My Spiritual Evolution
Hello, my name is Melissa Hale, and here is the story of my spiritual evolution. I am from the United States in sunny central Florida. I am a mom of five children and a wife to an amazing husband. Florida is where I grew up and went to a beautiful church. One Sunday after church, I clearly remember telling my dad that I wanted to give my heart to Jesus. I was only five years old. Even then, at that moment, the Holy Spirit touched my heart, and I cried as I asked Jesus into my heart.
My Youth
I grew up in the church under the preaching of some of the best ministers and teachers. I spent my weekends as a child listening to sermons on Moody Radio and continued the tradition to adulthood. As a teenager, I volunteered in every ministry position I could. Eventually, I became a leader in several ministries as a teenager. I experienced many things in my life that made my faith strong. But most of all, God’s word was constantly interjected into my life.
As I grew up, I felt a call into the ministry, but women in ministry were few and far between. It seemed like the only thing that could “support” me would be if I went to school and became a pastor. However, that seemed strange. So, I decided to become a teacher or a child psychologist or a pediatrician. Once I began college, I found that my passion was not for any of those things, and I quit school.
Marriage and Tragedy
Not long after I became an adult, I married my high school sweetheart. While life was never easy and always seemed hard, joy was our underlying life goal. We always said, “We may not be rich, but we are rich in love.” Thirteen years of marriage and four children later, I had received a promotion at work. Our monetary struggles looked like they were finally over. We had a fantastic celebration on Christmas Eve with our extended family. Just one week prior, my husband gave our son a brand new bicycle on his ninth birthday.
On Christmas Eve in 2011, I left home to buy food for our Christmas Eve dinner. I took two of my children with me. The other two boys were planning on riding their new bicycles with their dad while I was gone. I left for one hour, and as I approached my house, I saw an ambulance and a police car. Slowing down, I turned, and people began flagging me down. I was bewildered. I rolled my window down. Then, I saw my nine-year-old son screaming, “He’s dead, He’s dead. Daddy is dead.”
My Husband’s Untimely Death Leads to My Spiritual Evolution
I will skip over all the details because some days, I do not feel like writing them all out. To say that this moment in my life was a faith shaker is an understatement. Losing a spouse on Christmas Eve is terrible. But worse, the bicycle my husband gave our son for his birthday was the culprit in this mess.
It was a freak accident that was not designed to shake my faith. It was designed to decimate me, to decimate my family, to decimate my children. It was designed to destroy my calling and the calling of my children. No, it was not a faith breaker; it was a destroyer. I knew that God called me. Not months before the worst day of my life, I heard God’s voice telling me that the dreams and calling I had as a child were still there. I knew God was calling me into ministry.
I heard it said, “Don’t play with fire, or you will get burned.” In my life, I was in the fire, and I was consumed, but I was also remade. Quickly, I knew I had two choices: Die emotionally and spiritually or live. As you can see, I chose life!
My Spiritual Evolution Defined
Someone asked me recently, “Did you have a relationship with God before your husband died? What is the difference now?” My answer is this: Before my husband died, Jesus was my friend. Someone who I would talk to and serve, but it didn’t go too far. We were good pals. Afterward, Jesus was my breath, my life, my Savior, my lifeline. He never left me. When I cried out, He answered. When I felt like I would die from the loneliness, I felt His tangible presence. I realized that without Him, I am nothing.
I call it my spiritual evolution because I know that I am still in training for what God has called me to do in this life. The definition of evolution is “the gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a more complex form.” My relationship with God slowly changed into something unable to be explained.
New Blessings and My Calling
God blessed me with a second husband, someone who loves my four children. Together, we have a son. One year after my husband passed away, my life renewed. God kept His promise to restore what the enemy stole from me. God gave me joy and a double portion at that.
Sharing my testimony, I have been honored to speak all over the world. I encourage women to live out their calling – even though they are just “moms” or “wives” or “a woman with no education.” Many are called, but few are chosen because people do not answer the call that God has for them.
I have been serving as a Children’s Pastor at the church I attended after my husband died. It was the church where he gave his life to the Lord. I have been on staff in sunny Florida for almost two years. I feel like I have one of the most important “jobs” in the world right now. It is teaching the future generations who God is. I recently lead a missions trip to Nicaragua, where we ministered to hundreds of children.
