Free Online Ministry Courses at CLI
My name is Abigail Behane Gumbo, and I am taking online ministry courses for free at CLI. I was born and grew up in Zimbabwe. My childhood life was complicated and confusing to me. I always had questions with no answers, and I did not experience the joy of being a youth. As I grew up in a broken family that had no relationship with God, peace, and love were not there.
Marriage
I got married when I was 20 years old. For the first time, I felt loved and appreciated. God blessed us with two lovely daughters. We were happy at first, but later on, my marriage turned into a nightmare. We got divorced, and that led me to depression. I thought that falling in love again would bring me peace. So, I got involved in a relationship that worsened my situation. I got pregnant out of wedlock, a very shameful thing for me. I bravely kept my baby, and God blessed me with a baby boy who is now eight years old, and I named him Joyous.
My Calling
When Joy was three months old in September 2012, I gave my life to Christ. For the first time in my life, I felt God’s peace and knew that I made a positive life-changing decision. I began to see things differently. As a single mum, I dedicated all my kids to Christ, and my life changed completely.
In December 2019, I came to know that the man I always knew as my father was not my biological father. His elder brother was my father. It was a shock to my life, but it brought many of the answers I needed.
My Spiritual Dream
My spiritual dream is to reach and influence generations through the uncompromised message of God’s love and grace. I especially want to reach little children, orphans, and teenagers. I have always dreamt of building a Christian home for orphans. Mother Teresa inspired me since I was 15 years of age.
Finding the Christian Leaders Institute with its free online ministry courses is just what I need. Now, I can get the training necessary for my ministry dreams!
Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
Free Spiritual Leader Training at CLI
My name is Heidi Bradley, and the free spiritual leader training at CLI is a blessing. I grew up in a suburb outside of Philadelphia, PA, raised by a single mother. I spent most of my summers with my grandparents as a youth. We had daily Bible stories, and they took my cousin and me to their church’s VBS. At age 10, I accepted Christ as my Savior with the guidance of my grandparents. From then until I was in my twenties, my mom took me to a local Baptist church every time the doors were open.
Wandering and Recommitment
After I left my mother’s house, I went through a period of rebellion and strayed from God. I always knew I had to get back to church and develop my relationship with God. However, the distractions of the world took my eyes off of Jesus.
After my third child at age 29, I started going to church again because I wanted my kids to know Jesus as I had. I started getting involved in church and reading my Bible again. That was the best decision I made in my life to study God’s word. My life has changed dramatically to recommit to the Lord and develop an authentic relationship with my Holy Loving Father. I am forever grateful for God’s forgiveness, endless mercy, and, most importantly, His sacrifice for our sins to have Him and eternal life.
Trials and Purpose
It is not easy being a Christian, but faith and hope enable me to endure and persevere. I have been through many trials. All pain has a purpose, and God has a plan for His children. My husband believes in God but does not have a relationship with Him. And that has put an enormous strain on our marriage. I pray for my husband’s salvation every day because, with God, nothing is impossible.
My husband has been a heroin addict for the past five years. He has emptied our bank account, stolen from his children and me. Furthermore, a year ago, our house foreclosed. It was a lot to bear, and I cried many times. However, ultimately, I know God is in control, and this pain has a purpose.
Spiritual Leader Training at CLI
I am the spiritual leader in my family and extended family. The free spiritual leader training at the Christian Leaders Institute will make me a better spiritual leader not only for my family but also for my community. I know many other families have suffered. They also have a loved one that is an addict that desperately needs Christ’s love and help. I want to help those families have hope and faith. They need to know that having a relationship with God will help them endure and have peace. I am forever grateful to God! I am also grateful for the free training at CLI!
Learn about ordination with the Christian Leaders Alliance.
The Christian Leaders Institute Education for Ministry Leaders
My name is Tony Brain, and I am grateful for the free Christian Leaders Institute education. I am a plumber and owner-operator of a small plumbing and remodeling business. Previously, I served in youth ministry for a total of ten years. Currently, I am training for a deacon position with our church family of eight years. For the last year, I sensed the Lord calling me to pursue seminary. So, here I am. My wife, Kelly Brain, and I have been married since 2001. Together we have three beautiful children, Hope 17, Gabriel 14, and Elijah 8. Presently, we live in Southern Oregon in the USA.
Early Life Conversion
I was born in 1979, the third of five boys. My parents were young believers at that time, both coming from broken homes. Without a healthy model, they struggled to build a healthy marriage and family.
I received Jesus at the age of six at a backyard Bible summer camp. I didn’t learn to read until I was 13 when my best friend’s mom tutored me through that summer. Even with the tutoring, reading was still a challenge. Sadly, it deterred me from the Bible. Due to the turmoil in my home, as I grew older, I was easily led astray by the world. Thankfully, God, being faithful, kept me from devastating choices.
My Faith Became Mine
I first met Kelly, my wife, working a summer job. After a few years of friendship, it became more serious. When we had been dating two years, Kelly started going to a college Bible study. There, she began rediscovering her love for the Lord. Kelly became insistent on going to church together. Therefore, to keep the peace, I reluctantly complied. Through many weeks of sitting with her, God’s Word began penetrating my hard heart. God’s kindness led me to sincere repentance.
It was in this season that God began drawing me into His Word and presence. The enemy pressed hard for several years, which pushed me to Jesus. There, I learned His supremacy, the power in His name and His blood, and the majesty of His presence!
Privileged to Serve
As stated previously, I served as a youth ministry leader for about ten years. My involvement with youth ministry began when the youth pastor at our church invited me to come to a youth leader meeting. I was encouraged to join the youth leadership team. Through the weekly Bible study and prayer meetings, God instilled a passion in my spirit to bring His message of hope to the youth. I also had the privilege of leading small Bible studies with Jr. High boys at the local coffee shop. Serving as a camp counselor for a couple of summers at a youth Bible camp was another part of my ministry.
A Christian Leaders Institute Education
Serving at First Baptist Church in Lakeview, Oregon, Kelly and I are in youth ministry and leading a high school Bible study in our home. Kelly also serves on the women’s ministry team. I am training to serve as a deacon on our deacon board. I am going to the Philippines on a short term mission trip in the spring of 2020. Kelly and our daughter, Hope, will be traveling with a small team to Poland to present a VBS program the following month.
My prayer is to get to the point where my will is wholly moved aside. Then, His will can move through me and use me in power for His good pleasure and glory. “And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” 2 Corinthians 5:15.
My hope with the Christian Leaders Institute education is to further His Kingdom. I enjoy encouraging people forward in their walk with the Lord. The Christian Leaders Institute education will help me develop my ability to disciple others. Thank you, CLI, for making this training available for those of us that are raising a family and don’t have the funds to pursue a university education otherwise.
Learn about ordination with the Christian Leaders Alliance.