Growing up as the son of a pastor, Austin Triplett admits that while he knew the Gospel, he did not always fully understand what Christ had done for him. However, as a recent graduate of the Associate’s of Divinity Degree program at CLI’s Leadership Excellence School, Austin has developed a deeper understanding of the God who loves him beyond compare. This portion of his story tells of the life-changing learning opportunity that Christian Leaders Institute provided him with, as well as the faith lessons he has learned along the way.
Call to Ministry
In 2018, I felt a strong call from God to pursue pastoral ministry. Upon receiving this call, I felt a variety of emotions: joy, excitement, and a sense of purpose – but also, fear of complete inadequacy. How could I expect to pastor people if I didn’t have a college degree? How could I expect to lead when I still have so much to learn? Through prayer and the council of my wife, it became clear that I needed to pursue a theological education. Upon making this decision came the question of cost: can I even afford a degree? My search for a reasonably-priced, online, theological education began. At first my search seemed hopeless, until one day I stumbled upon Christian Leader’s Institute. Could this be the place I find the training needed to pursue the call I believe that God has placed on my life? My wife and I prayerfully decided that this was the right path to take. In December of 2018, I began my journey towards an Associates of Divinity Degree with Christian Leader’s College.
Life-Changing Learning Opportunity
The beginning stages of my degree program were filled with excitement and intrigue as I engaged in training to pursue God’s call on my life. I became captivated by the work of God when going through Dr. Ted Hildebrandt’s Old Testament Literature and Theology class. Also, I grew to appreciate the larger body of Christ when going through Church History with Dr. Feddes. My eyes were opened to so many new possibilities for the expansion of the church in the Marketing Applied – Church Planting class. I felt as if theological education was something I was always missing in my life. Christian Leaders Institute was truly a life-changing learning opportunity for me. I fell in love with school, and the more I loved it, the more I learned. I couldn’t get enough information and I craved growth.
Love for the Lord
I found that the more I learned, the more I loved God. The more I learned, the more I wanted to keep learning. The more I learned, the more I wanted to become a pastor: to pursue God’s call. The world became an inexhaustible well of knowledge that I could drink from daily. All of this kindled a love for God that I never thought possible: a humility that I had always dreamed of, but never was able to attain. God used this life-changing learning opportunity to help me understand His glory. The more I learned, the more I continued to ask: “Oh Lord, what is man that you are mindful of Him?” (Psalm 8). I will always have more to learn, yet He knows all. I will always keep growing, yet he remains the same. Though I continue to change, He is without change. Though I might fail a quiz, He never fails. CLI’s Leadership Excellence School helped me to experience God in new ways every day.
Struggling to Succeed
However, feelings come and go. In July of 2019, I had just begun my Economics class and my schedule seemed to allow no time for school. I was busy preparing to move from India back home to El Paso, Texas, and school seemed less interesting to me. I began to struggle to keep up my pace with school and in struggling to keep up, my love for education seemed to dwindle. After weeks of attempting to work through the assignments for the first economics section, I felt ready to take the quiz. Immediately after seeing the first question, I knew I wasn’t prepared, but I stubbornly continued on. I anxiously submitted my answers to the quiz and prepared myself for the results. I failed the first quiz in economics and received the first failing grade of my college career. Feelings of anger, frustration, and a lack of motivation to continue my degree program consumed me.
Overcoming Obstacles
For about a week, I couldn’t even think about doing school. Everything was so busy, so where would I find the time? I met with my mentor at the end of that week and he challenged me to work harder at my next quiz. With his encouragement and a fresh wind of motivation, I dove into the second section of economics. Within a week I felt ready to take the next quiz. This time I had been diligent in my note-taking, and I was much more confident. I submitted my answers to the quiz, and with a sigh of relief I saw my grade: 19 out of 20 questions correct! Economics was by far the most difficult course for me, specifically because of the season of life I was in. However, with encouragement from my mentor and a more intentional approach to my education, I was able to finish the class with an A minus.
Looking Ahead
In every class, I have been so thankful for CLI’s work to apply knowledge to a ministry context. In reflection, I am so grateful for my time at Christian Leader’s Institute, and I look forward to continuing to learn through the Bachelor’s Degree program here. I am grateful for this life-changing learning opportunity and believe that the more I learn, the better pastor I will be. Also, I believe that the work Christian Leader’s Institute is doing to make education affordable and accessible for ministry leaders around the world is something that will transform the church. I look forward to seeing what the Lord continues to do in and through me as I continue my education with CLI!
Seminary School Training at CLI for Free
My name is Kristina Richards, and I am receiving seminary school training at the Christian Leaders Institute. When I was a child, my great-grandma used to read the Bible, pray continually, and was singing praises all of the time. My mom and dad always said that the Bible was true, but they never went to church.
Early Life Struggles
When I was 13, I went to a local church that several of my friends were attending. Not long after I started attending, the youth pastor took advantage of me. I spent the next three years being sexually and physically abused by him. When he finally got arrested, I turned away from God.
I got married and had my first child by the time I was 17. My husband was abusive, as well. I decided to end my life by overdosing on drugs. That didn’t work, but I did get addicted. When I was 19, I was arrested for possession. A year later, in 2005, I turned myself in to my probation officer. She sent me to jail, transferred me to treatment, and then let me come home on house arrest. I found God in jail, and it changed my whole life.
God
Since then, I finished probation early. Then, I completed four years of college for elementary education and then found out that my arrest prevents me from teaching. God had another plan. I then spent a year in a seminary school. I have a lot of health problems, so I am unable to work.
God has used all of this to have me start a Celebrate Recovery group. I teach the kids on Tuesday nights at church. God has also empowered me to homeschool my second child and to co-teach a class at our local homeschool co-op.
Currently, I am taking classes at the Christian Leaders Institute. I am seeking ordination with CLA and learning as much as I can at CLI. My spiritual dream is to become a minister of a church. I will follow wherever the Lord leads me because He knows my purpose.
The free training at CLI is crucial because I was unable to finish seminary school. I ran out of money. I would not be able to complete my schooling if it was for CLI and its free seminary school training.
Learn about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
Further Ministry Education
My name is James Gamble from Tampa, Florida, USA, and I am receiving further ministry education at CLI. I grew up in a Christian household and became a believer at an early age. I was active in my church until I was in my early 20s. That is when I moved away from my home town (and parental influence) to a city about an hour away. During that time, I began to “fall away” from the church because I wasn’t active in a church community in my new city. I had doubts and reservations about my faith while I was on my own for the first time. However, I never stopped being a believer. I simply didn’t make it a priority in my life.
Reconnecting with Church Community
After some time, I moved to the town next to my hometown. Once again, I felt the desire to get involved with a church again. I did some research and found a church that I thought I could fit into. However, on that Sunday morning, I chickened out as I pulled into the parking lot. A few months later, I decided to try a different church, and it just felt right. I met the pastoral staff, and they were friendly and welcoming. I explained my situation, and they quickly took me under their wing. They helped me to connect to the rest of the community.
After my first few weeks, I was invited to a small group hosted by one of the pastors. It was a life-changing experience. For the first time in my life, I understood what being part of a Christian community meant. As a child and early adult, I attended a Pentecostal church that didn’t have small groups. I didn’t understand the concept until I experienced it. I began to hunger after the Word of God and wanted to do my best to be a Christ-like person.
Called to Lead and Further Ministry Education
Since then, I have felt called to lead a small group so that I can maybe help someone else. By furthering my education at the Christian Leaders Institute, I can achieve this goal and help lead someone to a closer relationship with Jesus. Thank you, CLI, for this opportunity.
Learn about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.