancient texts, and many spiritual topics. I don’t think I ever completely let go of my Christian upbringing but wasn’t exactly sure of what I truly believed.
Breaking Point and God’s Peace
By the age of 36, through one divorce and separation from my second husband, I was a single mom. I struggled with overcoming things in my past and dealing with life in general. I was in the deepest, darkest state and was desperate to escape it. One day, I knelt down in front of my couch in my living room. Sobbing, I prayed to a God I wasn’t even sure I still believed in. I said something to the effect of, “Father in Heaven, show me who you truly are. Cover me and fill me with light and the Holy Spirit. Come into my life and take this away. Please lead me out of this.” Then I asked for forgiveness. I prayed with more sincerity and will than any prayer I ever uttered.
I went to sleep that night, and my mind was still for the first time in a while. The next morning, I no longer had that dark, heavy feeling. I felt wonderful peace and joy, unlike anything ever before. I felt the Holy Spirit within me. Everything was fresh and new, and I felt this inner connection to everything around me.
Since that day, I’ve had a new awareness of who and what God is and how powerful that connection is. It hasn’t been without struggle and spiritual attack. But, I gained a new way of looking at life and found out about God’s unconditional love and outstanding grace. God is always there to direct and guide us if we know how to talk to Him and listen, and if we follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.
My Journey to Life Coaching and Ministry Courses
I have overcome numerous hardships in my life. These include extreme loss and grief, mental illness, and struggles with some vices and addictions. I’ve raised children with autism and ADHD. I understand the struggles that those with developmental disabilities and/or neurodivergence face. Further, I understand the trials and heartache of having a spouse with a terminal illness.
In 2020, I survived a massive heart attack. It renewed my calling to help others in their struggles and helped me more clearly see the beauty in life. Sometimes, it is through pain and trials that we see light and love. Perhaps, I may be able to use my own trials and triumphs to help other people. Going through what I have in life, as hard as it has been, is what has led me, ultimately, to pursue ministry.
I had to do a lot of personal healing. However, my faith and the Spirit of God within me got me through it all. I have coping skills and stay calm in the face of most storms. But, most of all my faith in God helped me.
Finding CLI for Life Coaching and Ministry Courses
Wherever God leads me, I am very interested in life coaching and helping neuro-divergent youth and young adults. I also want to teach others about the Bible and the healing power of the Lord. Overall, I want to help people on their journey and with spiritual healing. Then they can find salvation and have a more peaceful and fulfilled life.
I knew I needed training, so I searched online and found the Christian Leaders Institute for free online life coaching and ministry courses. What a blessing!
Matthew 7:7-12 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (NIV)
Steps to Sign Up At Christian Leaders Institute
Step 1 – Register for a free study account that automatically enrolls you in the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2.
After you register, you will automatically be enrolled in the “getting started” course. You will locate the course at your “home” button when logged in. Scroll down to find the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2 Link. Click the link and open the course.
Step 2 – Complete Part 1 of this course. Then you can enroll in mini-courses or regular courses.
The Christian Leaders Getting Started Class Part 1 shows you how to enroll in courses and mini-courses. Part 2 of the course connects your calling into ministry with programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute. Part 2 will offer some ministry training and introduce you to the other programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.