My Ministry Calling Story
My name is Delilah Lacy, and the Youth Ministry study at the Christian Leaders Institute is a blessing for me (Learn more about online Bible courses, Click Here).
I grew up in Martinez, Georgia in the United States. At the age of nineteen, I started college at Augusta State University in Augusta, Georgia. I started off majoring in biology, pre-med. After years of slacking and wanting to be popular and have fun at the university, I was making horrible grades. So I changed my major to Criminal Justice and graduated in the summer of 2005 at the age of twenty-five. Afterward, I decided to earn a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice. In 2012, I earned my degree with a 3.9 GPA from South University based in Savannah, Georgia. In addition, I earned a diploma in paralegal studies in 2020. I graduated with high honors with a ninety-seven-grade point average.
My Early Years
My father is a pastor. So my sister and I grew up in the church. I accepted Jesus as my Savior at the tender age of twelve. As a young child, I was active in the church. I sang in the choir some Sundays, participated in plays, and became a junior usher at one of my dad’s churches.
However, a family conflict arose, and my parents divorced when I was in seventh grade. My mom lost the custody battle as she was deemed unfit because she was very sick with diabetes. So my sister and I had to live with our dad. My sister and I lived in a house that was very strict. We couldn’t see our mom’s relatives that lived up the street because my dad thought they were bad influences. It was messy.
Then the worst thing in my life happened. My mom died of complications of diabetes the summer before my senior year in high school. I could not sleep easily for a year. I blamed God for her death. As a result, I harbored a lot of anger against God.
Challenges and Change in Christ
In my late 20s and early 30s, I began to backslide. In my early 30s, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Additionally, I had to get on disability due to another mental illness. I really felt like God abandoned me. So I stopped praying and stopped going to church because of my mental illnesses. I could not handle the anger over my mom’s death and my mental issues. So I had five psychotic breakdowns over the course of ten years.
During my last mental breakdown, God spoke to me. If I continued to not pray and not believe in Him, I would not see Him in glory. In 2018, I gave the Lord control over my life again. Since then, I have read and studied the Bible. Now, I’m rereading it for the third time. Also, I watch ministers preach on Sunday morning television. I like to read religious self-help books as well. I’m working on going to church as my anxiety is still bad.
Youth Ministry Study at CLI
My calling is to help establish a youth ministry in a church or in a juvenile justice setting. I have the desire to help local youths come to the Lord. If they know Jesus, they can make the right choices in life and possibly change their lives for the better. I hope to help youths avoid some of the same mistakes I made as a young adult.
When I was a teenager, I struggled with self-esteem issues, my family was lower middle class. Therefore, I got picked on in school for being poor, nerdy, and fat. As an adult, I was in toxic relationships. I’m still in toxic relationships with my family. The list is long. If I tell my story, perhaps I can reach some youth and make a difference in their lives.
I’m grateful that I can earn a certificate in youth ministry at the Christian Leaders Institute. CLI is a stepping stone for me. Since I’m on disability now, I’m on a fixed income. I can’t afford to pay tuition. I used my stimulus checks to pay off my paralegal diploma, and that was a struggle. So I’m so blessed by the Youth ministry study at CLI for free. Many thanks to Christian Leaders Institute!
Hi, my name is Fredirick Mau A. Maulion, born on September 24, 1992, and married to my wife Keziah. We currently live here in the Philippines. Currently, I am studying at the Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) for ministry training and preparation for the ministry (Learn more about online Bible courses, Click Here).
Childhood Challenges
I have wondered how my life would be without God in my life. As for my childhood, I never finished college due to some difficulties in life and some family matters. My father died when I was 6 months old and had an elder brother. We were the only ones at that time. To survive, my mother went out to a different place far from us. She left us to the care of our grandmother for a long time. I did not know God had a beautiful plan for me.
Following God Despite Challenges
My life was not easy. I had many struggles, but God never left me. At a young age, I experienced God’s Power and Calling. I was very active in ministry at that time. I always sought God’s Word, but never knew that there was more to come. God was with me wherever I went.
Before I found CLI, I worked outside my country to reach my dreams for my wife and family. That was my plan, but God always has a better plan for me. Many things happened in my life while working abroad, but I always prayed to God and asked what His plan was for me.
New Plans
My wife’s father is a pastor and a mentor to many Christian leaders. My father-in-law always took my wife and son to church to feel the presence of God. I always heard a calling from God to go back. But going back to my country was not so easy as my sponsors did not allow me to go home. So there was a time I wanted to give up.
However, the prayers of the church helped me and encouraged me to push through. God is powerful and fulfilled His promise. Within a few days of waiting, I got to return to my country. I had nothing but God’s promise for my Life. My wife and I have faced many struggles, but God is with us. So we do not fear. We will continue the journey to serve in the ministry and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our church is not that big. However, our faith makes it bigger. We do not have many members in our local churches, but God is our center. Someday, I want to stand in front and tell others that God’s promises never fade and His words never change.
The ministry training and preparation at the Christian Leaders Institute are a blessing. I can study at my own pace and serve in the church. Thank you, CLI!
I am Lynette Stephen. I am a Kenyan Sudanese born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. Currently, I study the Word of God and ministry training at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible courses, Click Here), so I will be prepared for my ministry calling.
My childhood
I didn’t know my father as he died in the war in Sudan. My uncle on my father’s side was a Bishop in the Anglican Church of Sudan. I grew up in Nairobi with my mother and my grandparents, who were Christians. Some of my fondest memories living next to the church was being called to attend Sunday school when all the other children were busy enjoying play day. The church was part of me, and I grew to love the church.
As a child, I knew God answers prayers. My grandfather told me from an early age that God called me to serve. When I was six years old, thieves tried breaking into our house. My grandpa asked me to pray for these thieves had vowed to kill him once they were in. So, I got on my knees and prayed. When I said amen, they left.
In 1998 my grandpa suffered a stroke. On his deathbed, he asked me to promise him that I would become a Bishop. So, I did. But later that night, he left us when he died. That was the beginning of the end. Life became unbearable for us as he was our sole breadwinner. Life changed.
Rededication
In 2012, I rededicated my life to Christ. However, my work took me to different places and wanderings. Finally, in 2018, I returned home, and that was when the conviction was overwhelming. The zeal for the Word of God was like a burning fire within me. I remembered my grandpa’s words. I have a calling from God.
Opportunity to Study the Word of God at CLI
With the Christian Leaders Institute training, I will be equipped to reach out to my people in South Sudan in a better way with the Agape love of God. My dream is to bring the good news of salvation, love, peace, healing, and forgiveness to remote places. They need to know that Jesus Christ is the Anchor of life and the firm foundation.
God bless Christian Leaders Institute and Ministries for giving me this opportunity to fulfill my calling and dream.