Free Revival Leader Training
My name is Joeana Lutha Mae Villo, and I am receiving free revival leader training at CLI. I was born in Quezon City, Philippines. Currently, I reside in “The City of Character,” Bayawan City, Negros Oriental. I grew up without a father-figure and raised by my mother, a devout Roman Catholic. My mother and I were living with my grandparents, and we religiously attended the Sunday mass in a Catholic church in the town. Throughout those years, I never understood God’s grace, his redeeming love, or the more profound things about Him. All I knew was “the religion thing,” where we always have to go to church every Sunday and follow all the traditions.
However, when I was in fifth grade, my mother was invited by her colleague to a Born Again Full-Gospel Church and was converted. At the time, I was her primary persecutor. She asked me to join their Sunday services, but I was so angry that I never bothered to listen to her. Back then, I thought what she did was merely changing religion, and that sounded like a big deal to me.
God Saves Me
The summer before I went to sixth grade, I happened to join a Vacation Bible School for kids in our neighborhood. I didn’t know what that was all about. It was in a very informal setting, and I didn’t intentionally want to listen to the teaching. I just joined because my friends were there. We had so much fun playing the different games they had prepared, and, most importantly, they served snacks at the end of every session. As you see, I began with the wrong intention, but that was the best setup that happened in my life. That was the open door for me to start my walk with the Lord.
When that summer activity ended, they invited us to their Sunday services, saying that they have Sunday School for kids with free snacks. Again, I fell in that trap, but that was the best “trap” ever. I was very excited, not knowing that was the exact church that my mother was attending.
The first time I visited that church, I felt God breathing life into my spirit even at such a young age. I felt so much peace, freedom, and victory while I listened to the sermon. From that time on, I committed my life to Jesus and learned to worship Him and put Him first in my life. I faithfully joined prayer meetings, Bible Studies, youth camps, and Sunday services with joy in my heart.
College and Career Dreams
In 2009, I went to college in a city far from home. I sought for a local church there. It was during my college years that God started using me mightily for His glory. I was a timid girl, full of fear and hesitation that I could lead, but God turned that mindset upside-down. I became the president of a Christian campus organization, handling Bible Studies, and making disciples on the campus. God enabled me, and I was amazed at how His plan unfolded in my life.
At that time, I found joy being used by God in the campus ministry. However, I shrugged off the idea of God calling me to the ministry because I had my plan for my career. Through God’s grace, I graduated with flying colors in one of the prestigious universities in the Philippines. I had lots of career opportunities laid out for me back then. However, as Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” I ended up giving up all those opportunities to advance in the corporate world so I can serve in the ministry.
Ministry Service and Health Concerns
I decided to study in the Bible School, but I was discouraged by my pastor to do so. He told me that it is okay not to go to the Bible School as long as I know how to self-study. I never had the support and the opportunity to have ministry training. However, since 2014 until now, I served in the ministry as a youth leader, handling campus Bible studies and home Bible studies, organizing and facilitating church events. I served as one of the doorkeepers every Sunday, preached in certain services, and did more. I was basically in an all-around ministry with my previous local church.
In 2016, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, stage 3, and that was the biggest obstacle that I faced growing into maturity. We had no funds for chemotherapy sessions, surgical operation, and radiation therapy, but God has been good. He proved that He is indeed Jehovah Jireh, “the God who provides,” and Jehovah Rapha who heals.
Because I serve a miracle-working God, my mother and I won the victory in that battle against the spirit of cancer. My mother was declared cancer-free in 2017. She is still monitored regularly, but I am convinced that my God who saves, who heals, who provides, who blesses, never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Seeking Free Revival Leader Training at CLI
Right now, God has given me the burden to lead a local church and shepherd a flock. But I do not have the confidence and the competence to do so. This lack was because I didn’t have the proper ministry training to be fully equipped. I didn’t have the funds to study in the Bible School far from home, but I knew I needed training. And I praise God for leading me to Christian Leaders Institute while I was searching online. I enrolled because I embrace my calling. The free revival leader training is what I believe God has called me to do.
I believe what the Bible says that the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, here I am with CLI, getting ready to be used by God in the harvest field. The free revival leader training will prepare me for what God has in store for me as his worker.
Learn about ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.
Free Courageous Leader Training at CLI
I am George Guramatunhu, I am excited about the free courageous leader training at CLI. Born in Zimbabwe, I am, currently, staying in South Africa as I take refuge from the worsening economic environment back home. I grew up without a father. My mother worked on the farms to provide for us, and I would see her when she visited us in the rural areas of Gokwe.
