Hello, there! My name is Robert Willis Sr. I am taking free online classes at the Christian Leaders Institute. I am 33 years old, living in the vast, very fast-paced city of Chicago, IL. Happily married to my wife, Candice, we have two children together. Our son, Robert Willis Jr, will be 14 this coming October, and our beautiful daughter, Milani, just turned nine in May.
My Youth
I was born and raised in Chicago on the Northwest side of the city. I grew up with my mother, but I spent most of my time with my grandparents. My grandfather, Bob Sweat, was my hero. He and I spent great, heartwarming time together. He showed me how a father was supposed to love his child and how a husband was to love his wife. The neighborhood I grew up in was relatively quiet, but just a few blocks away, the gangs hung out along with the drug users/sellers. My childhood was great. My parents loved hard, and we took vacations once a year and had dinner at the dinner table together, the ideal family. However, God and the Bible were never spoken of in our home.
At the age of 12, I was a young kid with no direction. I began getting in trouble, hanging with the wrong crowds, and involved with the gangs down the street from me. A few years later, I met my first real girlfriend. At the age of 20, she and I had our son Robert Willis Jr. Meanwhile, I’m still getting into trouble and hanging with the wrong crowds. That same year I ended up catching a charge for aggravated assault on a police officer. It sent me upstate for two years.
Changes and Wondering
During my time in prison, my mind detoxed from the alcohol and other substances I was taking. I realized that I was going down a path I didn’t want for my newborn son. When I got out of prison, and while I was in there, my son’s mother decided she wasn’t going to allow me to be a part of his life. We went to court for custody, which by the grace of God, I won sole custody of my son.
During this lengthy court process, I started changing into a man. That is when I met my wife. Our first year into our relationship, she conceived our daughter Milani and things finally started to feel stable like how I grew up. Things stayed like that for some eight years, still never hearing nor reading God’s Word.
In September of 2017, my hero, my best friend, my Papa, Bob Sweat, fell ill with dementia and ended up in hospice care. On Christmas Eve of 2017, right after we all ate dinner, he opened his eyes very briefly and took his final breath and passed away. Now it’s here that my mind started to change a bit. I thought to myself, “Where are you at, Papa? Where did your soul go? Where do all of our souls go?”
A Door Opened
A little under two years after my Papa passed away, I was still having these reoccurring thoughts. In September of 2019, my Papa’s best friend, Mr. Steven Jacob, fell ill and passed away. His wife, Mrs. Sue Jacob, invited us to his memorial service that was at the local church. That morning was no different than the rest. I woke up and got ready for his service. I thought to myself, “I don’t want to go to this service, but I will since it was my papa’s best friend.” So
When we pulled up to the church, I remember thinking about how uncomfortable I already was. We exited our vehicle and entered the church. Immediately, I felt a feeling I never felt before. It was a comforting, loving, caring feeling. So, we took a seat in the pew next to my friends and family. The pastor started speaking, and almost instantly, I fell into a trance and did not even blink an eye during his entire sermon. When the sermon ended, I fell out of the trance.
We proceeded to exit the sanctuary, and the pastor was standing by the door, greeting guests. I ducked my head, hoping he wouldn’t greet me. However, he did. He pulled me to the side and introduced himself as Pastor Rick, the head pastor at Bethany Baptist. I introduced myself as Bobby. He looked intently into my eyes and said, “Well, Bobby, your presence here today was very graceful. I ask that you join us again next Sunday.” We shook hands, and I walked out.
Giving My Life to God
As soon as I got into my truck, that feeling that overwhelmed me when I first got to the church that morning weighed very heavy on my heart. Something whispered in my head and said, “Bob, go home and read the Bible.” However, right then, another voice whispered to me, and this time I recognized that voice. It was the voice I heard all my life. It was the evil one. He said, “Why read the Bible? You’re never going to understand it.” Then the overwhelming voice whispered once more, “Bob, please just try.”
That was it. As soon as I got home, I pulled out my Papa’s old Bible and started reading it for the first time in my 33 years. I read God’s Word. Here I am, almost a year later, and I’m in my studies at the Christian Leaders Institute with its free online classes. During my walk with the Lord, I married my wife Candice this past March 7th after being together for ten years. A month after that, we were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Free Online Classes at CLI
Now our family is very close to the pastor and his family. We are doing family outings with each other almost every weekend. Other than that, all I do with my time is to study God’s Word, along with taking these free online classes at CLI. Thank you, CLI!
