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.
An Extraordinary Mission From God
I am Snehitha Govada from Vijayawada, India, an ordinary woman called by God for an extraordinary mission. I am called to minister to the broken people, to train leaders, and to expand the services of my local church so that the gospel spreads throughout India.
The Beginning of My Call to an Extraordinary Mission From God
In 2014, during September, I was doing my Masters in Kakinada. I have a habit of calling my friend to ask about the message in my local church in Vijayawada. It was the month in which they held fasting prayers. Some guests were invited to the church to deliver the message. My friend called and told me about how a guest pastor prayed, and she fell backward. I told her that this concept of throwing people back is not biblical, and it is called slaying in the spirit.
Then I felt a deep burden for my local church where I attend the services. So, I prayed for my church. Immediately, after I finished my work in the college and with fasting prayer and fear, I stepped into my local church and spoke to our pastor about the wrong minister whom they had invited during the fasting prayers. I gave my local pastor the books which describe these false doctrines. I asked for our pastor’s mail id to know if I could get my books back. The zeal drove me for God that the congregation must know such truths while false teachers are arising more in India.
God Led Me to An Extraordinary Mission
As I was in prayer, I was prompted to share the information I gained through reading spiritual books. I started sharing some concepts through the mail to our pastor. Thus, I began a secret ministry that no one in the church knew about. I was supporting my local pastor by sharing all the spiritual books I read. There were times I felt like quitting, but the zeal that the church has to grow deeper in their spiritual life prompted me to share the spiritual truths. Thus, God made me a supporting minister to our local church pastor. Even today, I still do this supporting ministry secretly.
Blessing My Church
I genuinely feel that God called me to be part of my local church to bring it to a new level. The people that attend my local church depend mostly on the pastor rather than the Holy Spirit. So I sent messages to my pastor through the mail to teach the church how to pray for themselves. They must lean upon God and the Holy Spirit rather than on the pastor. At first, my pastor felt I was against pastors. Since I shared messages on teaching church members to pray themselves and use God-given authority to do spiritual warfare themselves, he developed this belief. Therefore, I had to face some hatred from my local church pastor for four years. Yet, I continued my support to the local church.
Later, when I shared about women’s roles in serving God, the church was totally against it. Our local church culture believed that women should not lead and that women have no special calling except taking care of the family. I faced opposition due to the cultural change I shared that women also have the purpose of supporting the church. There was much indirect criticism, such as that I was a devil trying to destroy the church growth, that I was disobedient, etc. Praying hard during those times in tears, God uplifted me through my regular devotional time and the sermons I heard. By the grace of God, I saw day by day that they started understanding I was helping the church to grow spiritually. Today, they are also supporting the teachings that I shared.
Ministry Training Classes at CLI for An Extraordinary Mission
The classes at Christian Leaders Institute on who God uses, the interview with John Burden, and the interview with Frank Weavers empowered me. God chose me, and I need to overcome the pain of criticism. The classes on the price to pay, things to know about change, and vision killers have taught me much. As I could not articulate my vision correctly, I had to face some challenges as my teachings required a change in the culture of my local church.
The classes on developing a vision statement, going public, building the team, strategic planning helped me on how to develop a vision statement and articulate it in a way that people will respond positively. How to build a team, grow a team, and how to accomplish the vision were also pivotal. The interview with Marty Ozinga on vision was helpful in that a person with vision must be optimistic. The classes on Spiritual Warfare and developing a prayer ministry gave me great insight. Whatever the obstacles we may face during the process of making a vision become a reality, God is with us as we depend on Him.
My Ministry Dreams
My ministry dreams for the future are to establish a prayer team that prays for pastoral care and the outreach of ministry. I hope to develop a pastoral care ministry in my local church and provide counseling and life coaching services to the church members. To establish a mentor center to train up future leaders is part of my dream as well. Above all, I hope to see that the whole congregation relies on the Holy Spirit rather than any human authority. I pray that God would guide me in articulating a vision clearly to make my ministry dreams a reality.
Learn about ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.