Knowing God and following what he instructs us makes me long to live according to his will. I grew up in an extended family. Although we were encouraged to go to church, there were some churches which we were not allowed to attend. We especially were not to go to churches where there was a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. As such now and then, my uncle and I would go to those churches without permission. We went because we found more enjoyment there than at our usual church.
Saved by God’s Grace and Free Ministry Training at CLI
My mother died when I was in high school. After high school, I did some courses with WBS. I found console in the messages from the scriptures. My knowledge of God grew, and I then met a certain man who was a leader of the church in which I was later baptized. His name was Luckmore Liani, may his soul rest in peace. He made me realize that living without the Lord Jesus is not an option. Because Jesus loves us, we ought to reciprocate the love he has for mankind.
God has been good to me. I had nothing then, however, now I am blessed with a wife and four children. We all know Jesus is our Savior. I am hopeful that getting the courageous leader training at Christian Leaders Institute will equip me with confidence and competence. My spiritual dream is to spread the good news to the people in the area where I reside, especially since there is a language barrier. Apart from that, I think I can gain more understanding of how we can go about shepherding the sheep of the Lord. Thank you, CLI, for this opportunity to receive courageous leader training.
Learn about ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.
Ministry Training for Existing Pastor
Hello everyone.My name is actually Barend Christian de Wit but I am called Ian (being the last part of Christian)
I am 47 yaers old and lived in Kimberley.I have been married to a wonderful wife, Marieta , for 25 years. We have 2 beautiful sons,whom we treasure as gifts received from God.
During my teens and young adult years, I was a real rebel, causing my parents many grey hairs. Church and God , in particular was not very high on my priority list.
My wife fell pregnant in the last semester of her matric year. Not knowing what to do, I thought I would do the honourable thing and get married. The first few years of our marriage was really rough and the only time we would be in church was for either a wedding or a funeral. . Or finances up to this point was really good and we lived a wealthy life style. By the more we got, the further we grew from God in our lives.But we were brought back to earth and reality with a real bang as everything suddenly started to fell apart. My vehicle broke down and,because I used my vehicle to do my work as a debt collector. I started loosing the one contract after another.
Guys doing reposessions was on my doorstep nearly everyday.It came to a point where we lost everything and had to move in with my parents in law.I felt like a complete failure as a provider,spouse and father. I had no one to blame but myself for our situation. But somewhere in my mind I came to the realization that I had to get out of this terrible situation and get back on my feet. With money borrowed from my father in law,I started a small food stall. At first it was quite a struggle,but as days went by, I actually started to show some profit, As it was quite lonely I started to read my army issued Bible for the very first time, I started feeling a change in me.We even started going to church and family cells. We were actually really happy for the first time in our lives.But that was all about to change. On 21 May 2001 as I was crossing the road, on my way to my stall, I was hit by a vehcle and flew 40 metres through the air. I was immediately rused to the hospital where my wife and family members were called and told to come as they werre not sure how long I have to live,
I remembered opening my one eye as my other was a mess of blood and skin, and saw my wife crying. I tried to comfort her saying that everything would be all right and all that she must do is to pray for my recovery.I suffered severe breaking of my right leg in 12 places, my arm in 6. I lost the sight out of the corner of my right eye and was informed that I would never walk again. I was in and out of the ICU. During that time I had a real encounter with God where I made a solomn promise that if I was given another chance I would serve Him with all in me.Well it is now 18 years later and I have kept my promise. Though they told me I would never walked again and being pushed on a wheelchair out of hospital after 71 days in ICU. I am jogging and playing tennis.
In September of 2001 in me and my wife gave our hearts to the Lord and we were baptized as born again children of God.
There was this constant urge inside us to do more and more.
In 2008 my desire to serve the Lord was put to the test. I was asked to take over as preacher at the Bushmen congregation near our town. Being a person not able to speak in front of others, I tried the Moses trick saying that I am weak with words and not a good spokesman. Our Pastor told me that if God brings you to a situation, He will provide the means to take you through it. On that Sunday morning I preached a full sermon for 3 hours without any hesitation or stuttering and as they say the rest is history. In 2015 I started praying to God to give me a place of worship in our community, to make it easy for people battling with transport, to get to church. Well the Lord provided us with a beautiful building, chairs and an amazing sound system and we were all set.In September 2015 I started a small congregation, under the wing of the big church with 11 people.The desire to serve the Lord was toxic and pretty soon we started to experience growth
Currently we are between 40 and 50 attending the church. Every service is an occasion where we invite the Holy spirit to fill the building as we pray for sickness, for provision but most of all to thank the Lord for His love and provision.
I knew that the Lord had called me to service, but there was no need to study, but thanks to Christian Leaders I am now able to fulfill my dream and desire to be in His service permanantly