My spiritual dream is to share the Gospel wherever God leads me. I want to bring this joy, this love, this peace to everyone. We are all sinners in need of a Savior, and that Savior is Jesus Christ, the Messiah!
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
The Lord is My Delight
Hello! I am David Chege from Nairobi, Kenya. The biblical knowledge and principles I am learning at CLI are a blessing to my ministry. I am 39 years old, married, and blessed with two children who are currently pre-teens. Currently, I am an accountant working in the NFP sector here in Kenya. I am a born again believer. I love the Lord so much, He is my heart’s delight.
Growing Up
Born and raised in a Christian family, I am the second born in a family of four. My father was a full-time pastor in a local evangelical church. My mother was deeply committed to running the ministry, especially weekday fellowships and prayers. However, my father, even though home most times, was unavailable, harsh, and distant. We never felt the presence of a father. This lack led me to dislike church, fellowships, and family prayers. I’d drag myself to church against my will from as far back as I can remember, simply because everyone in the family had to go to church.
Rebellion
I became rebellious from as early as 14 years old. I joined a boarding high school and that earned me freedom. However, I needed validation and fitting-in with my peers in high school. So I soon took to alcohol among other moral frailties. Meanwhile, my heart grew cold and far from God. Every activity done to express faith including church services and fellowships became distasteful. My relationship with my father grew frosty by the day. I cleared high school, left home, went to college, got a job, and settled to raise a family.
His Goodness Reached Me
In 2008, my 7-month-old daughter went down with meningitis. She was in a coma and hospitalized for two weeks. She convulsed and foamed, and I thought she was dying. Miraculously, she recovered and is alive and well. Due to this incident, I became aware of God’s goodness and mercy. He was there and saved her life! I reflected on my life, my job, school, family, and realized that His hand was in it. His goodness displayed only that I was blind and repulsive. Grief consumed me and I sat up at night crying for hours. However, I still pushed Him away until February of 2010. At that time, I ran to a nearby church and surrendered my life to Him. For the first time, I felt the warm embrace of a loving Father.
The Call
In 2013, a minister gave me a word of knowledge and spoke about a calling. I didn’t take it to heart, but my heart continued to hunger and thirst after the Lord. Therefore, I joined the active ministry in my church and served in hospitality, intercession, and the high school program.
I also felt the need to get equipped. So I joined a local college and enrolled for a diploma in transformational church leadership. I soon dropped out following work-related relocation. I also drew away from the Lord following afflictions from a faith-based organization where I was working. However, I thank Christ Jesus because His mercies never fail. He restored me unto Himself and renewed the joy of salvation.
In 2018, I received a dream that I understood to mean a call but did nothing. The same year, while visiting a pastor friend in a different town, he proclaimed a ministry calling in my life. It was consistent with what was spoken over me in 2013. In March 2019, I received an open vision and a voice spoke. These were consistent with the dream. I now understand the urgency of what believers ought to do through God’s enablement. We are to labor in His vineyard while it is still daytime.
On the 7th of July 2020, I decided to check on any online Christian equipping platform. That’s how I stumbled upon the Christian Leaders Institute and enrolled immediately. The biblical knowledge and principles I am learning will aid me in my ministry.
Spiritual Dream
Kenya is said to have one of the highest Christian population ratios in the world at 80%. We have freedom of worship, over 4,000 registered Christian denominations, and church services all over especially in the towns and cities. However, the country ranks top when it comes to social evils including corruption, immorality, violence, and tribal hatred, among others. These clearly point to the kind of religious deception and invasion of strange doctrines that we’ve suffered from especially over the last two decades. There is such a clear mismatch between what people profess and their actions.
I thank God that He is placing the burden to intercede for the revival and reformation of the church in Kenya. There is an emerging movement of believers especially young people who have refused to settle for what religion has showcased. They are crying out to Jesus Christ for renewal and revival. This place is where I belong. I’m excited about what the Lord is doing right now in Kenya.
My dream is to be used by the Lord to confront deception and minister Christ to the people. I want to model the true servanthood of Christ. I want to be used to bring spiritual and emotional healing to people especially families and dysfunctional family backgrounds. All for the glory of God! For this very reason, He created me!
