Children’s and Women’s Ministry Journey
My name is April Van Buul, from Alberta, Canada. My husband, Jonathan, and I have seven amazing children and two grandchildren. The oldest of four siblings, I was born and raised in Alberta, Canada. I have known my children’s and women’s ministry calling for a long time.
Currently, I teach children’s Sunday group at the local church as well as the children’s Community group every month. I serve the community through food drives and clothing drives/sales. Also, I work with local families for the Homeschool gathering and swap as well. I desire to guide the new generation to the Lord. Maintaining the Lambs that are already there, I hope to encourage those that are stumbling. I am working on becoming an officiant here for weddings and funerals and looking at working with the local senior’s homes and hospitals as well.
Early Struggles
Time and time again, my calling was pushed aside as I thought I was not worthy. That was wrong and based on false guilt. My childhood was broken and full of trials. The Lord called me since childhood at six. Through the years, I have been through temptations, sickness, and challenges.
I received Christ in 2011 and sought to follow God’s path since then. Though the trials have held me back, I have not turned away. Instead, the tests made me try to follow where the Lord leads me.
Nothing came easy in a broken home. My parents divorced when I was two. I was abused, misunderstood, and in foster care by age 11. I have suffered from PTSD and Depression. From ages 16-24, I struggled. I had two children too young. Single and alone, frightened, injured from an accident, and desperate to provide for my children.
College
Later, I picked myself up and went to college. Global INC trained me for Travel and Tourism. Knowing what I was taking was not what I wanted, I was unsure as to what exactly I was searching for or how to get there. I continued to struggle with my health. The Lord said, “Come.” I worked hard and studied both my main classes as well as the Bible on my own. The Bible brought me closer to God and Christ, more and more.
Marriage and Family Health Challenges
Then, I met my husband and settled down. He is a believer also and just the support I needed. We had a family. I started to prepare to study for the ministry. When our daughter was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Cancer and OMAS (an immune disease) in 2011, I was brought up close and personal with a trial no person wants. Again, my studies were on hold. Her care was the priority, and she started to heal. The calling came back. Then my husband was the one in hospital.
Again, trials and delays followed the calling. Yet the Lord held our hands through it all. Carried us during the worst and taught me so much more. Again, sickness. This time me. I had a parasite due to contaminated water. I was thought not to have much time, and still, the Lord held our hands. He has more excellent plans for me.
Now, today, gratitude is unwavering. Our daughter is still with us as well as Jon and me, bringing me closer to Christ as ever. Then last year, our youngest child was diagnosed with a hole in her heart. She is on the waiting list for open-heart surgery. I hope it happens in the spring. Last month, our second-youngest was diagnosed with Absence Seizures.
Children’s and Women’s Ministry Study at CLI
My marriage is difficult more due to differences in upbringing than anything. My husband is an old fashioned man that loves me for my love of the Lord but does not believe in a female minister. This issue is still a thorn for us. We are working towards an understanding. May this be accomplished through patience and teaching by the Lord. So far, he has agreed to support me in ministry training.
Today, the need will no longer be ignored. So here I am at your door, Christian Leaders Institute. Thank the Lord and you for opening it. I know that these trials are only to make me who I am today. Strong and mighty in the Lord, with empathy and understanding for others. May the Lord guide me to use what I have learned and will learn to work well for the Name and Word of the Lord.
My Scripture Verses and My Goal
Matthew 5:12 “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
Revelations 21: 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
My goal is to become an Ordained Minister, focusing on Children’s and Women’s ministry. From there, well, the Lord knows. Bless you, all.
Learn about ordination at Christian Leader Alliance.
Free Ministry Education Online
My name is Jon Christian Porter, and I am from the U.S.A. I am blessed to receive free ministry education online at CLI. “I will arise and go to my father and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.'” Luke 15:18 (NKJV).
THE EARLY YEARS
Childhood was not easy for me. Breathing was often difficult due to severe asthma bouts. I am thankful for my mother’s care for me. When we moved from Maryland to Northern California, I began to heal. I grew up in the beautiful Napa Valley and attended the Napa Presbyterian Church.
As I recall, no one ever asked me if I had a relationship with the Lord. My dad was an Elder in the church. He was a fine man, but somehow, I didn’t seriously learn about the Lord until my college days.
I did not know the Lord, but He knew me! I know that now. God protected me from death several times as a child and as a young adult. Jesus had and continues to have a plan for my life. It was a destiny that I could not escape – like Jonah. A stubborn, defiant, capable young man, I could order my own life, follow my plans, create my destiny.
I was far more interested in playing sports than listening to my professors in college until I was knocked unconscious during an intramural sports event that ended my sports career from athlete to an uncoordinated bystander in a moment. After three days unconscious, I began to awaken, but to a new reality — no more sports. I did not know it then, but I certainly know it now – the Lord had other plans for me. The concussion was a blessing that forced me to reconsider the purposes of my life.
DISCOVERING THE LORD IN HIS CREATION
From that point on, which was during the second year of college, I began to take my studies seriously. Surprisingly, and an unintended (by the professors) consequence of my studies in chemistry, cellular biology, and related topics, I became aware of the excellent miraculous organization of life! The curriculum focused on evolutionary theory, which was ridiculous.
I began to search for answers, and slowly ploddingly found the Lord. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,” Romans 1:20 (NKJV).
My passage from nonbeliever to believer was slow. It was not until I was in my 40s that I started to study His Word seriously. I have asked this question that I now ask you, “What if the Bible is true? What would that look like?” And so, my quest has been to clarify the walk that a believer must take.
My Journey With God and to Free Ministry Education Online at CLI
Even today, at 72 years of age, my walk with Him is just beginning. Thankfully, God led me to Christian Leaders Institute for free ministry education online. Which works well since the Lord has also graciously placed me on a remote island in the Philippines. I teach ukulele with Christian music, prayer, and testimony through churches of various denominations. My dear wife Janice is in the USA, having recovered miraculously from very advanced stage 4 lymphoma. That fantastic story I leave for her to tell.
If I could give but one thought of advice to Christians, it would be, “It’s not over till it’s over!” As Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7 (NKJV). May we do everything we can to run the race to the end of our mortal lives – until the moment He calls us home. God bless you all!
Learn about ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.
God’s Path to Children’s Ministry Calling
Hello, my name is Ashlee Swartz, from the USA. God has given me a children’s ministry calling. I am the children’s ministry director at Trinity Faith Church in Liberal, Kansas. God has given me a children’s ministry calling. I am a mother of six beautiful children.
My Journey to God’s Path for My Life
The oldest born of three children, I was born in 1986. I grew up in a house that loved God but didn’t know God. Baptized at age 5, it was around 15 that I rededicated my life to Christ when I understood more.
Through my years as a young adult, my love for God was there, but my walk with God struggled. I didn’t understand how to apply God’s word to my daily life. The sudden loss of loved ones tested my faith and love for God. I learned during the grieving process how to love and trust God in ways I never understand before. I’ve faced trials and tests in my life. Through them all, I have learned that trusting God is the only way through them.
My Children’s Ministry Calling
My interest in ministry started because there was a need at my church. They needed a helper for a children’s class on Wednesday evening and a Nursery Director. Then, they also needed a children’s teacher on Wednesday night. All of these were positions that needed filling. What I didn’t realize was all of those positions were preparing me for who God calls me to be.
My call to go deeper into ministry came in June 2018. About eight months before this, our pastor had done an excellent sermon series on finding your purpose. I had been going through some significant trials during this sermon series. I struggled to hear God’s answer when asking about my purpose. Therefore, I got frustrated by the struggle, and more or less gave up on seeking a solution.
God saw me through my trials. I became more trusting in Him than ever before. Sitting in church one morning, I was thinking back to that sermon series. Wondering if I ever really figured my purpose out, God called, and I was ready to hear it.
My Children’s Ministry Calling Led to CLI
God told me my calling was to bring children to Him. Since I’m a mom of six, I do that, and I teach on Wednesday. He said to me, “YOU CAN DO MORE.”I knew then that the children’s ministry calling I’ve had was what God was calling me to do on a bigger scale. So I searched for online ministry training and found the Christian Leaders Institute. I am thankful for this opportunity for free children’s ministry training at CLI!
Learn about ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.