My Call to Ministry and Ordination
My name is Edward H. Jones, and I am from Louisburg, North Carolina, in the United States. I have a call to ministry and ordination by God. I remember it as if it were yesterday the day God called me into ministry to preach His Word. Now, I am excited to receive a free ministry education at Christian Leaders Institute (CLI).
I grew up attending church. At an early age while at a program held at a local church, I found salvation in Christ. While praying one day in my room at home, something I did quite often, a still small voice spoke to me saying, “Go, and preach my word to the people.” My heart filled with joy and I answered God’s call. For a time while in my teens, I preached as well as singing in churches and local prayer meetings.
Wandering and Return to My Call to Ministry and Ordination
However, I began to seek out other things and follow after my own desires. It led me away from the fold and away from my calling. Despite all of this wandering, God watched over me and kept me safe and protected. At the same time, He was dealing with my heart. The Bible says to train a child up in the way he should go and though he might stray away he will return.
After years of running away from what God wanted me to do, the Lord finally got my attention. I rededicated my life to him. Then, I once again began feeling that tug at my heart from the Lord to enter into the ministry. After many a sleepless night and wrestling with myself, I said yes to God.
Ever since that day, the Lord has opened up doors for me. In October of 2019, I became the chaplain for the Franklin County Firefighters Association. This chaplaincy allows me to minister to my fellow firemen. God also opened doors for me to once again preach his word from the pulpit. Furthermore, I was ordained as a minister through the National Association of Christian Ministers. I thank God for this special calling he has placed upon me.
Education at CLI in Answer to My Call to Ministry and Ordination
I’ve always known that I have a purpose and that God had a plan for me. My Grandfather, a devout Christian man, died when I was only three years old. However, before he passed, he told my family that God showed him in a dream me preaching in the pulpit.
I thank God for all He has done for me and all that He is going to do. I’m also thankful for this amazing opportunity to get better educated at the Christian Leaders Institute. And also to be ordained with the Christian Leaders Alliance.
Called to Teach the Children
My name is Donna Dillinger, and God calls me to “teach the children.” I live in the USA. I knew the Lord in my childhood and felt His presence and protection until I experienced trauma at twelve years old. Then, I was so angry with Him that I walked away from Him. I spent the next 15 years lost.
After ten miscarriages and no hope from my doctors, I broke down and wailed to God. I repented for my lost years, pleaded for a baby, and asked for His help. I promised to teach my child about Him if He blessed me with one. Within weeks, my husband had a new job and new health insurance. I had a new doctor who knew exactly the issue and how to overcome it. My daughter was born that very year, and I remembered my promise.
God’s Call to Teach the Children
I read the Bible to equip myself better to teach her. It took me three years to read the entire Bible. By the time I finished, I was pregnant with my third daughter. God performed many miracles in our lives during that time. I continued to study, went to church bi-weekly with my family, and read to them about God daily. I asked God how I could serve Him, and I repeatedly heard, “Teach the children.” Since I was already teaching my children, I began to volunteer at church at the children’s Sunday school.
After my fourth child (a son) was born, my first child was due to start school. We homeschooled her for preschool and kindergarten and were to register her for first grade. That morning, I awoke with a terrible sense of dread. I had a dream I couldn’t remember, though the ominous feeling of it stayed with me. I felt sick and shaky and couldn’t make myself get in the car to take her. My husband thought I had separation anxiety and suggested we homeschool her for another year, and the feeling of dread dissipated.
Several months later, the school we were going to take her to was on the news, and that feeling of dread returned. As I watched the horror of the school shooting, I recalled that in my dream, my daughter was a victim. I was so grateful to God for saving her.
On the Move
We gave up our home and earthly possessions and prayed that God would lead us in a new path to a different kind of life. Traveling across the states, we camped, stayed in several temporary homes, and lived a frugal life. We ended up in Ohio for several years, where I began volunteering in Sunday school again. Children in our neighborhood who did not attend church showed up on our doorstep, and I read them Bible stories.
Getting Formal Training for Children’s Ministry at CLI
After the birth of our fifth child, we continued our journey across the states. We drove to Washington to catch a ferry to Alaska. During this blessed journey, there was not one mishap. Once we arrived, everything fell into place perfectly. We found a furnished home to rent in our first 24 hours here.
Next, I applied for a position to teach Sunday school, and the interview went well except for one exception. I did not have formal training, and my many years of experience in childcare and teaching the Bible could not make up for that. So here I am at the Christian Leaders Institute beginning ministry training to better equip myself to “teach the children.”
Learn about college degree opportunities at the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School. Learn about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance.
Free Ministry Preparation Courses at CLI
My name is Dennis Cunningham, and I am taking free ministry preparation courses at CLI. I am from Central Illinois in the United States. My wife and I have been blessed with a large family; we have seven children and four grandchildren. I grew up in Central Illinois. I never went to church when I was young but did have many questions in my head all the time. My oldest brother was the first to go to church. I was a senior in High School when he gave his life to the Lord. He was always talking to me about the Lord and the Gospel. I had many questions but usually never asked them.
The Lord Entered My Life
I remember staying at his house one weekend, and I was drinking a beer. It was late, and my brother was already in bed. I flipped through the TV stations. For some reason, I stopped at the PTL club. Jim Baker was talking about Jesus dying on the cross as my brother mentioned. I remember it like it was yesterday. The preacher pointed at the camera and said,” Young man, you need to dump that beer down the drain.” I’m sure I broke a record running to the kitchen from the living room. That night I prayed for the Lord to come into my life.
Struggles
However, I fell back into the world after a few months. For twenty years, I was back and forth and up and down with my Christianity. During that time, I married and had kids. Things seemed to go well for a while, but not living for the Lord finally caught up with me. My wife and I ended up separating (alcohol and drugs had a significant part in it), and she divorced me.
I lost everything: my wife, my kids, my home, everything. I went to a dark place in my life and pushed the people I loved away. Then I met a woman who was willing to stand beside me, knowing there was a better man inside of me. We started a new family, and things were okay, but not great. I knew what was missing. I began to think more and more about God. Once again, my oldest brother was talking to me about God and the church. However, I was very stubborn.
Turning Point
Then something changed my life, and it changed forever. On Christmas Eve, one of my sons was diagnosed with leukemia. I was devastated. Everything I knew at that time took a backseat to him. In the middle of the night, I got up and went downstairs to get a drink. I went to the back door and stepped out on the patio. It was a crisp January evening, and the sky was clear. I saw millions of stars. It was like God shouting, “You see it! I’m here!” I broke and cried like a one-year-old. I begged God for healing for my son.
However, as I sat there, something inside me started to ache. I suddenly stood up and looked to the sky and told God, “Whether my son lives or dies, I will serve you the rest of my life!” Three years later, my son went to be with the Lord.
Called and Taking Free Ministry Preparation Courses at CLI
Ever since that night, I have served and lived for the Lord. I’m getting ready to retire, and I want to serve Him fulltime now. I’m an elder at my church, and I help in the children’s church and fill in for my Pastor and preach when he is gone.
But, there is so much more I need to learn and so much more to do. Therefore, God brought me to the Christian Leaders Institute so I could receive free ministry preparation courses. I am on the road that God has prepared for me to lead others to the Kingdom of God. Here I am, Lord, use me!
Learn about ordination with the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in getting a degree? Check out CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.