My name is Jessica Rodgers. I am from Cleveland, Tennessee, USA. I have a high school education and was in special education throughout my school years. Now, I enjoy being a student at the Christian Leaders Institute. God wanted me to find something like CLI for more Bible knowledge and training. It would come to my mind ever so often. However, I couldn’t find what I was looking for until my husband found CLI. He is also a student.
My Journey
My childhood could have been better. I wanted to be normal with a normal family like my friends. However, I didn’t get that growing up. My mom divorced my dad when I was a few weeks old, so I grew up going back and forth between my parents. At first, my mom had custody for a while, then she messed up, so my dad got custody, and she got visitation. My dad didn’t go to church. However, my grandparents did, and they took me to church. My mom also took me on her weekend with me. I sat in church and listened but didn’t care much for it. Further, I wondered if any of it was real.
Sadly, I went through some abuse growing up. My dad was mentally disturbed and cussed at me and God. He’d tell me I would never amount to anything. My papaw also had a bad temper and mistreated me. My aunt abused me, too. She threw me around, smacked me, and tried to choke me. My mom tried to get custody of me again. However, she was able to get it. Therefore, I went through all of that, became suicidal, and tried to kill myself. I was mad at my family and God.
My Salvation
I didn’t really know the Lord Jesus until I was in my 20s. I realized I needed Jesus Christ in my life when I broke up with my ex, became homeless, lost custody of my two boys, and didn’t have anyone to turn to. At that point, I thought I lost everything. However, I didn’t! I gained more as Jesus helped me get past my ex and gave me someone much better.
God became real to me as I begged Him to either help my ex and me get together again or to take the heartache away and fix it so we could get along. I begged God to take my pain away, help me fix my life, and put the pieces back together. He did! My ex and I didn’t get back together again, but we forgave each other and can talk and get along again.
My life is also better. I found some family I didn’t know I had, and they helped me get back on my feet. I got my driver’s license and a better job, got my kids back, and my new husband let me move in while he was a trucker gone most of the time. We married on February 14, 2020, and we started going to church every Sunday. I got baptized in the summer of 2021.
More Bible Knowledge and Training at CLI
I am uncertain exactly what the Bible knowledge and training at CLI is for. I do, however, know that I want more Bible knowledge and training because God wants me to do something bigger for Him.
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, Diplomas, and Degrees with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- 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.
Hello, my name is Diomedes Sambas. Born in the Philippines, I now live in Surrey, B.C., Canada. I am married to my wife of 25 years. The Lord has blessed us with a son who is now 18 years old. I heard about the Christian Leaders Institute in our church leaders’ meetings. The leadership encouraged my wife and me to enroll and study to be a small group leader equipped to do the Lord’s mandate.
My Story
I finished my high school education in 1981 in Manila, Philippines. After I graduated from high school, I went to work because of poverty. Around 1997, I went to Taiwan as an overseas Filipino worker in a factory. There, I met my girlfriend, who later became my wife. She was the one who became a born-again Christian first. As I observed the changes in her, I thought that if she was happy in her new religion, it was fine with me.
However, the time came when she started sharing Bible verses with me and tried to explain to me who Jesus is. She even invited me to join their Bible study and Church service. I attended her Bible study once and also the church service. After that, I told her it was the last time I would go with her to the church. We had a big argument about it. I even threw the Bible at her. She cried. After that, I thought that I had lost her for good. However, after our fight, she talked to her pastor and Bible study leader. She asked them to pray for me.
New Direction
After a few weeks without communication, I finally called her at her dorm. When she answered the phone, I blurted out that I wanted to attend the church on Sunday. She was so happy to hear me say it. When Sunday came, I was with her and attended church. While listening to the sermon, I wondered if the preacher was talking about me. He was talking about things that I was doing. After the preaching of the word, the pastor made an altar call. It was for people who wanted to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and come to the front of the church. Lo and behold, when I opened my eyes, I was in front. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. It was the 16th of March 1997.
When we returned to the Philippines, we married in April of 1999. We attended a local church in my wife’s province, where I served in men’s ministry from 2000 to 2015. Then, we moved from the Philippines to beautiful British Columbia. When we moved here, I told myself I would attend the church and be a member. I wanted to sit and relax and not join any ministry.
Study to Be a Small Group Leader at CLI
That was my plan. However, God had another plan for me. I joined a Bible study group in our new church after just a few Sundays. The small group leader asked me to share in our Bible study there. After a year of being a member of that group, one of our pastors talked to me. He asked me to become a Small Group Leader. I wanted to refuse because of my original plan. However, I said yes. Therefore, I am enrolled in the Christian Leader Institute to study to be a small group leader. I want to grow in knowledge and faith and be able to lead small groups. The Lord will teach me many things in my journey as I continue.
As I continue my walk with God through my study to be a small group leader at the Christian Leaders Institute, I know God is preparing me for something extraordinary in ministry. Furthermore, God is adding more members to the small group that He has entrusted me to lead. My passion is to help people grow in their faith and care for them in their Christian journey. I pray that God teaches and guides me to be the small group leader He desires. I am very grateful that all the courses in CLI are free and available anytime and anywhere. Otherwise, attending a Bible School where I would have to pay and leave my job would be impossible. God leads our brethren at CLI to make all of this possible. To God be the Glory!
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, Diplomas, and Degrees with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- 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.