Hello! My name is Lissa Patterson. Technically, it’s Melissa, but Lissa is what I am called. Currently, I am studying biblical coaching at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible courses, Click Here).
I live in a small town in Missouri (USA). I am the second of three girls raised together and one that we later met and immediately loved.
My Childhood: Abuse and Anger
I was raised in a home with abuse that serves as my earliest memories. My mother attended church with my sisters and me in tow until I was about 13 years old. I remember disliking church. The preacher aggressively lectured about sin and how anyone that sinned would go to hell. He taught that sinners angered God. And because of the abuse, I thought I was a sinner. The church was the place where I was reminded of my powerlessness, unworthiness, and shame. Or so I felt.
During my childhood, I felt that God couldn’t and didn’t love me. I prayed and wept and cried out to Him, but all I heard was silence. I didn’t understand why God could let horrible things happen to children. So, I became angry. So angry that I turned my back to Him. Completely.
Hearing God’s Voice
Fast forward through many abusive relationships and to a day that I heard God’s voice. I was an alcoholic. I again found myself praying and weeping for a few years, calling out to Him for help. Begging God to love me enough to give me the strength to stop drinking and to live a better life.
Then, one night, I allowed myself to quiet enough to hear, “I have given you the tools because I love you, child. You just need to use them.” Soon after that night, I drove by the store where I usually stopped for a bottle. I smiled while I said a prayer of thanks and kept driving towards home. And I’ve never looked back. Today, I’ve never felt stronger or more empowered.
A few years ago, I started attending the church where I now serve on the welcoming team. I also facilitate a “Stepping Into Freedom” program weekly at the same church. But until recently, I didn’t realize that there was more for me to do.
Called by God
For a while now, I’ve overwhelmingly felt that I am supposed to help others get through some of the same things I experienced. Training for life coaching has been placed in front of me with a voice that tells me coaching is my purpose. I help others get through the aftermath of abuse and addictions and lead lives walking closer to God.
I am certified as a Professional Life Coach, Cognitive Behavioral Life Coach, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Coach, Confidence Coach, Public Speaking Coach, Emotional Intelligence Life Coach, Goal Success Life Coach, Happiness Life Coach, Life Purpose Coach, and Master Mindset Life Coach. Even with all of these certifications, I have argued with God about this purpose. I say that I am not qualified. Not competent.
Studying Biblical Coaching at CLI
I wanted to incorporate Spiritual Wellness into my coaching and teach from a biblical aspect. While researching how to do biblical coaching, the Christian Leaders Institute came up. Another tool handed to me by my Heavenly Father and the last piece of the puzzle to fulfill my life purpose.
The question “What is your spiritual dream?” is asked in one of the courses. My answer, “To live a life that pleases God.” Thank you, Christian Leaders Institute, for helping me along my journey!
I am Kadiri Ezekiel from Kogi State in Nigeria. Currently, I am at the Christian Leaders Institute for more ministry studies to fulfill my calling (Learn more about online Bible courses, Click Here). I grew up in a Christian family and currently serve in my local church. After I was born again in 2012, I started to pursue God with my whole heart. Soon the Holy Spirit filled me, and I began to preach to teenagers and a few people I met now and again on my street.
My Calling
In 2017, I attended Reinhard Bonnke’s farewell crusade at the Opic event center in Lagos, Nigeria. And on the second day of my arrival, I began to pray to seek the face of God as to why I was at that crusade. Then, I fell into a trance where God called me into what I will describe as an Evangelistic Pastoral ministry. Then, I saw Evangelist Reinhard giving me his sandals and informing me that he was leaving and passing the mantle.
Immediately after the vision, I knew exactly what it meant for me. Part of what it meant was that the Evangelist would be going home to Jesus soon. And amazingly, he died only two years later. So for me, I became a student pastor in my higher institution. There is much God intends to entrust me with for my generation as well.
Ministry Studies at CLI
Catching a glimpse of my pathway, or better, presented the pathway that God has for me, I needed to equip myself with ministry training. So, I graduated from the School of Disciples at the RCCG. Currently, I am at Christian Leaders Institute for more ministry studies for the ministry work ahead of me. Thank you, CLI, for this study opportunity!
Let the Little Children Come to Me
My name is Irene Sarudzai Chiketa, and I am called by God to be a Children’s Minister. I am blessed to be studying the Bible to be equipped as a children’s minister at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible courses, Click Here). I am happily married to Christian Chiketa for twenty-three years. We have two children aged twenty-one and nineteen.
