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.
Christian Ministry Training for Free at CLI
Hello everyone, my name is Lisa Orin, and I am receiving Christian ministry training for free at CLI. I am 50 years old and live in a small town named East Liverpool, Ohio, in the USA. I have three grown adult children ages 27, 25, and 23. In my home, I have a female pitbull named Raven. I have five kitties: Cleo, Spooky, Sadie, Gracie, and Gypsy.
I separated from my husband in 2014; however, financial reasons have kept me from paying for a divorce. So, it is still something in progress. I am a Home Health Aide, but recently took a leave of absence due to some spinal issues for which I am seeking medical attention.
I grew up Catholic. A friend of mine down the street from my family asked me to go to his Pentecostal Church. I have claimed that as my faith since. I have wandered from Jesus many times in my youth. However, He has left “the 99” many times for me.
Struggles
In 2015, I dated a man that eventually ended up in jail. On March 11, 2016, he asked me to bring him pain pills (Percocet) and a few joints (marijuana) to a corrections officer. I was to meet that officer in the parking lot with those items inside a Burger King bag with their food order. I did it, and they caught me. Nine months in the Ohio Reformatory for Women (ORW) in Marysville, Ohio, for the conveyance of drugs into a corrections facility was my sentence. At that time, I was also a horrible drug addict and alcohol abuser.
My sentencing date was January 23, 2017. They arrested me and took me directly to our county jail. On February 3, 2017 (my 47th birthday), I was then shipped out to prison in Marysville. A few months later, I learned that since my crime was only a level one, I was eligible to be transported to Cleveland to the North East Reintegration Center (NERC) in Cleveland, Ohio. I moved from the evilest place that I had ever been with a population of over 3,000 (levels one through five) to a level one facility with a population of around 500.
Time for a Change in Christ
I applied to be in a faith-based unit and received acceptance. I felt I needed to get right with Jesus as soon as I hit those prison gates in February. So, I took classes of healing. We often prayed in our unit and had many courses available. However, I knew something was missing – my Recovery. With four months left of my sentence, I applied for the recovery unit, and they accepted me with open arms.
I completed Celebrating Recovery, which was faith-based. Then, I took another course that was six weeks long and struck me. I had made excuses for my addictions for 30 years. My release date was October 2, 2017. On January 27, 2018, I lost my father. Although I continued to keep my faith and stayed true to my Recovery, I slipped into a deep depression filled with anxiety and isolated myself.
In June of 2019, after many failed relationships, I decided to stop dating and took a vow of celibacy to focus on my relationship with Jesus. The Bible, God’s Word, rescued me from depression, anxiety, sadness, and anger. I have spent every day since in His Word reading, doing devotions, and learning how to pray. I attended church regularly, served during outreaches, and was a leader in the church.
A New Church and My Calling
Then, a local church, Hope Christian Fellowship, opened The Freedom Home, a free, voluntary, six months faith-based, inpatient recovery program for women. I prayed for the Lord to reveal what my purpose is. He did! It is to that church and The Freedom Home to help those women. I meet with them often and have developed a great relationship with those girls.
I wanted to become a staff member there. The home is very structured, and we do hold chapel there once a week, along with church and worship days. My time has been mostly volunteer with the ladies up to this past week. The administrator and the pastor asked me to start training for a position to work in the home. We have two wonderful ladies at the house that are doing very well in their walk with Jesus. I am doing a Bible study “How to Hear from God” by Joyce Myers with the girls at the Freedom Home. I want to continue to work with these ladies and, in other areas reaching out to addicts.
Christian Ministry Training for Free at CLI
However, I want to do it with as much God-given knowledge as possible. That is where my journey begins and why I joined the Christian Leaders Institute. Due to some physical limitations and a leave of absence, I am easing back into work again. Therefore, I have little income. I was so excited to see that CLI has legitimate, free courses in Christian ministry training. I want to reach as many addicts suffering like I once did and bring them to Jesus. So, I need to be ready and prepared for that battle.
I am so thankful for CLI at this time. I am just now easing back into work after my physical issues the enemy used to hinder my calling. My income is minimal at this time, and I cannot wait to be able to donate funds to help others like me one day soon, because I know my Jesus will cover me. Please keep the ladies and me in your prayers!
Please pray for me as I continue this journey as a servant of Jesus. I celebrated three years of sobriety on January 23, 2020. My pastors, Don and Josh Lytle, are my mentors. By the grace of God, I’ve been made new. “For you are fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14. Peace and love to all!
I’m looking forward to watching God move mountains in my life. Peace and love to all!
Learn about college degrees with the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School. Interested in ordination? Check out the Christian Leaders Alliance.