My name is Debi McPherson Baker. I am studying the Chaplain training courses at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here).
My husband and I married in 1993. I taught at a private Christian school for a few years. In 1996, we welcomed our medically complex special needs miracle daughter, Bethany. We found out via ultrasound that God had designed our daughter in such a unique way. It was both humbling and horrific to discover. It changed our trajectory and affected our entire family in ways only God knew possible.
Because of our time in hospitals, especially Children’s Hospitals, in the surgery waiting rooms, ICUs, and more in the past 24 years, we have the first-hand experience of the difficulties. We carried an extremely heavy load even while having a steadfast relationship with the Lord. We have also watched – up close – other families go through similar circumstances without that hope.
I am taking the Chaplain training courses at the Christian Leaders Institute. My spiritual dream is to offer other scared, grieving families the hope that has gotten us through each and every time. That hope is found in a vital relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The ever-present blanket of comfort provided by His Holy Spirit is also key. Thank you, CLI, for this Chaplain training opportunity. May God bless my studies at CLI and my ministry!
My name is Elias Hayek, and I am taking Bible school courses online at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here). I am from Lebanon and born in 1985. Currently, I am living in San Diego, California, USA. I am married to an amazing wife, who God put in my life for a reason. I love her so much and am blessed to have her in my life along with four children.
My Upbringing
Born in Lebanon, I grew up in a Christian Catholic family. As a Catholic, I lived my faith through traditions and rituals which created distance between me and God. I missed the opportunity to really know God and follow Him. The lack of biblical teaching and sound doctrine opened the door for me to ask questions.
Seeking God
So, I started seeking God with all my heart. I made a promise that I will live for Him and follow Him if I get to know Him. God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, was then a mystery to me. I decided to start reading the Bible and the Catholic catechism. God revealed himself to me. The more I read in the Bible, the more trust and joy it brought to me with God.
Things began changing quickly in me. I died with Christ, and I was born again with him. “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Growing in Christ
Therefore, since then, I have been growing spiritually in my walk with God. I am living for Christ, spreading the Gospel, sharing the Good news, and reading and searching the scriptures daily. “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” Acts 17:11.
My spiritual dream is to help people find God, bring salvation to the lost, and reflect the light of Christ in my life. The free Bible School courses online at the Christian Leaders Institute are a blessing on my ministry journey.
My name is Yolanda Smith, born in Oklahoma, and I am studying Bible classes at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here). I received my associate’s in Business Administration in December of 2016. I am a single mother of three and have two grandchildren, Britain and Auden. Being a retiree, after many years, I decided to go back out into the workforce arena.
Being a Christian Leaders Institute student here in Oklahoma is great. As a little girl, I was always going to church with my mother. She was a Sunday School Teacher, and I had to go to church every Sunday. I grew up in the church and always knew that there was much more to life than just living and dying. I was baptized at the age of twelve. Discovering what the shouting and the tears meant piqued my curiosity. As I grew older, I realized that the tears were tears of joy, and the shouting was releasing what you could not hold back, the joy of knowing Christ! I accepted Christ into my life at an early age. I admit that I was on and off-track for many years.
Studying Bible Classes at CLI
Not long ago, I started reading my Bible daily. I have read it front to back about four times now. Every time, I get something different from it. I often pray for guidance and instruction because I don’t ever want to do anything that the Lord has not called me to do. The Bible says, “Do not lean to your own understanding.” I have trouble with that. However, I want what God wants for me.
My ministry goal is to spread God’s Word around the world boldly. When I saw Joyce Meyer on television, I would say, “That’s what I want to do.” I would also like to start counseling women who have had an abortion and experienced trauma and regret. I myself know exactly what that feels like. I had to ask the Lord for forgiveness. When I did, there was a feeling of being set free! God led me to want to share this experience with other women going through the same thing.
The CLI free ministry training has changed my life for the better. I am so free to do what God calls me to do, which is to minister. It has given me the opportunity and establishes the credentials needed to make this spiritual dream happen. A ministry scholarship is something that anyone can benefit from. If you have a dream in ministry, you can achieve it at CLI! I encourage any and everyone to take advantage of this wonderful gift!