My name is Maxine Lovell, and I am thankful for the free Bible School study opportunity at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about Studying the Bible, Click Here). I am from the United Kingdom.
My Formative Years
I was not raised in a Christian home and spent my formative years in a children’s home. Then, eventually, I went to live with my grandparents at the age of seven. I don’t have any good memories of my childhood. It felt like being a second-class citizen and not part of a family unit. However, that all changed when I accepted Jesus into my life at the age of 18. He blessed me with loving Christian people who loved me and accepted me as I was.
Saved From an Untimely Death
Before my transformation, I was at a vulnerable point in my life. Often, I thought of committing suicide. My mental state was on the decline. I went through years of abuse, and I was at the stage of just wanting to die.
I remember the day well. It was a Tuesday evening in August of 1983. I slipped out of the house to go and see one of my college friends. I wanted to see her one last time before ending it all. On my way back home from her house, I meet a guy I had seen a few times at the college I attended. He said he was on his way to a prayer meeting and wanted to know if I would like to attend. The house where the meeting was to be held was only up the road from where I lived. So I said sure. I had nothing to lose.
It was the turning point in my life. I needed hope and something to live for. I found it that night in Jesus. Having Jesus in my life made my living environment bearable. However, I eventually had to move out of where I was living. So, I went to live with a lady from my church because my home situation affected my walk with God.
Restoration
Two years later, I met my wonderful husband at the church I attended. We married over 34 years ago now. We have three wonderful adult children and a grandchild.
The scripture, which says God will restore the years taken, has been a reality in my life (Joel 2:25). It took several years of receiving prayer and counseling due to the damages that I encountered as a child, the love of my husband and children, and the Church family. They have all been such tremendous support in my healing and deliverance.
Called to Christian Leadership
I am still growing and trusting in God. However, it is not always easy due to the complexity of life and the daily challenges I face at work, in my community, at church, and in my home life. God has opened many doors of opportunity. I have also been involved in teaching, preaching, counseling, prayer ministry, missions, and leading worship.
In 2001, I took a healing and deliverance course, which was a healing ministry for myself. Following my training, God instructed me to comfort those in any trouble by the comfort wherewith (I) we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:4). This led me to work voluntarily for a Christian Ministry as an associate prayer counselor. A few years later, I got involved in mission work in West Africa, supporting orphanage work and women’s ministry.
Spiritual Dream
I went through a period of discouragement following an orphanage project I was involved in falling apart. At around the same time, I left the church I attended for some years with my family. I have since found it difficult to get back into God’s call or settle into a church family. Whether I left my church prematurely, I don’t know. However, I know that there is still a lot to do in God’s Kingdom, and I want to be involved in it.
My dream is to continue working with orphans and those that are in need. I have the opportunity in my day job to work with those that are at risk of homelessness or are already homeless. Although some people see it as just a job, it is part of my Christian service in the Kingdom of God.
Studying at the Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) will be instrumental in helping me find more of God’s purpose and plan for my life. The free Bible School study opportunity at CLI will help me serve in the church, evangelism, and the wider community. I am to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to those that have not experienced him.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
My name is Ngozi Dozie, and I am excited about the free Bible School opportunity at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about Studying the Bible, Click Here). He has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of His purpose and grace. (2 Timothy 1:9 NIV). I am Nigerian by birth and a United States permanent resident. I am married to Dozie Obele, a Legal Practitioner. We have three wonderful sons aged 7-15.
My Faith Journey Began
In Junior School, I found a copy of Guideposts addressed to my Dad. Right after I read it, I began to look forward to subsequent editions that would come in the mail. Shortly after, I browsed my father’s library and found two books that were part of a trilogy, although he didn’t have the third. The first was The Greatest Story Ever Told by Fulton Oursler and the second, The Greatest Faith Ever Known by Fulton Oursler and April Oursler. The Greatest Story Ever Told was about the life of Jesus Christ. The Greatest Faith Ever Known was the story of the three men: Paul, James, and Peter, who spread the Good News after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
After I read the books, it triggered a desire to love and serve Jesus. A desire to know more about Him, one that has remained with me to this day. I didn’t have any more exposure to such books, nor was I exposed to the environment where I could hear more and grow as a Christian. However, I did not know that everything I needed was right inside the Bible.
Continuing on My Faith Journey
I grew up as a Catholic and considered it boring. Although, I continued on my curious journey of discovering Christ on my own through books, television, and print. Years later, I left home to attend University. I still wasn’t born-again. However, it was in my first year of school that I had a series of dreams. Years later, I determined them to be when the Lord started stirring my heart towards His ministry. I derailed, but God did not derail. He kept knocking at the door of my heart through dreams.
