Japan’s Ready to Meet Jesus
Hello! I am excited to receive free Bible credentialing and training at the Christian Leaders Institute as I reach out here in Japan.
Japan is a beautiful and fascinating place in a lot of ways. There is so much opportunity here to minister for Jesus since less than one percent of the entire country’s population claims any connection to Christ. To serve Jesus in Japan was an instant death sentence until more recently. The Japanese have a state religion of idols. Therefore, to embrace Christ is to become an enemy of the state to the Japanese people. They have embraced religious pluralism (believing that all religions are the truth) and wide-scale-open-idolatry (idols on nearly every corner). However, things get a little uncomfortable once you mention Jesus.
On the other hand, the Japanese people are not constantly immersed in denominational theologies and, thus, jaded. For that reason, the people here seem more willing to hear the Word of God with an open heart.
How I Met Jesus
I was living as an Old Order Amish at one point but not baptized into the denomination, so I was never a member of that group. I was once a part of a couple of other strict denominations, but I didn’t meet Jesus until one day while I was in a Church-house praying at my bench alone after taking communion. The moment Jesus walked into my life, I felt a joy that was so intense! The best way I can describe it is that I wanted to laugh, cry, shout for joy at the top of my lungs, and praise Jesus for being there! I tried hard to meet all the requirements the best way I knew how, before and nothing worked!
However, the day I met Jesus, my whole life philosophy, self-image, plan, outlook about others, and eternity CHANGED instantly. I’m not saying that I’ve been perfected or that I’ve reached entire sanctification in the twinkling of an eye (we’re not there yet). But, I can tell you that Jesus was right there in that service. I remember the moment that my heart flooded with the presence of the Blessed Holy Spirit of God! I know Jesus lives!
Called to Serve
The King invited me to serve others and preach the Gospel Truth that He’s alive today. I have not always been faithful to that calling and have stumbled on the way. BUT GOD! He’s able! I have a lot of growth and maturity to look forward to, but I have learned one Kingdom secret. Jesus is truly alive and wants to walk among us and dwell within us. That’s how it’s possible to be imperfect yet holy, by abiding in the True Vine, Jesus of Nazareth.
I thank God for CLI’s Leadership Excellence School and Christian Leaders Institute! They are furthering the cause of Christ by offering free Bible credentialing and training (with a fee for administration at the college) to bear fruit for the Lord. This present world and the Kingdom of God (that is in this world but not of this world) have completely different agendas. Namely Heaven and Hell. Too often, the Kingdom mingles with the world and the world with the Kingdom. It gets to the point that it’s hard to tell who’s who.
Is it not the highest calling of the Church to bear fruit? It seems that, often, seminaries, Bible colleges, and denominational trainers turn out people who have not been introduced to Jesus in their training and ordination programs. Christian Leaders Alliance is a bright light on this front! May Jesus greatly bless this mission with every good thing!
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School. Learn more about Bible School training at CLI.
Hello, friends! My name is Mellissa Lopez, and I am getting a free education for ministry at CLI. I am 35 years old, married for 13 years, and have three beautiful children. I live in the Caribbean on the lovely twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago. At the age of 17, I gave my life to the Lord. There were many times I did not live the way Christ called me to live. There are moments that I am not proud of, decisions I regret, things that I would make right if I could, and people I have hurt.
Struggles and Renewal
Although I loved the Lord, I didn’t love Him with my whole heart. For a long time, living my life my way meant everything to me. I am embarrassed to say that I was a very selfish person. My relationships suffered because of it – my marriage, my friendships, even my children. I kept putting my wants and desires first, and in doing so, I made many mistakes and lost much time. Chasing after things to make me a success, I wanted to live a certain lifestyle and fill my life with all the things successful people have.
Strangely, I always prayed and kept God on my mind. I remembered to thank Him for the things that made me happy. Always “things.” God was on my mind, but not in my heart. Not the way He wanted to be. However, my mistakes led me to press into prayer more. Pressing into prayer led to spending more time with God. He started to speak to my heart. I stopped chasing money and appreciated that God always gives us enough to ensure that we are well cared for. When I started to appreciate that, I realized that I had more time on my hands. Therefore, I spent it with God.
Free Education for Ministry at CLI
With the free education for ministry at the Christian Leaders Institute, I desire to gain as much knowledge as I can about the Bible and understand God’s will for my life. In turn, I hope to guide and minister the word to people, like myself, who need direction, hope, and mercy. I want to focus on the Women’s Ministry and also become a Christian Life Coach. Even now, as I write these words, I pray that the Lord will give me a heart like His, a spirit of obedience, and fill me with courage.
