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.
Free Christian Leadership Training
I am Clarence Castro Ruiz. I am from Isabela, the Philippines, and am 20 years old. At this time, I am in the season of studying for my college degree in Civil Engineering. However, I have a calling from God to be a pastor in the Philippines. God wants me to pursue the Christian Leaders Institute free Christian leadership training to prepare me for the future. I am grateful that the Holy Spirit empowered me to be a Christian leader and given me boldness to share the gospel in my community. I was saved last year by the grace of God while a student.
My Childhood and Salvation
My childhood was full of sin, evil, and idolatry. I had a Roman Catholic upbringing. I came to know the Lord while in the eighth grade, when the pastor reached me. However, I did not listen or follow God’s Word.
There were many obstacles in my life before I fully surrendered my life to God. The death of my mother was God’s tool to save me. Another influence was when I almost died from kidney trouble. I underwent a left kidney removal, without stable finances. But, God provided me everything to be his testimony. The operation was very successful, and I recovered quickly by God’s grace and mercy. Therefore, I humbled my life before God as I can’t do anything without my Jesus!
Called to be a Pastor and Take Free Christian Leadership Training at CLI
The local church ministry helped me to grow and deepen my relationship with God. The Victory Christian Fellowship gave me some training to get to know God. I am grateful and blessed that God revealed His plan to me. He wants me to be a pastor of His children. God gave me first a strong desire to become an engineer. God fixed and settled everything for me before calling me to be a pastor.
The free Christian leadership training at the Christian Leaders Institute is a blessing with my college expenses. Thank you, CLI! God bless!
Interested in ordination? Check out the Christian Leaders Alliance.
Free Christian Higher Education at CLI
My name is Bobbye Marrs, and I am receiving free Christian higher education at CLI. I live deep in the heart of Texas in the USA. Growing up in a Christian home, I came to know the Lord early in life. I accepted Jesus and was baptized at seven years old. Several years later, while in a Girls in Action (GA’s) class, which emphasizes mission work around the world, I felt the call to ministry. I looked at my teacher, Ms. Reba Kendall, and asked, “Why would anyone do any other job than be a missionary?” The call to share the gospel was clear.
When I was 13, I felt the call to ministry confirmed while sitting on the left side of the sanctuary and watching the pianist. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, placing on my heart the desire to be in ministry. In my spirit, I heard a gentle voice say, “You’re going to be a pastor’s wife.”
My Marriage and Our Call to Ministry
But because other people didn’t take my call seriously, I began to doubt it. My life took some detours. When I was 21, I married my high school sweetheart. He was not a pastor. He was a machinist. Not long into our marriage, I sensed a desire to return to church life. Later, I learned that my husband had also surrendered to ministry at the age of 13 at a camp. We had not known each other then. Three years later, with our one-month-old daughter in my arms, we surrendered to vocational ministry together.
Since that time, I have faithfully served as a volunteer in nearly every type of ministry. I have supported my husband’s ministry and worked along-side him. During that time, he received licensure, ordination, and a bachelor’s degree.
Pursuing Free Christian Higher Education at CLI
God has placed a renewed sense of urgency for revival in my heart. I desperately want to use my spiritual gifts to make an impact for the Kingdom. My spiritual dream is to teach churches how to integrate project management into church administration. I also want to use my administrative skills to launch ministries that evangelize the lost and disciple Christians.
I have pursued multiple avenues for continuing my education. However, I could not bear the thought of putting my family into massive debt. The Christian Leaders Institute is truly a miraculous answer to prayer. Free Christian higher education is available to me online at CLI! Thank you, CLI, for this opportunity!
Interested in ordination? Check out the Christian Leaders Alliance.