Servant Leader for Christ
My name is Amandio Alves Galvao, and I am a servant leader for Christ. I live in the north of the country of Portugal in the rural town of Moncao. My paternal and maternal grandparents emigrated to Angola in 1947. In the post-war period, all of Europe suffered from acute economic problems. That lack was more pronounced in rural regions like here in the north. That circumstance caused me to be born in Benguela, Angola, a beautiful and quiet city.
In 1973, my mother suffered from a lung tumor and had surgery in Cape Town, South Africa. In the hospital, a nurse gave him a booklet and some pamphlets from a church. My parents were of traditional Catholic confession. However, when they came back to Angola, my father looked for that church of the Protestant persuasion.
My father and I started attending that church. In 1974, we were baptized. My dedication to the cause of the gospel was total. We participated in evangelizing activities and the social needs of the most disadvantaged population, already at that time in the middle of the civil war. In addition to the evangelizing activities of the church in which he participated, he moved personally towards evangelism in the school where he studied. It was a rewarding stage despite the war.
Move to Portugal
In the fall of 1975, it was already unsustainable to continue living there. The civil war paralyzed all activity, and there was no longer food. We returned to our origins, to Moncao, Portugal. We went with absolutely nothing, without resources. They were difficult years where we live with a lot of lack. But, the fire of the gospel burned within. The desire to bring Jesus and his goodness to others gave joy and immense peace.
At 18 years old, I became a missionary-colporteur for two years. I traveled outside of Portugal, working for the gospel and studying theology for two years. I wanted to be a pastor and dedicate my life to the service of others.
Called to be a Servant Leader for Christ
Over time, a feeling of dissatisfaction grew inside me. The church I attended seemed excessively elitist, exclusive with other people and churches. They were considered the only holders of the truth of God. That sense of people and looking for oneself while excluding others each time made me uncomfortable. It seemed contrary to the redemptive mission of Jesus.
I decided to walk with God on my own and leave that denomination. I felt happier considering that all people are children of God. Jesus made his redemption for all people. God loves everyone equally. I am to love God above all things and others as myself. That inner fire makes me feel like everyone’s brother, no better than anyone and my neighbor’s servant. So I have been a servant leader for Christ in my personal life and my profession.
Trained Servant Leader for Christ through CLI
God blessed me with a wife who suffers from the same ‘madness’ of the gospel, compassion for others, tolerance and kindness, service to others. I am very thankful.
Now at 61, I have the opportunity to complete my studies with the Christian Leaders Institute. I believe that the hand of God guided my steps in my journey through all these years. And when I felt the need to study again and plant small groups in the gospel Christian Leaders Institute appeared in my life. May God abundantly bless CLI in its mission to prepare servants of God.
Learn about ordination with Christian Leaders Alliance.
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Me llamo Amandio Galvao y soy de Portugal. Vivo al norte del país en una población rural, Moncao.
Mis abuelos paterno e materno emigraron para Angola en 1947. En el pos-guerra toda Europa sufría de problemas económicos agudos. Esa carencia era más acentuadas en regiones rurales como aquí en el norte. Esa circunstancia hizo que yo naciera en Benguela, Angola. Una bonita y tranquila ciudad.
En 1973 mi madre sufría de un tumor pulmonar e fue operada en Cap Town, South Africa. En el hospital una enfermera le regaló un librito y unos folletos de una iglesia. Mis padres eran de confesión católica tradicional pero ya de regreso a Angola mi padre buscó esa iglesia de la confesión protestante.
Mi padre e yo comenzamos a asistir a esa iglesia. En 1974 fuimos bautizados. Mi entrega a la causa del evangelio fue total. Participando de todas las actividades evangelizadoras y de las necesidades sociales de la población más desfavorecida, ya por entonces en plena guerra civil. Además de las actividades evangelizadoras de la iglesia en que participaba, personalmente hacia evangelismo en el colegio donde estudiaba. Fue una etapa muy gratificante a pesar de la guerra.
En el otoño de 1975 ya era insostenible seguir viviendo ahí. La guerra civil paralizó toda actividad e ya no había alimentos. Regresamos a los origines, a Moncao, Portugal. Absolutamente sin nada y sin recursos. Fueron años muy difíciles donde vivimos con mucha carencia. Pero el fuego abrasador del evangelio ardía en el interior y la ansia de llevar a Jesús y sus bondades a los demás alimentaba la alegría y una inmensa paz.
Tenía 18 años y me hice misionero-colportor por un período de dos años. Viajé fuera de Portugal y seguí trabajando para el evangelio y estudiando teología por dos años. Deseaba ser pastor y dedicar mi vida al servicio de los demás.