My Spiritual Evolution Leads to a Ministry Degree at CLI
Each year, I find myself wishing that I had a degree in ministry. I decided to stop wishing and start making it happen. Currently, I homeschool four of my five children and tutor once a week, plus weekly services and staff meetings. I am glad for the opportunity to fit classes into my busy schedule. The cost of a seminary degree is out of reach at the moment, since I am still in the trenches of raising children.
I am thankful for the visionaries at the Christian Leaders Institute who have developed the generosity driven model of education. Therefore, people called into ministry can study free of massive costs associated with quality education.
My life now is filled with happiness and hope in Christ Jesus. My daughter is planning on being a full-time missionary, while my oldest son is the Worship Leader for our youth at church. Our family loves to go on missions trips, preaching the gospel across the globe.
Reflecting God in My Life
I do not know what my future holds in this calling. I understand that the credentials of a degree in ministry will open new doors, as I continue to live out God’s call on my life. Currently, I have no plans to leave my position at church. I pray that as I learn more about God’s word that my understanding will be increased and reflect in every part of my life.
Learn about degrees at CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
My Women’s Ministry Call: My Road to Redemption in Christ
My name is Shelly Ashe-Haun. This story is about my women’s ministry call from God. I was born in Salem, Indiana, but I have lived in Knoxville, Tennessee since I was three. I am so blessed and have the most beautiful life, but that has not always been my story.
My Struggles
From about the time I was sixteen until I was 26, I let personal tragedy decide how I dealt with life every day. I partied daily to cover up how I felt about myself and life in general. I got myself into dangerous situations and lots of toxic relationships.
When I was 26, I became pregnant with my now almost 9-year-old daughter. I was in one of those toxic relationships. It wasn’t until then that I realized I had to change to be the mom and woman that my daughter needed me to be. Therefore, all toxic relationships ended. At this point, I was trying to finish my college degree, work full-time, and be a single parent. I could do it all alone. Little did I know, the entire time that I was pushing God away, He was the one pushing me forward.
God Speaks to Me
In 2016, a family tragedy broke our family. At the time, I was working at Calhoun’s on the River, a famous restaurant in Knoxville. The day after my aunt passed away, I was walking down the long sidewalk to work, wondering how I was going to make it through the day. The guy I had been talking to, but not dating, stood at the back door on the dock waiting for me. He stood unmoving until I got to the top of the steps where I fell to pieces. He caught me and helped put my pieces back together.
As I cried, I heard the Lord speak to me for the first time. He said, “I will walk with you through the valley of the shadow of darkness. The one I have sent you will bring you comfort, peace, joy, and love.” These words were the Lord’s blessing over my husband and me! We have now been married for over two years. We have a daughter and two sons, and our family is complete!
My Women’s Ministry Call: God Speaks to Me Again
About six months ago, I was sitting on the front porch. I felt like something was missing. Not something was missing between my husband and me or between our kids and me. Just something missing. Then I heard the Lord speak to me again, “I will walk with you through the valley of the shadow of darkness. The one I have sent for you will bring you comfort, peace, joy, and love!”
At that moment, I realized God was not just talking about my husband, Derrick, but about JESUS! In Jesus, we never walk alone; in Jesus, we will always find comfort, peace, joy, and love!! That’s what was missing the whole time.
A friend of mine for over 20 years works at the dentist’s office where our kids go. She told me a couple of weeks after my front porch revelation that she and her husband have completely changed their lives. Now, they attend this church here in Knoxville. She invited us, and our lives have not been the same since! We have found fellowship, faith, a church family, and I am happy to announce I was baptized on August 25th!!
Ministry Training at CLI for My Women’s Ministry Call
Praise the Lord! He never gave up on me! God wants me to use my past for a purpose to help young girls and women who have struggled or struggle with the same issues that I had. My women’s ministry, with God’s blessing, could help protect other women from going down the same long, scary road I did.
Now with this free ministry training at Christian Leaders Institute, I can do the ministry work that God is calling me to do. This training prepares me to be the Women’s Ministry leader that God can use for His glory. Use me, God, send me!
Learn about ordination with the Christian Leaders Alliance.
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.
—
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.