My name is Jason Patzke. I live in North Pole, Alaska, USA. I am excited to be getting free training in the Bible at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here).
The second of seven children, I did not grow up in a Christian home. My parents divorced when I was young. I lived with my mother until the age of seven. However, when I went to live with my father, I lost contact with her until I was 21. My father was in the Army, and I spent the rest of my childhood moving every three years. Although this did provide me with life experiences many people do not have the opportunity to experience, it prevented me from establishing a solid personal identity or connection with my community.
I was an adult when I began looking at religion and the possibility of the existence of a power greater than myself. Among others, I looked into Hinduism, Islam, and Mormonism. Each one of these religions was presupposed on the idea that I would be able to do (or not do) enough things to qualify me for entry into Heaven or Nirvana. I felt hopeless each time because I know that I do not have it in me to be “good enough.”
Faith Comes By Hearing and Hearing By the Word of Christ
A friend learned that I had been studying Mormonism. He gave me a box of nearly 200 CDs of sermons preached by John MacArthur (Grace Community Church/Grace to You radio). He told me to start with “Fundamentals of the Faith.” I went through the box of CDs quickly, listening to them almost non-stop daily. The teachings presented helped me understand that God knows I can’t be “good enough.” Even so, God desires a relationship with me. God has made it possible for me to enter into His presence and stand before Him in Heaven. I was excited to learn that I did not have to rely on my own strength. I could lean on and trust in Him. That was nearly 15 years ago.
I began attending church but was really just a “pew sitter.” Basically, I went to church, sang songs, and took notes during the sermon. However, then I would leave as soon as I could. Recently though, I realized that I would like to share what I have learned with others. Having taught computer classes and GED classes with great success, I know I have a teaching gift. I want to serve in my local church, teaching adult Sunday School, leading Bible studies, or even preaching on occasion.
Free Training in the Bible at CLI
By providing Bible training for free, the Christian Leaders Institute has allowed me to grow. It also shows my local church leaders that I am sincere in my desire to understand and share the Bible with others. I know I would not be able to afford this training on my own. I am thankful for those who provide the financial support needed to make this training available.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
Hello, my name is Beatrice Ajayi, an Irish citizen but originally from Nigeria. I found the Christian Leaders Institute, a Bible school free online, where I can receive Bible and ministry training (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here). I am married to the most amazing man on earth with a good heart and loves God. We are blessed with three amazing children and living in Ireland.
I am part of a local church family at Maranatha Christian Community Church, where I serve and help out in the youth and children’s ministry as a minister of the word to our younger generations (Alpha and Gen Z). In 2019, I was opportune to get a Bachelor’s degree in business (Marketing Specialization) from Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT).
My Early Journey
I grew up in a Christian home with a family of seven. My mum had a passion for the things of God, and she would bring us to church every Sunday. She encouraged me to be part of the church choir because she identified the gift of singing in me. I later realized I only knew about God but didn’t really know Him intimately. During my teenage life, things became difficult financially for my family as my dad lost his job. All his efforts to get a new one proved abortive, and mum was the only one catering for the whole family.
My Encounter
At the age of 21, I decided to leave my home in Nigeria and go to Europe to fend for myself. However, that was how I got myself into difficult and nasty situations. I finally cried out to God during my dry season and made a deal with Him. If He saved me, I would serve Him for the rest of my life. He heard me and rescued me. I totally surrendered my life to Him. Finally, I got baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit.
Deeper Relationship
In 2020, during the Covid 19 lockdown, the Lord was taking me into a deeper personal relationship with Him. He put a burning desire for lost souls in my heart. I felt the call of the Great Commission from Mathew 29:19-2o. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Finding CLI: A Bible School Free Online
I knew I needed to grow more in the word of God to enable me to share my faith effectively. In January 2021, during one of my continuous searches for evangelism tracks and Bible school free online, I stumbled on the Christian Leaders Institute (CLI). After much research, I discovered this Bible school free online is what I have been looking for. It truly was free, and I didn’t have the money to pay exorbitant online Bible college/university fees. Therefore, I keyed into this wonderful opportunity.
The Holy Spirit leads and guides me through the learning and development I am receiving now and in the future from Christian Leaders Institute. With my interest in studying and going deeper in my knowledge of the Bible, having a heart for lost souls (evangelism) and business (entrepreneurship), I hope to bring the light and glory of God to everyone and anyone I come in contact with, whether in the church, supermarket, streets, bus-stop, airplane, park, parents, teenagers, children, young and old, etc.