Con el tiempo una sensación de insatisfacción crecía en mi interior. La iglesia a que assistia me parecía excesivamente elitista, exclusivista en relación a las demás personas e iglesias. Se consideraban los únicos poseedores de la verdad de Dios y que las demás iglesias reformadas juntamente con la católica eran Babilónia y rameras de Satanás. Esa acepción de personas, ese mirar para uno mismo excluyendo los demás cada vez me fue incomodando más. Me parecia contraria a la misión redentora de Jesus.
Decidí andar con Dios por mi cuenta y dejar esa denominación. Me sentí más feliz no haciendo acepción de personas y considerando que todos son hijos de Dios. Por todos Jesús hizo su redención. A todos Dios ama por igual. Y así me siento, amando a Dios por encima de todas las cosas e al prójimo como a mi mismo. Ese fuego interior me hace sentir hermano de todos. No mejor que nadie pero siervo de mi prójimo. Así vengo haciendo en mi vida personal y en mi profesión.
Dios me bendijo con una esposa que sufre de la misma ‘locura’ del evangelio, la compasión por los demás, la tolerancia y la bondad, el servicio al prójimo. Soy muy afortunado.
Ahora a los 61 años tengo la oportunidad de completar mis estudios con el Christian Leaders Institute. Creo que la mano de Dios guió mis pasos en mi caminada personal a lo largo de todos estos años. Y cuando sentí la necesidad de reanudar mis estudios y plantar pequeños grupos en el evangelio Christian Leaders Institute apareció en mi vida. Que Dios bendiga al CLI abundantemente en su misión de preparar siervos de Dios.
Getting Ministry Trained to Change the World
My name is Evangeline Kendrixs, and I am getting ministry trained at Christian Leaders Institute. I live in England, United Kingdom. On March 15, 1957, I was born in Ghana, West Africa, nine days after Ghana’s independence from colonial rule. I am the oldest among three daughters born to Ghanaian parents. We lived in the capital city of Accra. In 1960, my dad migrated to Germany and left us with our mum. So, I grew up in a single-parent home. At a very young age, I started attending an Anglican church near our house with my sisters. We also went to a mission school attached to the church.
I enjoyed going to church because my mum often made new clothes for us to attend the church. The friends I met at church were those from the church school. I was not a born again Christian at that time. However, I attended church services until I completed my primary and middle school education. Then, I left for secondary school.
Jesus my Lord and Saviour
The secondary school I attended was a boarding school. Every term, I left my mum and sisters to attend school in a town far from where we lived. In that school, there was a Scripture Union group, which I joined. We were known as SU members. The leaders were mainly students who were studying Bible knowledge for “Advance” level examinations. I admired them and was inspired by how much they knew the word of God. That knowledge made their scripture teachings exciting. I came to know the Lord when I was with the SU. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and became a born again Christian.
When I completed my secondary school education, I came back home. I worked at Ghana Commercial Bank in Accra. At the bank, there were born again Christians who fellowshipped once or twice a week during the lunch breaks. I joined the fellowship at the bank and stopped attending the Anglican Church. Then, I attended a charismatic church and got baptized in the nearby sea. I talked about Jesus to my sisters, cousins, and other members of my extended family. A few of them joined me and became born again Christians too.
Later, I moved from the city of Accra to the small town of Tema. While I was trying to settle in that new town, I noticed there was a charismatic church there. So, I started fellowshipping with them. I lived alone in rented accommodations, so I had enough time to read and study my Bible after work. I attended all-night church services on Fridays, outreach meetings, and other church programs. The Holy Ghost filled me, and I started praying in tongues. Shortly after, I met my husband, and we married.
Making a Move to the UK
During this time, I was having issues with my landlord and neighbors. They complained that I prayed too loud and sang too much, which disturbed them. I did not allow that to dampen my spirit or to make any troubles with them. My husband and I prayed about the complaints, and I went to visit my sisters, who were then living in the UK.
Later, my husband and I migrated to the United Kingdom to work. My spiritual journey continued in the UK. I worked with the church, this time a Pentecostal Church, and I taught Sunday school in the Children’s Service. I attended Christian programs and events. Sometimes, after the church service, I went out with other church members to hand out daily devotional books and gospel tracks.
Testing Time – God is Real
Over time, God blessed us with four daughters. The last child was born with Down’s syndrome. It was a testing time. I could not understand why such an issue came my way after praying day and night and trusting God for everything. However, after all that, I did not give up. I still believed God for a turnaround in my daughter’s health.
