Ordained Licensed Christian Wedding Officiant
What an honor and privilege it is to share my testimony to glorify the name of Jesus! My name is Dawn Scott, and I am becoming a licensed Christian wedding officiant. I live in the United States in Pennsylvania. I didn’t have just one moment, but rather a series of callings placed on my heart throughout my 43 years of life. Growing up in the Baptist church, I loved listening about the gospel at an early age. Life threw me some curveballs, and I got off track. Throughout my teenage years, I steered away from the church and lost my way.
Reconnecting to God
However, I started my journey again after the birth of our son. I can say that having a child awakens your soul profoundly. I wanted a Christian upbringing and a relationship with God for him. Soon after our family attended services regularly, we all were baptized together in June of 1997. That little church in Carnegie renewed my faith and reminded me that I needed to restore my relationship with God. I have worked in so many areas and so many roles.
Using My Gifts to be a Licensed Christian Wedding Officiant
While I don’t have tons of illustrious degrees, I have a robust, genuine love for others. My heart desires to serve with the gifts my Heavenly Father has graciously given me: gifts of faith, administration, and mercy. So, to be ordained through the classes at Christian Leaders Institute gives me the training and guidance I need. Then, I can be a Licensed Christian Wedding Officiant with the Christian Leaders Alliance. Seeing the faces of those standing before the Lord and testifying their love for one another brings me joy.
1 Corinthians 13:13 – And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love.
That piece of scripture has spoken to me for as long as I can remember. It reminds me that through all of life’s trials and tribulations, the gift of love from our Father is always there!
My husband and I have since found a new church closer to our home. The moment I walked through the red doors, warmth overcame me. The Spirit is so profound in this little church. The congregation is full of love and kindness. It is something that still takes my breath away.
I am looking forward to what else God places upon my heart to help me grow in both faith and fellowship. Thank you, CLI, and God bless!
Free Online Ministry Schooling Journey
Hi! My name is Rick Jelley, and I am excited about the free online ministry schooling at CLI. I live in Charleston, Maine, in the United States of America. I have been teaching public high school mathematics for 15 years and enjoy it very much. My family and I have attended church together every Sunday since I was six years old. My grandfather was a pastor, and faith in God has been incredibly vital in my family growing up.
Called to Ministry and Finding Free Online Ministry Schooling at CLI
I began to feel a desire to serve God in my late teens. However, ultimately, I thought that I “did not have what it took.” I have always loved to study God’s word, the Bible. Learning more about God and my faith has also been important to me. Over time my hunger for God’s word and to be used by Him in ministry continued to grow. Therefore, I began to get more involved in church ministry. I served in ushering, meeting and teaching new believers, and leading a Sunday school class.
Feeling confirmed in my call from God to the ministry, I decided to look for free online ministry schooling. I found the Christian Leaders Institute and signed up as a student. I just started to take courses at Christian Leaders Institute, and I am looking forward to meeting and learning from the many professors!
Interested in online ordination? Check out the Christian Leaders Alliance. Looking for a low-cost college degree? The CLI’s Leadership Excellence School could be right for you!
Called to Ministry and Study at CLI
Hello, my name is Yolanda Cantoran, and I am called to ministry and to study at CLI. I was born in Texas and raised in Minnesota. I am a mother to one son. My husband helped me learn about Christ and His salvation.
A Challenging Beginning and Finding God
My childhood was difficult. Both my parents were alcoholics and always separating. We did not attend church, but my father was somewhat strict. I moved out at the age of 16, had my son at 17, and divorced at the age of 24. After this, I partied and did inappropriate things. However, I began looking for someone who could talk to me about God. I even bought a small Bible (without knowing how many versions there were). I prayed and asked God for help.
Then, I started dating again and met my husband. After knowing each other awhile, he told me about how he used to attend church and then stopped. He was thinking of going back. This fact made me happy. I finally found someone willing to tell me more about God. Ironically, I never thought of going to church. It never crossed my mind. When we married, he, my son, and I went to church. I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior and received baptism at the age of 28. However, we went back to our old ways. It wasn’t until 2015 that I realized I was not taking my walk with God seriously.
A Discovery and God’s Peace
My Father passed away in 2015, a couple of months after I was diagnosed with an autoimmune illness. My illness left me needing a walker, a cane and, on occasion, a wheelchair. After my Father’s funeral, I became bitter and angry. I was mad at everyone, but not at God. I was just hurt by things that were said and done to me by my family.
Before my father got sick, we discovered that he was not my biological father. He told me this did not matter as he was still my father, and nothing would change that. At his funeral, I discovered that he told his other children from his first marriage, that he only had two daughters (my two younger sisters). He rejected me.
After these revelations, my family and I visited a church. The pastor prayed for me and told me that I needed to let all the hurt and anger go. It was making my illness worse and hurting me spiritually. So, I forgave those who wronged me and prayed to God to forgive me for not turning to Him first. I asked God to forgive me for not remembering that He alone was my Father. God never rejected me.
Called to Ministry and Study at CLI
Now, we are back at our home church, where we are growing spiritually as a family. My husband is on the Men’s Ministry team, something he had not done in more than 15 years. My son is interested in playing the saxophone again and might try out for the Music Ministry team.
Since I am called to ministry and to study more, I am here at Christian Leaders Institute taking free ministry classes. I thank God for the opportunity because there is no way we could afford it since I am disabled. First, I am taking classes for the Women’s Ministry. However, I will also study in other areas. I desire to share with women that there are tough times, but we can always trust God to be there for us. He is everything we need, and He loves us. All Glory to God!
Learn about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance.