Bachelor of Divinity Degree Journey
My name is Tony Hipps, and I am excited to study for my Bachelor of Divinity Degree at CLI and CLI. I live 15 minutes from downtown Nashville, Tennessee, Hermitage. Over the years, I have lived in several major cities and have never experienced an epidemic of homeless people on such a large scale as in Nashville, TN.
My goal is to earn a Bachelor of Divinity degree through CLI’s Leadership Excellence School. Then, the staff of the Nashville Mission will open doors to me. Therefore, I will minister and communicate the Gospel effectively to homeless people who stay there.
My call to the ministry call is not new. It’s a call I fell away almost ten years ago. I thank God that the Holy Spirit has continued to woo me ever since.
My Early Years
I was born in East Tennessee and moved to Texas with my father and my siblings after my mother left the family. I was eight years old, and I have been unable to locate her for the last 40 years. My family and I assume she passed away, but there’s no way to be sure.
We grew up poor on the outskirts of Houston, TX. Some years were better than others, and when my father remarried, things seemed to get better. However, we were not churchgoers, there was never a Bible at home, and drinking was a usual way of life. The alcohol caused problems leading to a divorce and a remarriage.
We moved to Woodstock, GA, with our second stepmother in 1986, when the market crashed in Texas. Again, life seemed better, but we still did not understand salvation. We still weren’t churchgoers, but I was interested in the idea.
Army Years
I joined the Army in 1989 and 1991. I went to the base chapel in Germany. The chaplain and I started a friendship, and I accepted Christ as my Savior not long after.
After going to Desert Storm, finishing my tour in Germany, and being transferred to Fort Hood, TX, I strayed from the Lord in 1993. I was arrested three times for drugs. The third time, I lost all my rank. I had the option of a court-martial or an “other than honorable” discharge. I chose the discharge and moved back to Georgia with my father. My father and I were struggling to pay bills, but we always seemed to have enough to keep the house full of alcohol.
My Marriage and Ministry Study and Service
I met my ex-wife in 1998 and had a daughter in 2000. Throughout our ten-year marriage, I quit drinking, began going to church again, and fell back in love with the Lord.
I started taking classes at a Bible College around 2004. The pastor and associate pastor discovered this fact, so they reviewed the school to ensure adequate training. They were impressed with the school, so they encouraged me to start working with the youth after attending for a year. After some time and more preparation, I became the Children & Youth Pastor, Sunday School Coordinator, Wednesday night Preacher, and was put on the pastoral leadership team.
In 2009, my pastor introduced me to a member of the Bartow County Baptist Association. After the meeting, the goal was to find a small church in the area that needed a bi-vocational pastor to transfer me there.
Struggle
All began to go downhill again, as Lisa and I agreed to divorce. After the divorce, I sought counsel from my pastor, who told me that I was no longer qualified to serve in the church.
My hope of pastoring a small church was dashed. Once again, I fell away from the Lord. I quit attending church, quit the Bible college, and quit talking to folks about Jesus. Even though the Spirit never left and continued to draw me, I ignored Him because the pastor of a church was questioning my desire to serve God.
New Direction
Fast forward to 2016, as mentioned, the Spirit never left me. So, here again, I am looking to serve the Lord. Also, my relationship with God has never been stronger. Even though it is a little later in life (knocking on 50), I believe that this is the time the Lord has for my ministry to begin. I’m a little older, a little wiser, and more cautious. However, now the devil can be seen coming from a mile away. I say no to the devil!
God is great! He led me to the Christian Leaders Institute to continue my studies. Thank you, CLI, for this excellent opportunity! Now, I look forward to studying for my Bachelor of Divinity Degree at the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School! God is good!
Free Further College Education at CLI
My name is Melita Prosise-Riley, and I am receiving a further college education at CLI and CLI. I live in Virginia in the United States of America. I was born in Stony Creek, Virginia, to Katherine Prosise and James Robinson. Out of separate unions, I have an older brother and a younger brother. We didn’t have much growing up, but my mom did the best she could. We also had close ties with my father’s family.
Though my mother took us to church occasionally, the majority of my memories of church exposure were with my grandmother and my aunt on my dad’s side. We went to church every Sunday during the summers that we visited, but there was no other participation. At the age of 13, I received baptism. However, I did not completely understand what that meant at the time.
God’s Grace
I was a wild child and did things I had no business doing. Thankfully, nothing so severe that I was arrested. I have never been arrested or gotten into any legal trouble other than some traffic violations.
I attended a technical college, Beta Tech, for one year and achieved a Diploma for Computer Administrative work. Up until this point, I worked mostly in customer service or food service. It is entirely by God’s grace that I am called into ministry.
Though my mom didn’t always take us to church, she was a believer as long as I can remember. She was a prayer warrior who prayed for her children through the toughest struggles. She loved her children and prayed for us.
My Unconventional Call to Ministry and My Church Home
This calling from God on my life began nine years ago. On a July day, I answered an altar call at Mt. Gilead Full Gospel Ministries. The Spirit led me to surrender that day. However, I had no idea that the calling would bring me along so quickly and even less of an idea that it would be to Parham Road Baptist Church (PRBC).
Since being a member at PRBC, my ministry of music has been used by God to touch and bring change in the hearts of the congregation. My experience at PRBC was also an integral part of the healing process I needed to move forward in God’s calling into Kingdom work. I have attended PRBC since October 2011 and received rebaptism on August 6, 2012. I participate in the choir and previously assisted with Friday Night Lights.
My Ministry Service
More recently, I began a journey with WHAM to teach the children the Word of God. Members asked me to participate in the auditing and music committee. I will conduct a morning assembly beginning in January. Also, currently, I have an article published in the church’s monthly newsletter.
My previous work was at Lakeside Baptist Church, where I was employed as Administrator/Daycare Bookkeeper and served as worship planner/leader for the Wednesday night contemporary service. These opportunities are just the beginning of the hands-on portion of my ministry training. The more I write, the more I see the blessing of the opportunities that have been given me by God.
Additional Ministry Work
In addition to the above experiences, I have also had the privilege to participate with several other non-profits and ministries:
Real Chances, Inc., – where I volunteered as an administrative advisor, taught computer classes, facilitated meetings and gatherings, cooked for and transported residents, and assisted with building upkeep.
The Nehemiah Project – where I served as secretary on the board of directors, and also served in several areas as needed during the yearly festival, Hope Fest.
Juvenile Detention Centers – where I served as a worship leader, group facilitator, and speaker.
My Desire For Further College Education
I had hoped to return to college to pursue a degree in Christian Counseling and Care and Biblical Studies. I chose Christian Counseling because I have been in a healing process. My experiences will be useful tools later in helping to identify with and help others through their healing process.
I am so grateful for the further college education opportunity given by the Christian Leaders Institute and CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.CLI offers a further college education to explore and expand the work of God’s Kingdom. I am eager to learn and see what will be the next phase of this ministry journey.
Chaplain Education Opportunity at CLI
My name is Brother Calvin G. Dodson of Keystone Heights, Florida, USA. I am thankful for the Chaplain education opportunity at Christian Leaders Institute.
In September of 2018, I was getting dressed to go to work when I started to breathe in and could not breathe. I tried to inhale but could not breathe. I was in shock and disbelief at what was happening. Thankfully, my roommate was there to call 911. All I remember was seeing my roommate dialing 911.
Later, I woke up to all these machines around me and my hands tied down. I was breathing very funny. I had a tube down my throat. Was I dreaming? I found out later that I had throat cancer, and it closed my windpipe. My voice box was taken out. I had 30 treatments of radiation. Now, I use an electrolarynx which I hold to my neck for my Robo voice. I remember lying there in the hospital saying to God, “Now what?”
My Calling
I have been a believer in Christ for a long time. I even have a Bachelor of Ministry degree (B.Min.). God made it clear to me that just knowing Him is not the same as serving Him. Wow! In November of 2019, I stood before the church and with my Robo voice spoke into the microphone. This voice is what God has chosen for me. I was proud and unashamed.
For once in my life, I found my calling, The time has come to share the gospel of Christ to all. God has told me to become a Chaplain and proceed to help other cancer patients. Recently, I got my results back from the hospital, and I am “CANCER FREE!” I am grateful to be alive!
I thank God for Christian Leaders Institute! Its programs are available for people who are willing to follow Christ. If not for CLI, I would be unable to afford to continue my Chaplain education. I am thankful to everyone who makes this Chaplain education opportunity happen. You are a God-Send!
Never give up…
Peace in the valley,
Brother Cal
Learn about degree programs at CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.