As I grew into a young woman, I stopped attending the Catholic Church. I worshipped with The Fountain of Life Church in Lagos, Nigeria. There I met and related to other believers. Then, I was born-again. I became more faithful in the church so that when I decided to join a department, I prayed about it.
My Calling
Before this, I had dreams where I was not fully asleep but aware that there was a presence in the room, although invisible. Yet, His presence was tangible. On that night, in response to my prayers, the Presence took me to The Fountain Of Life Church Ilupeju and led me to a door. When I opened and entered, the Evangelism department of the church held a meeting there. So for the first time, I realized that some of my previous dreams and trances were not mere dreams or random occurrences but were spiritual, with meanings.
At this point, I knew I had a calling though I also felt I wasn’t qualified because I was a sinner. I had just been saved and born-again. However, I had no idea how to navigate this new-found knowledge. I read some Christian books, which blessed me. It was at this time I thought and prayed about my calling even though I felt unworthy. The urge and longing to be more for Christ grew stronger and stronger. However, sadly, I had no idea how to follow it through nor how to make it become a reality in my life.
New Job
I was still grappling with my calling when I got a job as a bank executive trainee. Then, I reached out to friends to know what I should do but was told to go to a Bible School. Because my work schedule was tight, I did not have the luxury of time for ministry school, and the conviction that it was what I needed to do wasn’t there.
As time passed and I settled into banking, the commute from work to weekly church activities became more challenging. I went from going to church on Sundays for Service, Mondays for Singles Fellowship, Tuesdays for Bible Study, Wednesdays for Mid-week Service, Fridays for Night Vigil, and Saturdays for Evangelism to attending church once or twice weekly. My calling became the least of my priorities.
My Calling and Looking for a Free Bible School Opportunity
Then I married and settled into marriage, motherhood, and parenting. My calling continued to take the backseat. I had no clue as to how to become a Minister of the Word. My uncertainty continued until my husband said that if God called me, then He would certainly have the answers to the many questions that plagued me.
That was when I started praying and fasting intentionally about my calling. The more I prayed, fasted, studied the Word, read books that would help me grow and develop my spiritual gifts, the closer I got to God. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. Other spiritual gifts became activated as I prayed and waited on God. On my personal journey of faith, I discovered the purpose of my calling. I also learned that developing a relationship with God takes a daily, intentional walk with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Finding the Free Bible School Opportunity at CLI
In October of 2019, I registered for a one-month Bible class with the Dominion Leadership Institute in Lagos, Nigeria. At the end of the leadership program, I knew that formal ministry training would prepare and position me as an ordained minister.
This free online Bible School opportunity at the Christian Leaders Institute is God sent. I wouldn’t have been able to achieve it otherwise. Being a hands-on mother of three with busy schedules, a traditional ministry school would not have been possible. The Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) allowed me to start my ministry journey from a knowledgeable standpoint. CLI will equip me for success in ministry.
I’m grateful for this free training opportunity! It has reinforced my belief that I am to be a useful tool in the hands of God.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
Hello, my name is Barry Lewis, and I am taking classes to study the Bible online for free at CLI (Learn more about Studying the Bible, Click Here). I live in Edmonton, Alberta, but am originally from the Island of Bermuda. I was called into ministry in the mid-90s. After walking with God for a little while, my faith was tested. I failed miserably! For over twenty plus years, I was in the world doing many things not pleasing to God. It is only by the grace of God that I am alive today, and I am grateful.
It was only through God’s unmerited favor on my life that I was able to move here to Canada after many years in Bermuda. I was traveling down the broad path to destruction and ultimate death. However, God showed up on the eleventh hour through a dream, and He saved me again.
Called to Preach the Gospel
I had found out what my calling was in 2015, and since then, I have been working on my walk with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Can I say it’s been easy? No! However, it is worth the effort and struggle!
Since I left the kingdom of darkness, the one who runs it tries to throw stumbling blocks in front of me. But, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I have made it my mission to walk with God daily. Furthermore, I will stand on the Word of God and His promises. As it says in Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.” With Christ, those stumbling blocks become stepping stones on my faith journey. All for God’s glory!
Today, I am an assistant Pastor and continuously seek a closer walk with God. My spiritual dream is to preach the Word of God all over the world with the Holy Spirit’s help. I would love to do missionary work in the far reaches of the world and help the less fortunate. So the free ministry training and classes to study the Bible at the Christian Leaders Institute are exactly what I need at this time in my ministry journey.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.