Formal training at CLI will equip me with the biblical knowledge and principles that I need to be effective as a minister. Besides ministry training, I hope to also receive training in Life Coaching. Thank you, CLI!
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 Torrie Slaughter, a woman of God, a business owner, writer, wife, and mother. I am also a student at CLI with its advanced college-level quality training. My journey began with an urging from the Lord to submit to Him. After wrestling with several doubts, I answered God’s calling and entered into an in-depth study. As God’s word shaped my life, I understood what purpose meant. I am a certified life coach and have taken several biblical courses to further my education and understanding to help others seek the light of Christ.
I am excited that God led me to the Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) to continue ministry education and training. Living in the foothills of Virginia in the United States of America, I have several options, but none of them checked all the boxes. It was by God’s grace that CLI sparked my curiosity. We are an academic family, and my studies became a distant goal because of mounting debt. My husband and eldest son are attending university. Our youngest will enter college next year. I cannot be more grateful for the opportunity to receive advanced college-level quality training on my schedule without cost. CLI is truly a blessing and a model for what Biblical leadership should be.
Personal Testimony
When I was 25 years old, my outer appearance defined me. I struggled with my identity because the purpose of life was abandoned to a rebellious worldly ambition. I didn’t know who I was. It took ten years before I woke up to the reality that I was dead in life. No matter the number of good deeds I performed, nothing satisfied me until I surrendered to God.
I was involved in a culture of self-deprecating, self-consuming, and irrational behavior. I repressed the feelings of anger and fear that led to rebellious acts against God. On a dead-end journey, I sought meaning in a life created by my circumstances with no direction or significance. It is now my passion to warn others against the travails of this world, and the proverbial carrots dangled overhead. Through prayer, meditation, education, and overall a real relationship with God, I offer a ministry dedicated to helping others reclaim their inheritance.
My Ministry and Family
Being a woman of faith, I seek to help others overcome barriers and walk in their purpose. We become more effective disciples by removing arrogance, anger, pride, and fear. As a theology student, God showed me how to read and apply His Holy Word. Through my many personal, spiritual, and professional struggles, I hope to influence others to fear God above people. God drew out the purpose for which He created me. With that understanding, I focus on helping others clarify, organize, and prepare with our Lord. I regard intentional focus as the ultimate tool to work within this life.
I am a Certified Master Life Coach and hold several certifications in the life coaching profession. As a serial learner, I am always seeking ways to develop my skills through research and application. I attended Shenandoah University as a music appreciation major. Although I did not pursue a career as a violinist, I still enjoy performing. I am a happily married wife of twenty-two years (and counting) to my husband, Broderick. We are the proud parents of two sons who are pursuing their dreams in the technology field.
A Business Woman
As a businesswoman, I am the founder and owner of Our Given Purpose®. It offers Bible studies, devotionals, merchandise, a talk show, and podcasts. Torrie Slaughter, L.L.C., houses the media production aspects of my brand. Through it, I provide photography sessions, group and individual purpose coaching, and consultations for media implementation. I also help churches launch online services and other media presentations.
Being a multimedia artist, I have empowered men and women through my Phenomenal Person Visual series. I also collaborated and interviewed with several incredible individuals and companies. I record, edit, and creatively craft messages that are visually appealing and contextually sound.
A freelance Publicist and Media Consultant in Lynchburg, Virginia, I work with political candidates, ministers, musicians, multimedia personalities, and motivational speakers, to cultivate unique brands. My goal in this work is to be a patient innovator who cares about individuality.
Life Coach Ministry
As a Master Life Coach, I utilize my skills to walk persons of purpose through their road map to success. I use biblically sound wisdom to help clients navigate this life while maintaining godly ambition. I am a social media influencer, branding cultivator, and purpose pusher. My specialization is in assisting married women over 25 to align their desires with God’s will. Accountability is how I remind my clients to implement change. I provide the assistance needed to break past the daily mundane tasks and seek value in the future. I am a producer, editor, graphic design artist, motivational speaker, writer, and media personality. My desire is to significantly impact your next digital gathering, in-person event, and life.
Once again, thank you, CLI, for this advanced college-level quality training!
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.