I look forward to my time here at CLI. I hope to forge new friendships and go deeper into the spiritual things of God. For the opportunity that CLI has given to me, I am truly thankful.
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 Sarah Baigent, and I am taking online minister training at CLI – the Christian Leaders Institute – for free. I am from Cambridge, England. In my early 30s, I went to university as a mature student to do a foundation degree in Public Service. It led to a BA (Hons) then a Learning and Teaching Accreditation and eventually a Ph.D. at the University of Kent.
The city of Cambridge is a diverse place and very cosmopolitan. However, in terms of sowing seeds and being evangelical – the ground is hard. Historically, Cambridge University came into being when splitting from Oxford University. It was partially due to the idea that Oxford was too church-centered.
My Early Years
I grew up in London within a working-class family. My parents were racist, so I spent a lot of time on my own. I missed out on a lot of friendships and social learning. My parents were very detached from me as a child growing up. My father was a disciplinarian, and my mother indifferent to my company and busy being a wife and practical mother of three children. I spent many hours playing on my own with not a single memory of running up to my mum or dad and being given a big hug.
It was during this time that I began a fascination with ‘spirits’ – an interest shared by my mother and elder brother. At about ten years old, I was reading tarot cards and training myself in clairvoyance. Sadly, it gave me a false sense of power and identity. This interest continued on and off for many years along with bouts of severe depression. I got married at 19 and over the next ten years had four children.
Saved By Grace
At around age 30, I was approached by a Christian mother at the school who began a conversation about Jesus. She was gently trying to tell me clairvoyance was not of God. I agreed to go and meet the minister who lived next door to her so that I could argue my case of defense. After some exchange of words, the lay minister told me about Jesus’ love for me, His sacrifice, and what it means to follow Jesus. I could not deny the piercing of truth and awareness of His love for me in that instant. I had a Damascus experience and became a Christian, and I changed dramatically.
After that, I went to a Baptist church. My books were all gathered together in big sacks and burnt at the minister’s farm. In its place, one book was on my shelf, the Bible. I was baptized by full immersion and was discipled by various people in the church.
Challenges
While I would like to tell you it has all been plain sailing from this point in time, it has not. My husband had an affair when I was pregnant with our fourth child. Our relationship was strained. Even though I was struggling to overcome earthly trials, on the other hand, it was the happiest time of my life. God became real to me because I had a close relationship with Jesus. I listened for His voice to do His bidding in many situations in which I have many wonderful testimonies to share.
However, over time, a bitterness grew up in me towards my husband and coldness in my heart. So shortly after starting university, we separated and eventually divorced. By this time, we had both been unfaithful to each other. I fell down a spiritual pit, though Jesus never left me.
New Beginnings
Ten years ago, I got remarried to a non-Christian while studying for my Ph.D. I had been struggling with depression, agoraphobia, anxiety, and periods of physical weakness. Eventually, I prayed to God to help me and repented of my sins. Presently, Jesus is faithfully restoring me. Thankfully, my new husband is encouraging me to study at the Christian Leaders Institute. He witnesses the way my faith heals me and forms an integral part of my heart, soul, and identity.
In terms of my spiritual dream, I hope for Jesus to commission more Spirit-filled evangelists to emerge in Cambridge. As they are led by the prompting and power of the Holy Spirit, they will breathe truth and life into the community. More is needed to provide a place to talk about worries, problems, anxieties, and needs to people who remain hidden and hurting in the everydayness of life.
More specifically, I dream that churchgoers from surrounding churches have a drop-in place to meet, talk, and learn. The living stones of the church, the body of believers, need to unite and become more connected. Then, we can strengthen each other and move forward together as the Holy Spirit directs us to witness and evangelize the community. God led innovation with one joined-up team – our own Solomon’s Portico!
Online Minister Training at CLI
Free minister training at CLI will help me grow as a Christian and strengthen me to minister. First and foremost, I want to minister to my own family especially my children and grandchildren who are all at different stages in their life. The divorce was difficult for them in different ways. I ask Jesus to help me become a Spirit-filled mother so that in some way to “repay the years the locusts have eaten.” Two of my children are practicing Christians and two are not.
Free training offered at CLI gave me the opportunity to act immediately on the promptings of the Holy Spirit to train and discipline myself in the Word and wait on God for the next step. This time is a crucial turning point for me. One day, I hope to give back to CLI as I have a gifting for developing teaching materials and a heart to support and mentor others in their ministerial journey.
God bless you all!
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.