Broken and Divorced Now Doing Ministry Training
Hello and thank you for taking the time to read my story. My name is Michael Hucal III and I am from the United States of America. My walk with Christ, much like many people, is one of many ups and downs. I was fortunate enough to be raised in a Christian home and gave my life to Christ at the age of 12.
I do not think at that time I realized what I was doing or what would happen as a result. Many years later in my adult life I got baptized of my own free will in a lake at a church I was attending. I remember the day as if it were yesterday. It was 68 degrees that morning the water was ice cold. I waded out off of the shore to the pastors who were waiting for me. I remember going under the water and when I came back up there was a warmth about me I could not explain. Steam was rolling off my body and it was the first time I think I grasped what it meant to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
The journey that would follow would be one of many many trials. My wife took another job, leaving a six-figure income behind to work for a non-for-profit. I was crushed because it meant the dream job of running my own photography business would have to come to an end. I sat in the middle of an empty studio with tears running down my face and asked God to show me something I could love as much as I loved that place. The fact I said that to Him showed my level of spiritual immaturity. I later realized I had created an idol before him. But, God in all His grace, allowed me to land a part-time job working for the very church I was baptized in. Not only did He orchestrate that, but I also landed in the care ministry department working with some of the most broken people I had ever known. I worked with those going through divorces. I worked with those coming off of drug problems, and even some still struggling. I worked with grieving families after the loss of loved ones, and I learned how to be a servant. That road and that small journey changed my life. I was on fire to become a pastor. I wanted to continue that education and do something with it. I began to preach at local men’s shelters. My family and I helped feed the poor during various holidays. I was on the path to fulfilling a dream I did not even know I had.
There were many events that took place over the next few years. Unfortunately, I did not have the proper support network and my passion to go into full-time ministry was fading. I had failed to realize at that point that it was not my job to do it on my own, or in my own timing, it was God’s job to fulfill on His timing. The enemy attacked harder and harder and I missed all the signs that my marriage was falling apart. When my life at home became unbearable, I walked out of my marriage. I could not reach out for help due to the shame I was feeling.
After that was all done I heard the still small dark voice telling me I would never be in ministry again. If that were not bad enough, the new church I was serving at revoked my ordination and did everything they could to tell others of my decision to end my marriage. I went through a very dark time in my life and the next three years were the hardest I had ever done.
In a desperation prayer for God to just remove me from this world I heard a small voice say “No, even in this, I can use you” I only could get two words out through my tears and I said “Show me” There has been a long journey of healing and restoration. I have seen what it looks like to be among the broken, and I have felt what it feels like to need a savior when all felt lost. My passion is very direct this time around and despite everyone telling me I will never be a pastor at my age, I push forward. I do so this time with mentors, proper training, and the understanding of what God has called all of us to do. I push forward with my journey because I, of all people, know what it feels like to receive grace and get a fresh new start, and an eternal blessing. We serve an amazing God and despite where you find yourself, He is right there with arms wide open waiting for you to say “show me” Trust me, I know.
Ministry Training for Volunteer Women Chaplain serving Female Inmates
My name is Cheri Jordan. I’ve lived in South Carolina most of my life. The South is the “Bible Belt” so I grew up hearing about Jesus, but not knowing anything about a relationship with Him. I grew up in an extremely abusive environment. I was the oldest child and quickly learned to take on the role of protector and provider. My early years taught me not to trust in people or in love. I only say this now because it had a profound impact on the way I related with Christ later.
I was tossed around among foster homes and was living on my own by the time I was eighteen. With very little to my name and limited resources, I often went to bed hungry. That’s when I discovered that a nearby church offered free dinner on Wednesday night. I cared very little about the service that followed. I just wanted the free food. Out of kindness and respect, though, I stayed for the service. The church filled my empty stomach and slowly began to feed my soul as well. I no longer went just for the food. I began to hunger and thirst for more knowledge of God.
As I began to develop relationships at the church, the people there began inviting me to more events. More events meant more food. Later that year, I was invited to a weekend conference with the women of the church. I decided to tag along. While there, I heard a woman named Dorie Van Stone speak and her story changed my life. She came from a background of abuse and abandonment and was convinced that no one, especially God, could ever love her. Her story was a mirror reflection of what I had gone through and believed about myself. She talked about the power of God’s love in a way that made sense to me and I gave my life to Christ that weekend.
