My name is Warren Munro, and I am studying at the Christian Leaders Institute, a Bible School online for free (Learn more about Studying the Bible, Click Here). I’m 52 years old, South African born, and currently reside in Johannesburg, South Africa. I am blessed to be employed as General Manager for a company in the South of Johannesburg.
After I completed high school in 1985, I joined the South African police force in 1986. There, I served in several different divisions during my police career.
Trapped
During my employment as a police officer from 1986 to 1997, I experienced the absolute horror of humankind’s hatred for one another. I wondered why God allowed it all. I attended many different Christian churches to find answers between 1988 and 1992. Sadly, my search led me to the Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1995.
Because I was not armed with true Christian Bible knowledge, I did not understand who the Holy Spirit is. To my detriment, I blindly followed the Jehovah’s Witnesses teaching. Consequently, I was in the Jehovah’s Witnesses cult for many years. I thankfully disassociated from them in 2011.
Saved by God’s Grace
Praise the Lord that I was baptized as a Christian in 2018! I had already publicly accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior in 2017 at my church, Rhema South Johannesburg. Since my baptism, my friends and family have seen huge changes in me. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit has transformed my mind, and I have put away much of my old personality (Romans 12 verse 2).
I have found that many people who know me tend to lean on my strength and advice during difficult seasons in their lives. Also, since my dedication to God and his Son Jesus Christ, my quality of life and sense of well being improved. This improvement was due to my relationship with our Creator and Savior.
My Calling and Finding CLI: A Bible School Online for Free
My dream is to help others come to know and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Master over their lives. The Ministry certificates and free online training that the Christian Leaders Institute offers on various important subjects, such as biblical history and the interpretation of scripture, is indeed a wonderful blessing!
I hope to enter the full-time ministry service in the near future in South Africa. I feel God’s calling to minister to those who have been trapped in cults. Matthew 9 verse 36 says, ” When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd ”( New Living Translation).
I am confident that the Christian Leaders Institute is the way forward to achieve my dream and contribution to building the Church and the Kingdom of Christ.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
Greetings in the name of the Lord! My name is Anggiat Mangapul Malau, and I am blessed with the Christian ministry study program at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about Studying the Bible, Click Here). I am from Indonesia, 51 years old, married to a devoted Christian wife, Lisbet Kristina Hutagalung. In my family, we have a daughter, Naomi, and two sons, Timothy and Yakhin.
My Childhood
From my childhood, I grew up in a Christian family. My father was a deacon in our local church, and my mother has been an active church member. As a child, I was also an active Sunday school member in my church. I was always involved in church activities, such as children’s choir or vocal group and Sunday school. My favorite church activity was to ring the church bell every Sunday at 6.00 am.
However, all of this activity did not automatically help me grow in the knowledge of the Gospel and Christ. It also did not give me an intimate relationship with the Lord. In fact, for me, church-going was more like a tradition. It was simply a religion. However, the seed of getting to know the Lord was planted in my heart.
Saved by God’s Grace
In the early ’90s, at a college Bible study, the leader discussed being a true believer in Christ. Going through the Biblical discussions, praying, and questions exchange, I realized how sinful my life was. I was unworthy even to be called God’s child. At this time, I understood the price Christ paid on the cross for my sin and salvation.
Since that time, I repented of my sin and knew that Jesus loves me unconditionally. I committed to following Jesus as my Savior and Master. Therefore, me serving in the campus fellowship, my local church, and eventually in my professional work field was for the Glorious God! I even dreamed of studying theology and, God willing, to become a pastor one day.
My Professional Work
From late 1996 until the Covid-19 pandemic, I worked as a crew on a cruise ship sailing worldwide. During this period of time, I was involved in the ministry on-board for fellow crewmembers. Usually, I took my turn in leading Indonesian Christian fellowship, and once in a while, I also attended the International group. Christian Seaman Mission from shore-side also supported our fellowship. Further, the Alaska Seaman Mission is the one that constantly supported us by providing Christian literature, movies, etc. When I first visited Alaska in the summer of 1997, I met missionaries there. Since then, I knew there is a Mission to seafarers. They were able to help with so many things in our fellowship, however, not with ministry and teaching.
Opportunity for Christian Ministry Study at CLI
During this difficult pandemic time, God gave me an opportunity for a Christian ministry study while being home at this period of time. I thank God for directing me to the generous Christian Leaders Institute website. CLI really gives me new hope that I can take the courses for free. These courses are essential to me. I definitely need them for whichever pathway the Lord will lead me.
