My name is Martha Berge. I have a passion and call for disabled and youth ministry and am studying at the Christian Leaders Institute. I am from the USA. When I was a little girl, my mother worked at a training school with mentally challenged adults. She would take me on outings with them to the park or beach at times. I was a baby, so I do not remember it, but she would tell me stories of how her clients would react to having me around.
As I got into school, I started having issues myself starting with an ear infection in preschool that left me deaf for a short time. In second grade, I was diagnosed with arthritis and ADD, as well as asthma in high school. Having an “invisible disability” is never easy, especially when you are young and desperately long to fit in. There were more struggles than I care to admit. I still struggle with all the issues that I had to face throughout my life.
Disabled and Youth Ministry Call from God
Being surrounded by all this struggle gave me a passion for those who have no one to advocate for them. God blessed me with a mother who knew how to guide me and raised me to love God, and His children left behind by their peers. My ultimate goal is to start a ministry to reach these beautiful people and be the advocate they need in the world at large.
At the moment, we have an exceedingly small Sunday school program. Being in a pandemic and unable to meet with the children has hindered my goals within my church. I pray that God will open up opportunities for me as we get through the crisis we are experiencing. I hope to help the youth in my area get through it as well.
Disabled and Youth Ministry Call Led Me to CLI
I also have a gift for healing and volunteer as an EMT in my hometown. I feel I could lead in that capacity and often pray for and with my patients. This leadership course at Christian Leaders Institute has given me great insight into what it takes to be an effective leader. I pray I can use what I have learned here and apply it to every aspect of my life. God willing, this training will give me the confidence I need to succeed in my life as well as my faith walk. I can not wait to see what God has in store for me and the youth He puts in my path to reach for Him.
Thank you, CLI, for the opportunity to learn what it takes to be an effective leader. It has been a great journey, and I hope I can use what I have learned for the glory of God. God Bless!
Learn about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
Greetings! My name is Patrick Mvula, and I am receiving free ministry education at CLI. I am a Zambian citizen residing in a town called Kalulushi, where I work as an Optometrist.
My Youth and Spiritual Journey
I grew up in a Christian home where we had Bible study and prayer meetings every evening. This time helped me realize how important it is for families to get to share spiritual food together. Although I was just a young man who didn’t really know much about God, I testify how the Lord used these meetings to keep my family united.
During my early youth, I noticed that I was having challenges relating well with my friends and family. It was at this point that I realized that there was something I was missing in my life. However, by God’s grace and mercy, in 2014 while I was in school, one of my friends invited me to his church. I can recall that it is on the day that I first attended my friend’s Church that I came to know Christ. Therefore, I acknowledged Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Some years later, after being born again, I discovered that what I was actually missing in my life was the Holy Spirit.
Ministry Education at CLI
My spiritual dream is to see many youths in my country to become well equipped Kingdom Ambassadors. This dream is the reason I decided to be trained here at the Christian Leaders Institute. Then, I may also be able to train others and share the Gospel.
Lastly, I would like to thank God for Christian Leaders Institute. It has provided a platform where I can receive high-quality training for free. What a blessing to all who need ministry education at CLI!
Learn about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
My name is Debra Brock, and I am called to ministry and study at the Christian Leaders Institue. I live in Salem, New York, USA, a small town in upstate New York, about five minutes from the Vermont border. Recently, my husband and I celebrated 41 years of marriage. We have four beautiful daughters, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren that we are blessed to have live with us. We have a family-run dairy goat farm and a dog rescue/sanctuary.
My Youth
Born in Illinois, I moved around a lot as a child because of my father’s work. Wherever we lived, we served at a local church. I have fond memories of my mother doing summer Vacation Bible School in several towns. Sometimes, she served at VBS for more than one church in the same town.
As a young child and into my teens, I had several accidents. Any of them could have been fatal, but God miraculously spared not only my life but everybody else involved in these accidents.
Sidetrack and Recommitted
I have always had a strong belief in God and Jesus all through my life. However, marriage, work and starting a family took my husband and me away from the church. Thankfully, we realized something was missing in our lives and the lives of our young children.
At about this same time, my mother became gravely ill. I was at the hospital with her and stepped out to pray for her. I distinctly remember standing near a water fountain and hearing the water. Jesus spoke to me in the water saying that my mom would be okay and back with the family again.
We started attending a Spirit-filled local church, where our children and we gave our lives to Jesus Christ and received baptism as believers. Soon after, we served in the church’s youth group and prayer group. We witnessed God’s power in many people’s lives.
As our family grew, we moved several times to different states. We became involved in various churches where we lived. Therefore, we focused on what mattered, the message from the pulpit and church groups.
Trials and Direction
We have faced many trials as a family. How do people who do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ make it through trials and events? We thank God that we have that relationship in our lives.
Many years ago, we worked in raising and training guide dogs for the blind and military service people. We were part of this project for more than 16 years. It was our family’s mission. The blessing of seeing the dogs that we helped raise to become the eyes of those who could not see was powerful. We even had a dog that can ski with their person and one that does several cruises a year and has a life jacket.
As an adult, I again had a couple of accidents. The most recent one resulted in having a Traumatic Brain Injury. It makes some memory issues and balance problems at times. Just before I had this accident, one of the dogs I raised came back to me because the man she matched decided he did not want a dog and sent her back to us. It was absolutely a God thing because she became my service dog. She keeps me upright and allows me to get around wherever we go. She has given me back my life.
Called to Ministry and Study at CLI
My dream is to minister to other people who are struggling with challenges in their lives, similar to mine. Then, I can encourage them and convey what the powers of God can do with them. There are others out there who have been where they are. I believe that God spared me and put me where I am for such a purpose in my life. He placed this calling on me to share Him and His Grace with others. Without Him and His Grace in our lives, we would be up the proverbial river without a paddle.
I look forward to being able to serve God and the people that God will bring to me.
God provided the Christian Leaders Institute to my husband and me as we are called to ministry and study. We are so excited to see what He has in store for us. We are grateful to all the people that have made the Christian Leaders Institute possible and available to us.
There is no way that these few paragraphs can capture everything that God has done for our family and me. However, we are excited to see what God has for us next!
Learn about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.