Early Life and Conversion
Born in 1975, I am the firstborn in a family of five girls. I was not raised in a Christian family. However, from a tender age, I yearned to be part of a church. I would preach to my dolls. God responded to this desire by bringing Yvonne Moore into my life. She offered to take me to church. Then, I did the New Believer’s course, “The Cork Group,” which she conducted at the Hillside Methodist Church in Bulawayo. Being excited, I invited my friend to join Yvonne and me on Sundays. Before long, I had invited other friends from school who also stayed in the neighborhood. Therefore, Yvonne had the task of ferrying five little girls to the church without their parents.
From then on, my relationship with God began. I always looked enviously at other families who attended church together, while I was always with Yvonne and my friends. My prayer was that my parents would meet God and accept Him. Then the quarreling and the constant conflict between them could stop, and we would be a happy family. My parents and siblings did, however, come to church to support me when I took part in Easter and Christmas plays. They would come and witness these events but never take part.
Gradually, they all began coming to church, though quite sporadically. Later, my father accepted Jesus Christ into his life when he was ill before he died. We could all attend church together as a family, even though this happened when I was in college. We even prayed and fasted together, something which other people take for granted. This was a dream come true, and a prayer answered.
Calling to Ministry: Children’s Minister
After graduating from high school, I wanted to study Art or Law. My parents made an executive decision, and I ended up training to be a teacher because it was a “safe profession.” Then, I met my husband. The year I graduated, we married. Two years into our marriage, God blessed us with our son. The difficult pregnancy and the constant threat of miscarriage strengthened our dependency on God. We grew spiritually, and our son’s birth was a living testimony of God answering our prayers. Our desire as a couple was to attend a church where our children would receive foundational lessons about Jesus Christ. This had us praying and fasting. In response, my husband was promoted, and we moved to Harare.
We started attending a new church where I was offered a position as a Sunday School helper. I then trained to be a Sunday school teacher. I was in my element. As a teenager, I volunteered as a helper in Sunday School. I enjoyed playing with the toddlers and was not intimidated by their tantrums. Being the firstborn, I was always babysitting my siblings. So Sunday School was and still is phenomenal! I grew spiritually as I prepared for the lessons. The weekly memory verse recitation we did with the children helped encapsulate and imprint the Word of God in my heart also.
Children’s Minister Call
As a Sunday school teacher, I discovered how much I enjoyed spending time with children. Their honest, innocent, and candid responses helped me soul search about my relationship with God. The camps and Easter and Christmas plays not only fanned the burning desire I had for the Lord but made me realize how important it is for children to know God. God ceases to be a theoretical concept and becomes a true friend to the children.
I also realized that children did not consistently come to Sunday School. Like other church members, their parents perceived Sunday school as a babysitting service while they did serious stuff in church. This perception was held by other members of the church who were unwilling to help with the Sunday School. The result is that there are a few teachers who faithfully teach in the Sunday School. Therefore, almost every Sunday of the year, I would be in Sunday School. So when someone invited me to Bible Study Fellowship, God responded yet again to my prayers.
Spiritual Journey
I was overjoyed because now I would not miss out on the teaching of God’s Word. Before long, my children also joined Bible Study Fellowship. The lively discussions with my children made my husband feel he was missing out. So, he promptly also joined Bible Study Fellowship. As usual, I could not keep it to myself. I invited my church mates, friends, relatives, work colleagues, siblings, and mum to Bible Study Fellowship.
This was just as I had done as a little grade six child back in 1986. Then, I realized that someone, who was as dedicated to bringing Christ to broken young children like me, introduced me to God. My life changed because Yvonne Moore responded to the call to go out and make disciples of all nations. From an unhappy home saturated with conflict and heartache, I met Jesus Christ because of Yvonne. Now, I also have a role to play in the lives of these lost children.
One of my friends, whom I had introduced to Bible Study Fellowship, migrated to South Africa and introduced me to Christian Leaders Institute because she knew the passion I have to study the word of God.
Personal Interests
I enjoy writing daily devotionals that I share periodically with friends. I pray that these will see the light of day in the form of a printed book one day. Since 2006, I have served the Lord as a Deacon. I have also served as a Sunday School teacher. In addition, I enjoy studying the scriptures. Further, I dream of opening a Christian school and sanctuary for the numerous street children in my country.
I hold a Diploma in Education, a Bachelor of Technology in Education Management, and a Masters in Business Administration.
Study Interest
I want to study the Bible and all the other courses that will earn me a degree from Christian Leaders Institute and CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
My goal is to receive formal training from Christian Leaders Institute to confidently open a Christian school here and competently serve the Lord. My passion is bringing children to the Lord. Often, adults are so caught up in their relationship with God that they forget to take their children to God, and, therefore, the children fall prey to the devil. I desire to reach the young as a children’s minister.
Hobbies
I enjoy helping the needy, reading, traveling, and running. I even ran a half marathon. During my early morning runs, I have my quiet time with the Lord.