If the cruise ship opens again, I long to minister better for the crew fellowship. By taking these courses, I will be more prepared to lead the fellowship group with sound teaching. On-board the cruise ship, we do not have any ordained Christian minister anymore. So we had to handle the service ourselves despite limited skill and knowledge.
If I work and adapt to a new normal life on land, I can be more useful in my local church and community ministry with the CLI training. Additionally, during this open Internet era, Apologetics has become more openly discussed online by many religious groups, including the Muslims. The more I know about the Bible and Christian ministry, the better I can share the Gospel of Jesus. Wherever else our Lord directs, may I boldly say, “Here am I; send me”(Isa 6:8). It is my prayer.
The CLI courses reignited my long-abandoned dream to study God’s word and Christ’s ministry formally. I hope to succeed with the support and prayer of CLI, my family, parents, and Christian friends. I know I am weak and with so many limitations, language and cultural barriers, and many other things, yet I know our Lord is a living God. Though I am weak, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:9, Philippians 4:13). Soli Deo Gloria!
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
I am Pearlie W. Williams from Kissimmee, Florida, and I am excited about and thankful for the free Chaplain training opportunity at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about Studying the Bible, Click Here).
My Young Life
I was born in Arkansas. My father was a Baptist deacon, so my story starts there. At the age of 6, I dreamed of becoming a Medical Doctor. I was taught scripture, to pray and seek God’s will for my life. By the time I was 11, I had a deep love for God and prayed. Every night I prayed Matthew 6:9-13 and Psalm 23.
Sadly, I experienced a lot of racism. But I was taught to judge a person by their character, not their race. I experienced many difficulties living on a farm and had to endure hardships at school. We had no older brother, so my sister and I were expected to chop cotton, pick cotton (even in freezing weather), and cut wood with an ax or saw to help my father. Many other things made life hard for us.
God’s Loving Kindness
I reached for something better continually through my belief and trust in Jesus. God gave me the strength to survive. Every year there were new challenges. However, the Lord never left or forsook me, even if I did not always feel his presence. My father died when I was 13 or 14, but my heavenly Father kept drawing me to Him. I continued to go to church but not as often with no one to bring me there.
At the age of 18, I finished high school. However, my dream of becoming a physician was gone. There was no money for college and no place to live, although my mother did her best. I still prayed every night but got caught up in the world, which almost took my life. Then, I became ill, was bedridden, and then wheelchair-bound for years but still trusting God to help me. I was his daughter that needed his help. Finally, I got the courage to fight back and walked away from all that pulled me away from God. I had no place to live of my own and needed an aide to walk, and always in pain.
My Encounter with the Lord
I continued to pray every night and was willing to do and go wherever God sent me. I was still going to church some. However, one night a preacher name Jones and my older sister asked me if I wanted to go to a revival. I immediately said, yes. That night I had an encounter with the Lord. He filled me with the Holy Spirit, and I was changed forever. Did I have more trials and disappointments? Yes, but now I knew God.
Disappointments
I met some false Christians and more biased people, and I walked away from the church for three years. I felt I had failed the Lord, but I kept praying. Sadly, I lost my mother-in-law, who was so close to me. On the day of her burial, I had another encounter with the Lord. He comforted me in my loss. In the middle of my grief, I gave my life back to God.
My Calling
I prayed for God’s guidance, studied scripture, and kept my thoughts on the Lord. My love increased for the lost. I often fasted. While participating in a monthly prayer meeting, my time to fill in the gap was Wednesday morning. I had another encounter with Christ. On a Wednesday morning during prayer in 1983, the Lord called me. He instructed me to keep praying and studying the Gospel.
Education
In 1995, I finished college and became an RN. I had a supportive husband and three beautiful children. Later, we moved from Arkansas to Kissimmee, Florida. It was a call to serve. I know I need more education because I want to become the best I could be for the Lord. I went to Faith Christian University for three years. There I received an advanced degree in theology and a Bachelor’s degree in Ministry.
Free Chaplain Training Opportunity at CLI
I wanted further formal education but did not have the money. I was a full-time pastor. With the help of God and my husband, I pioneered the House of Prayer Ministries, Inc. Then, I also got the commission from our former pastor McCool for the ministry.
Finally, I gave up full-time nursing because I was tired and needed to spend more time with God. I was praying for a door to open so I could help my community after COVID. I volunteered for the Red Cross and wanted more education. So, I looked and prayed for classes for Chaplain training and found the Christian Leaders Institute. I was surprised and thankful the classes were free. I praise the Lord for this Chaplain training opportunity.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.