I saw the power of God, and He became real to me when my daughter’s health deteriorated, and they admitted her to the ICU. Most of the doctors and nurses who attended her thought she might not make it. But the church members were praying, and our family was fasting and praying too. Then God showed up. My daughter recovered from her illness miraculously, and the hospital staff was all amazed.
God Was Calling
My daughter got well and went back to school. I was unemployed, so I enrolled in the university near my home to study Special Educational Needs (SEN). I wanted to know more about my daughter’s condition. So, I studied up to the postgraduate level. After graduating, I planned to go back to Ghana to work there as a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO). But my plans did not happen. God called me to serve Him instead.
Unexpectedly, my pastor’s wife wanted to plant a church and came to discuss it with me. She asked me if I could help to find a venue to start a new church. I found a suitable location where we could meet for church services. However, what she was expecting me to do with the new members of the church was something I was not capable of doing because I was not trained. The other leaders working with me were also not doing things right.
Therefore, we were losing members all the time. The church was a small one with about 25 people. Sometimes the membership increased and then decreased after a few weeks. People came, and then they left. The work was difficult and frustrating. We put in so much effort for the church to grow, but there were limited results. All of us in the leadership team were untrained. Then, I decided to get trained. However, I didn’t know how because I couldn’t afford the fees Bible colleges charged.
The Importance of Getting Ministry Trained as a Christian Leader
I didn’t give up and kept searching. I started looking for an online Bible college, and I came across the Christian Leaders Institute (CLI). After reading more about the institution, I knew CLI is where I am getting ministry trained. It will enable me to serve Jesus Christ better and to change the world for Christ. The training helps me to grow, and I also get the opportunity to learn more about the gospel. With the ministry training at CLI, I will be able to serve effectively in the church like any other trained Christian leader. Thank you, CLI!
Learn about ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.
Chaplaincy Calling
My name is Dazhoni Green, and I have a chaplaincy calling from God. I am from Minnesota. The United States has been blessed thus far not to experience the religious persecution that other countries have. That persecution is a discouragement to Christians who want to be ministers as they have been called to be. However, it can be challenging to find a good Bible-believing church where I live.
Life Experiences
I have had many experiences and lived in many places. I was born in a Navajo Reservation and lived in China for a total of six years. My parents separated when I was ten, and I was diagnosed with cancer when I was twelve. My recovery took several years, and I grew to have a real relationship with Jesus in my teen years as I struggled with depression and anger.
I asked Jesus into my life as Lord and Savior when I was at a summer youth camp. At that time, I humbled myself and asked for his forgiveness as I struggled with a terrible temper. I acknowledged he was my only hope, and I couldn’t fix me. I needed his help and mercy.
At first, I begged God to take my temper from me. However, he didn’t. As I grow in my walk with Him and walk firmly in the Spirit, I can overcome the temptation to give in to anger. Whenever I let pride tell me that I can walk without Him, I am reminded otherwise when I lose my temper. I then humble myself and turn back to God before I let anger control me again. God is so merciful to me. If anyone is unworthy to be a called minister of God, it is me. He is my one genuine desire and my life and light. Without Him, I am nothing. I want my life to honor and serve Him.
Chaplaincy Calling
I am called to become a chaplain. I have wanted to go into ministry since my senior year of high school. But, since my family is in the low economic class, going hundreds of thousands of dollars into debt, wasn’t an option. So I went to a community college in the state. I got my AA degree in general. Then, I went to get training as a dog groomer and worked in the grooming salon these past four years. I appreciate all the support I was given but grew depressed as I felt that it wasn’t what I was called to do.
With my own experience of being in the hospital, sick, and witnessing death in other children, I am comfortable in those settings and have great compassion. Even though I didn’t know God personally when I had cancer, I think it is a beautiful place to get to know Him in that humbling state. I have a strong desire to minister to those who are sick, dying, or at another low place in my chaplaincy calling. Recently, I published my book, SOUVENIRS OF SUFFERING, which covers my battle with childhood cancer. I am encouraged that it has already touched lives based on the Amazon reviews it has received.
Chaplaincy Calling and Training at CLI
I know I have a long way to go in my ministry training and also with my walk with the Lord. I am excited to start this journey with Christian Leaders Institute. My bachelor’s in chaplaincy at CLI is my first goal and then I’ll transfer to, probably, Ohio Christian University to get my master’s degree. I can afford this and have a part-time job, too! I thank God in my prayers every day for Christian Leaders Ministries. It has made a way possible for me to pursue my ministry training and gives me hope and direction for my future in serving God and others.