Free Ministry Study Opportunity
Blessings to all at Christian Leaders Institute and thank you for this ministry study opportunity! My name is Lisa Picon. I am a wife, mother, and Grandmother. I reside in Lubbock, Texas, USA, and have for most of my life. My family moved here when I was very young in 1973. Although, I did not grow up in the church. I learned some about God. I knew of God as I grew up. There was never a relationship with Him. We attended the Catholic Church on special holidays, baptisms, weddings, and funerals.
I came to the Lord at a revival. I was 18 years old. Invited to the Baptist Church revival, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior there. Wow! I never before experienced what I did that night. My life changed forever. I cannot explain it. However, now I had a joy and a hunger to know Him more. I could not put the Bible down as I kept reading. Only this time, I actually understood it.
As the years went by, I went through some major trials. My husband abandoned me and my daughters for another woman. I was left to raise them on my own. I struggled and lost my closeness with God. Many mistakes were made in my life. Yet, God never gave up on me. I came back to the Lord, and to God be all the glory!
Renewal with God and Free Ministry Study Opportunity
Now, I hold prayer meetings at my home every other Saturday. I receiving instructions to do this by the Holy Spirit through prophetic word and confirmation. My pastors are my mentors. I am blessed to see the way that God moves among the people with salvation, healings, and deliverance. I love to witness wherever and with whomever the Lord leads me. He has done much for me. I want Him to use me.
However, my pastor mentioned CLI to me for free ministry training. And I jumped on this opportunity. I have a hunger to know more and a desire to increase in the knowledge of God’s word. Then I will be able to present it to people correctly. That it is free is a blessing to me. And, I believe in giving back to help others. I pray that this ministry will help others in leadership as well. May the Lord bless CLI. Thank you for this ministry study opportunity.
Learn about ordained minister study programs at Christian Leaders Alliance.
Chaplain Ministry Calling
My name is William Craig Ward, and I have a Chaplain ministry calling on my life. People call me Craig. I am from the United States currently residing in Crossville, Tennessee. There are many churches in the county where I live. Most are small, but a few are large. My ministry is in its beginning stages, but I am getting to know several other ministers in my area. I am working on becoming a certified Chaplain in order to help in the chaplain program at my local hospital.
Early Life
I was born in Pontiac, Michigan, where I lived until I was nine years old with my parents and older brother. While living there, I was picked on quite a bit and developed a bad attitude toward people. I preferred my family for company. I was bused way across town to a school that I hated. Even though my family and I went to church every week, I didn’t know much about God or Jesus. With the way things were in my life, I felt like God didn’t care about me. One evening at a youth and children’s service, we heard about the misery and torment of hell. This teaching got my attention, and at the age of eight, I accepted Christ. However, I wasn’t sure what that meant. But, I knew that I did not want to spend eternity in hell.
My family moved to Rockwood, Tennessee, when I was nine years old. As the new kid, I was tested. I got into several fights and again began to feel as though God abandoned me. As I grew older, I experienced many temptations and fell away from Christ. Even though I prayed, I didn’t have much of a relationship with Christ through high school. Most of my prayers were selfish, and I felt alone except around my family.
Paramedic Training and Career
After graduating from high school in 1983, I enrolled in the local college and began studying criminal justice, but never finished my degree. I felt like my college expense was a burden on my parents. So, I quit school and began working at an auto dealership. Later, I became bored there, and a friend who was a paramedic talked me into giving that a try. In 1986, I became a certified Emergency Medical Technician, and then in 1990, I became a licensed paramedic. I saw much injury, sickness, and death during my 21-year career in EMS. Also
During this time, I was tempted by smoking, drugs, alcohol, and sex. I managed to resist the first three. Sadly, I was not 4 for 4. I met a lot of women in that line of work, and I succumbed to the temptation. In December of 1987 just before Christmas, I was critically injured after being hit by an intoxicated driver. Thirteen days of my life gone with no memory whatsoever. I woke up, in the hospital on Christmas Eve not knowing what happened. I blamed God even though I was lucky to be alive and still did not return to Christ. Six months later, I returned to work and then finished paramedic training. I was married from 1989 to 1993 and had one son from that marriage.
In 1997, while responding to an automobile accident, my ambulance was struck in the side by a vehicle at an intersection. I received only minor injuries but was unable to work for a couple of weeks. This injury was just after a break up with my girlfriend, whom I had hoped to marry. Again I blamed God and refused to return to Christ.
New Career and Chaplain Ministry Calling
In 2008 after 21 years as a paramedic, I was forced to leave that career due to back injuries and constant pain. I realized that after 21 years I had nothing to show for what I experienced. Again, I blamed God and refused to return to Christ. I had to decide on a second career, and in August of 2008, I became a Licensed Private Investigator. At this time, I was invited to visit a friend’s church and accepted the invite. I was rejuvenated in Christ. God became real again and I reaccepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. I was on fire for the Lord!
In August of 2018, while sitting in my church worship service, the Lord spoke to me and told me it was time for me to minister to others. I became ordained through a ministry in Washington after taking their ordained minister course and then started my ministry that is still in the developing stage.
My training through Christian Leaders Institute will help me to minister to patients and staff in the local hospital. I am taking courses to receive the Chaplain Certificate in response to my Chaplain ministry calling from God. Free training is excellent for me since I am unable to attend a traditional college and can not afford the tuition or receive any grants or loans. Thank you, CLI. God bless you all!
Learn about ordained minister study programs at Christian Leaders Alliance.
Free Ministry Education Dream
My name is Rebecca Lynn Swindle, and I have a free ministry education dream. I live in Mobile, Alabama, USA. It is on my heart to share my testimony that brought me to Christ and why I have chosen to go into Ministry. Growing up was rough for me; I am from Florida and a former Foster Care child. I always knew of my adoption. There was a strain between my adopted family and me, and we never saw eye to eye. I never felt loved or welcomed into the family. Their oldest son molested me from age five to age 14. Therefore, I ran away from their home at age 14 feeling that I could do a much better job of protecting myself if I didn’t live there.
Before I left my adoptive home, I walked to a bridge to end my life. Because my adopted family couldn’t love me or protect me when it mattered, I was broken and lost. I remember having both feet over, and all I had left to do was let go with my hands. But then, a voice came over and said, “What makes their lives worth so much more than yours? You are loved and not alone.” So, trusting in God and not in my pain, I climbed back over the side of that bridge and chose life and faith instead. At that moment I knew God indeed had a purpose for my life. The state of Florida eventually found out I was not living with the family. They placed me in protective custody until I turned 18. But I never lost sight of God’s plan for my life since then.
God’s Plan for Me
Through all of this heartache, pain, and loneliness, God never left me. He gave me the strength to go from that home, so, terrified and broken, I took that leap of faith. God brought me to a young man, and unbeknownst to me at the time, this young man would become my husband. God provided me with a safe and loving home, with this amazing husband and father of my children.
I chose the ministry and looked for free ministry training online. Christian Leaders Institute with their free ministry training is a blessing in my free ministry education dream. Through the ministry training classes, I hope to deepen my walk with God and to stay grounded in my faith and commitment to him. I hope someday to help others who have gone through the same pain as I have to find their way to God. I want God to use me to help others find their purpose in Him again. Your greatest ministry comes from your greatest pain, and I have gratitude that He saved my life.
Learn about minister ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.