My Free Biblical Learning Journey
Hello, my name is Garret Bolthouse, and I am receiving free Biblical learning at CLI. I am from Tucson, AZ and have a degree in Philosophy with a minor in Business from the University of Arizona. Currently, I am studying Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
My wife and I have served as ministers in our community for over a decade. We teach the Bible to middle school students in our church family every week. We mentor and lead youth and their families in our church’s student ministry. Furthermore, we actively support a well-founded community of Christians in the Tucson area. Tucson is an interesting but difficult place to minister. The city is culturally diverse and highly unchurched. The culture is largely oriented toward self-determination and personal fulfillment. Community and accountability are difficult concepts for those who have grown up in Arizona culture.
My Early Salvation Journey
I grew up in the state of Washington. When I was about seven, I came to Christ at a VBS. The man who presented the Gospel to us took a piece of flash paper and lit it on fire. He said, “This is what Jesus does with all of the sins in your life.” Then, I knew that I needed Jesus in my life!
God became very real to me as I spent time in His Word and developed a love for the stories of the Bible. The more I read, the more real God became to me. I did not realize until my early twenties that I probably hold closer to God than most people my age. It shaped and formed me into the person I am today. I am continually reminded of God’s grace to me.
My Spiritual Dream and Obstacles
My spiritual dream is to continue to serve my local community. Currently, I mentor many young people and disciple them to become ministers of the Gospel. I have a specific set of God-given interpersonal skills and a mind and heart that make me well-suited to be a shepherd in my community.
The first obstacle to maturity in my life have been thinking I am in complete control of my destiny. A second obstacle has been my failure to bear with the failings of those I believe are immature. God has reminded me repeatedly of these two obstacles. He shows me that I am not in control and putting immature people in front of me on a regular basis.
Free Biblical Learning at the Christian Leaders Institute
I hope to use my Christian Leaders Institute training to gain skills and knowledge and to form my understanding of the world in the context of the Bible. I studied the Bible for many years and learned much from it. Now, I can further my pursuit of God, the Bible, and His Kingdom through the free Biblical learning at the Christian Leaders Institute.
Free training is important and necessary for me because I have a large amount of debt due to my schooling. I would like to continue Biblical learning, but attending traditional Christian seminary would add to my debt burden significantly. thank you, CLI, for this free Biblical learning!
Learn about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance and low-cost degrees at the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
Free Ministry Leadership Training at CLI
My name is Jennifer Starr, and I am receiving free leadership training at CLI. I am from the United States. I grew up in and out of the church but became a regular attendee at 12 years old. After my baptism, I became a person who was there whenever the doors were open. When I was an older teenager, I taught Sunday School to the few young children that attended. I married, and we attended church for a few more years. However, we slowly found ourselves attending less and less until we no longer attended at all.
A Sign to Return to Church
After I lost my second child by a miscarriage, I was in a dark place in my life. I asked God to send me a sign that I was going to be alright. As I looked off into the distance from my front porch, I noticed a large steel cross that I had never seen before. I knew then that my family needed to find a new church home.
We attended a few different churches. Then, we came across Solid Rock Fellowship Out West. On our second Sunday there, they announced that they needed someone to lead the youth ministry program. God pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I volunteered. I have now been the youth leader for five years. Now I also have the role of activities coordinator for the entire children’s ministry.
Free Leadership Training to be a Better Ministry Leader
I started classes at Christian Leaders Institute to guide me to be a better ministry leader. I also wanted to develop my ministry resources and methods better. Currently, our church is building a new youth and family center. We hope better to serve the community and children in our area. There have been many roadblocks that tried to stop our efforts in completing the building. However, through God, we will prevail.
Our new building should open within the next month. Our goal is to have a safe place for local children when they get out of school. We are also looking into the possibility of partnering with a local school to provide after-school care. Perhaps, in the future, we will start a full-time Christian daycare.
Called to Youth Ministry and Free Leadership Training
I am called to youth ministry but also to guide and lead others in their ministry calling. To me, the ministry is a team effort, especially when it is a ministry to children and youth. I want to be able to train others so they can equip the called.
The leadership class at CLI has given me many tools needed to lead ministry workers. It also provided insight into how to overcome situations that can tear apart any ministry. I believe the area that will be the most significant help is how to deal with conflict. There are all types of conflict when there is more than one person making decisions on anything. Knowing the different kinds of conflict and how to handle conflict when it arises will help me to handle situations that come up. Thank you, CLI, for this leadership class!
Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
Free Education Opportunity
My name is Jonathan Edwardson, and I am thankful for the free education opportunity at CLI. I am from Meridian, Idaho, USA. I am the father of two young boys and a husband to my wonderful wife, Charity.
My Early Years
I lived in Kalispell, Montana, where I grew up in a Christian household. When I was 12 years old, I clearly remember writing my first sermon. I had just seen the 90s film, Independence Day. So, I thought that it would be an excellent way to use a current popular film to connect with a congregation. My mother likely still has it somewhere, but I don’t imagine it is quite as terrific as my memory.
I moved to Kalispell when I was in 5th grade. Formerly from Seattle, Washington, I was excited to live closer to the family that I often visited on holidays. Shortly after, I realized that this meant I would not see my close friends any longer. However, I got involved with youth groups at our church which helped. Then, I got my first job and made it my mission to be the best of the best.
Struggles
An opportunity to go back home to visit Seattle came about. I was excited to visit friends. However, I was devastated to find out that my best friend, Shane, had died. My life shattered. I started to struggle at school, genuinely. My mother pulled me out of public school, and I enrolled in a Christian school. I continued to struggle with school. I was angry at the world, but I did not want to talk about it. My mother homeschooled me for a time until, ultimately, I dropped out of all school and focused on my job.
Marriage and Family
Years into my job, I met Charity. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to marry her. After being friends for a couple of years, we dated. Fast-forward 15 years later, and we are married and happy with two kids. I received my GED, went back to school, and received my Bachelors Degree in Communication.
My wife and I have two young boys who are both on the Autism Spectrum. This reality, more than anything, has shown me the need for Christ in my life. In Christ, I can be a better husband and father, an example to my family, and help others come to know Christ.
Search for Ministry Schooling and the Free Education Opportunity at CLI
Christian Leaders Institute is an answer to my search for ministry training. Financially, I already am in so much debt from student loans. With CLI, I can become better educated in my faith while not furthering my financial burden. Thank you, CLI, for this free education opportunity!
Interested in credible ordination? Check out the Christian Leaders Alliance. Looking for a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.