I pray that this desire and hunger will continue to increase in me and all who are trusting God for greater things and encounters.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
What Brought Me to CLI? – Ministry Courses
All glory and praise to the King of kings, the great I AM. My name is Lee, and the lady beside me in the photo is my beautiful wife, Diana. We live in Canada, southwestern Ontario, and it’s been a journey indeed. We recently moved away from Toronto. However, prior a Brother introduced me to the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here). It’s been an encouragement and blessing to take the ministry courses during this season.
YHWH is doing something in my heart and walk, which is so specific that I don’t know the fullness and vision yet. Learning to walk one step at a time and trusting in the Lord keeps me taking the ministry courses. Working out my salvation with fear and trembling is no joke. My soul can not comprehend the riches and vastness of the LORD, but I strive for more.
The sense of a high calling seems to scream urgency of late. His Spirit testifies to this during daily communion. He has put a fire in my belly for lost souls and a passion for His Word. I feel the importance of being able to share the Word with others. To me, the gospel message should be simple and easy to share. I feel the importance of having sound doctrine rooted in the Word, to be equipped with an answer for all men at all times. The ministry courses at CLI are strengthening me in this area.
The Holy Ghost runs this show now. May it be His will and not mine. My beloved Brothers and Sisters, I pray for discernment and His guidance during these perilous times. The spiritual war is becoming ever more present. Oh, how we need our Abba, Father GOD, in every way!
The Revelation: From the Mire to the House of the Lord
I didn’t always talk like this. As my kids say, “real talk,” and my real talk is that I don’t deserve to be on this side. I went from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light. My life may be a common one: filled with brokenness, pain, suffering, and seeking happiness and true meaning. I didn’t have Biblical knowledge or a religious background growing up.
To put it plainly, I’ve had no real identity or clue for 35 years. The lack of Biblical knowledge or relationship with Jesus put me on the wrong path. Primarily, I was suffering from self-worth issues from youth. This led me to multiple broken relationships, poor decisions, a failed marriage, suicidal thoughts, addictions, and consistent pitfalls. Through it all, my feeble attempts at fixing my life only led to greater darkness, but, and this is a big BUT, the LORD was gracious and merciful towards me.
The Journey
Looking back, Jesus’/Yeshua’s hand was on me, all along. My first supernatural experience was from crying out to an unknown god in 2008. Out of my despair, I cried to the Creator of my soul. I cried for help and direction. Upon that cry, a peace which I’ve never felt prior surrounded me. It was there momentarily and then gone. Something had taken place, I wasn’t quite sure what, but something happened. Perhaps best described as a blanket of comfort consuming me at a critical point in my life.
Someone Heard My Cry and Cared, But Who?
This single event didn’t stop my life from turning upside-down. I proceeded to lose my first wife along with our two sons to divorce. Additionally, I lost my job and home due to these and other circumstances. This all took place in a matter of a few brief months. With no control, I was broken and beaten down. The weight of my despair sent me spiraling into a cycle of self-pity, depression, and frustration. I gravitated to instant gratification in my attempt to deal with everything, which consisted of but wasn’t limited to: women, alcohol, drugs, the gym, partying, tattoos, motorcycles, video games, etc. Basically, I ran to anything that could numb my pain.
Despite the way I was handling things, people kept coming into my path, sharing seeds of Christ’s mercies in their lives. At times, they had my ear, but it only fell on the stony and weedy ground to be consumed. During this season, I was all over the place, trying to sort out my life direction. I was nicknamed “nomad” in the pursuit of direction. I did try various churches along the way, but the lure of the world had me in its grip. Since I didn’t understand the church or its message, my rebellion burned stronger. So, I occasionally looked to other religions and sources. Eventually, I got mixed up in the occult, new age practices, and philosophies, increasing my lust towards the world and my flesh.
My Journey Continued
As time went on, things in my life started coming back together, at least from an outside perspective. I had a home, a car, a steady income, women and their attention, friends, time with my boys and family. However, I was still empty inside. I knew how to distract myself, but was that all my life had to offer? Inside, I knew there was more. I just hadn’t found it. Unknowingly, I was being led by the ruler of this world, and my soul was indeed in darkness.
By 2011, my understanding of Christianity was one of head knowledge and religious standing. I was becoming content to survive for myself and my boys. The inner struggle continued its battle for truth, but I suppressed it. Struggling with the same old afflictions, the partying and previous lifestyle choices eventually grew old and unsatisfying. I focused on a career I disliked and adopted a mentality of getting by at whatever cost. My heart continued to harden.
Marriage to a Prayer Warrior
Come 2013, I met and did the unthinkable by deciding to marry again. I married Diana in late 2013 and was blessed with the addition of her daughter. We blended our young families. Diana was a believer in Christ, and I claimed to be the same for the sake of our marriage. Surely, I knew about this Jesus from my church-attending days but zero relationship with Him.
Unknown to me, she was patiently praying for my soul as our marriage grew. She supported me in my walk, but she also knew I was on the wrong path. I understood basic “Churchianity,” so I aligned with her and supported her requests to attend church as a family. Begrudgingly, I went to these services with her. I played the part and was even baptized at a Baptist church in 2014, with no real fruit to follow from water baptism. It was apparent that I was still in darkness. My heart confirmed so.
However, the Holy Ghost was working all along. Skip to 2017, where God sent a man to pierce my hardened heart. For I didn’t go looking but was now finally faced with a choice:
Did I want to know God? Was I willing to find out?
Challenged to Get in God’s Word
This man, surgically through the Holy Ghost, exposed my condition and state of spiritual darkness. I was challenged to dig into the Holy Bible to find out for myself what it said. Seeing this man’s walk, the salt and light, gave me the courage and motivation to seek for myself. As I started to read the Bible, it proved to be a challenge. It seemed everything in my world wanted to keep me from reading and studying it. I endured and fought through with encouragement and prayers from my wife and others, and by God’s grace, I made it through His Word. This took at least 8 months from reading and listening to the Word constantly. In doing so, the Word absolutely changed everything.
I now had a choice to make.
Transformed
That choice transformed my heart and life’s trajectory. The Bible was a mirror that my soul desperately needed to see itself in. All the trials, tribulations, doubts, fears, and pain couldn’t keep me from His mercy and power anymore. In 2018, after having the truth exposed through His Word, I gave my life to the LORD Christ Jesus/ Yeshua. That same feeling of peace and love from 2008 came again and still does as I grow in His Spirit and truth.
It took me 10 years from that first crying out of a broken and contrite spirit to finally come home. I recognized my sin finally. With that knowledge planted in my heart, I fell at the feet of Christ upon the cross and transferred my trust and hope to Him. There was an exchange in my soul, and I finally understood. Praise Him! Many of my addictions and chains from my past have fallen off as His Word and precious blood continuously wash me.
May my life now magnify God through the Son and Holy Ghost. Christ is the LORD of my heart and is putting all things back together for His name’s sake, little by little, day by day. Yeshua gave me true knowledge by revealing Himself to me through His Word, His Spirit, and through others. Faith through Christ is the single most precious gift I’ve ever received. Once I got into His Word, everything changed!
The Future
For we have all fallen short of YHWH’s law and glory. But Christ paid it. Praise Him for the finished work on the cross! Now all the weary and broken souls can come to Him for healing and rest. What a magnificent message! This is my heart to be led by Him into the field to find others that need His saving grace. The battle for souls becomes more real as I walk with Him. We are either enlisted, or we are not. Despite the struggles and hardships of life, He cares for us.
This is where the Christian Leaders Institute and my studies there are helping me. Currently, with an injured back and time off, I’ve been able to hone my knowledge with topics that aid with day-to-day ministering. I enjoy the practical applications I’ve been taught, such as the 7 connections. The third connection, specifically, the family, is a current focus for my wife and me. We have benefited from its teachings and lectures. With our blended family, rearing 3 teenagers, the struggles are fierce and large, but our LORD is bigger. We put our faith in Him. With YHWH, all things are possible!
CLI Goals: More Ministry Courses
I have my sights fixed on achieving the basic evangelism award with more ministry courses. I plan on using it practically to bolster my learning to effectively minister to others—one step at a time with Him leading. So Lord willing, once I complete that award, I will seek Him for further direction on whether I take more ministry courses.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:31, 32 KJV
Believing is only the start. Let us labor while it’s still day, dear Brothers and Sisters. Unite in Christ Yeshua and Him alone, Jehovah-Nissi!
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.