I wish I could say that I became a model Christian after that. I certainly tried and that was my problem. It became about “works” for me. Because of the way I was raised, I was convinced that love was something that could be easily taken away so I spent years trying to earn and keep God’s love. I know I was very much saved during this time, but I wasn’t experiencing freedom in Christ. I spent years in bondage.
I went on to marry and have four kids. We brought them up in church and I taught Sunday School, youth group, and led children’s Christian theatre. I taught Bible studies, had daily devotions, home schooled my children, and the perception to others was that I was living the good Christian life. But I was still miserable inside. I had so much hurt and anger from the past and memories that I could not deal with. I finally came to the point that I told God He needed to help me deal with it and expose the pain before it ate me alive. I said, “Whatever You have to do, just help me be free.” Ha, ha, be careful what you ask for.
My life turned upside down. People often say that things tend to get worse before they get better and that was certainly true in my case. As I began going to counseling, I was overcome by memories and grief. Instead of allowing God to help me deal with the pain, I tried so many wrong methods; the wrong counselors, the wrong medication, the wrong everything. I began to cling to people to help me get through but people disappoint. I finally decided to give up. I decided that healing just wasn’t going to be part of my story. Instead, I got involved in a new ministry and tried to pour myself into that to keep my mind off the pain. I began going to our local jail and serving the incarcerated women there. That was the very place that God began His work of restoration on me.
In the jail system I met so many women who had stories just like mine. They came from abuse, poverty, hopelessness, and had a hard time trusting love. I began pouring into them the love of God and the hope of His word and, in turn, God was pouring the same thing into me. What I discovered was that while I helped others heal, God was healing me. The local jail became a sanctuary for me and a place of restoration.
As a result of ministering in the jail, I became involved in a local non-profit agency and am now working with them. We reach out to incarcerated women, develop relationships with them, and help them upon their release from jail to write a new story for their lives. I have become passionate about this work and am now living a free life in Christ as a result.
I am pursuing classes with CLI because I want to become trained in chaplaincy. I have been approached at the jail about becoming a female chaplain. The thought terrified me at first, but now, I know it is part of God’s calling on my life. I want to be better trained and equipped for the job. I know that God has prepared my heart and He has allowed certain experiences in my life in order to equip me for this work, but I need more practical training. I so appreciate the free courses that are offered through CLI. I would not be able to do it otherwise. I’m still a mom of four and they are my priority, but kids are expensive especially as they approach college age! Most of my income is invested back into them and there is very little left for mom to pursue her dreams. CLI is making that possible for me.
Christian Leaders Warrior
My name is Sekai Machekano, and I am a Christian Leaders Warrior studying ministry training at CLI. I was born on the 19th of July 1986 I’m from Zimbabwe but based in the United Republic of Tanzania. I grew up in a family of seven children being the 6th child. As we grew up, I had many challenges spiritually. I was superstitious. For example, I was afraid of a chicken. My mother told me that one night when we were asleep I shouted that a chicken wanted to bite me. It affected me so that I ended up hating even the meat of chicken up until I got saved. I also had health challenges as I was a premature baby, but our God is faithful. I say Ebenezer – “this far he has taken me.”
Early Church Life as a Christian Leaders Warrior
I grew up in the Salvation Army church, and at an early age, I’d play the tambourine and sing in the choir. Being very young at that time, I wouldn’t miss Sunday school or any church activities including camp meetings. Somewhere, somehow, I felt there’s something upon me. I couldn’t figure out what it was exactly. I enjoyed singing and praying. Then, I joined the Scripture Union at school. There we learned the Word of God and how to pray. I didn’t face many obstacles in school. But in high school, there was peer pressure of course. However, I conquered it with the Lord always by my side.
God Stood With Me Through It All
When I was pregnant with my first child someone told me I would give birth to a rat. I knew it was not normal, but it was now a battle and I was a Christian leaders warrior. God stood with me. I delivered a bouncy baby girl. Then, I knew I had only God to depend on. Years later was diagnosed with diabetes. I knew again only God is what I needed to pull through. God was so real to me when I entered the operation room for the first time. It was a matter of life and death, and He stood with me.
After I made the decision of joining a Pentecostal church where I’m currently serving, a lot of things changed. I will only depend on God. This Christian Leaders Institute training will help me to bring more souls to Christ as a Christian Leaders warrior. I want to help others who might also be hesitating to accept the call of God.
Learn about ordination with Christian Leaders Alliance.