God bless you, in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! My name is Fred R. Wilson, III. Born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina, I currently reside in Chesapeake, Virginia. Further, I am thankful for the tuition-free biblical ministry courses at the Christian Leaders Institute.
Early Encounters with God
Born into sin, I experienced God in my life at the early age of ten. As a young boy, God revealed himself to me in many ways. Around the age of eleven, there was a school bus driver who parked his bus not far from my bedroom window. I used to hear the bus as it departed and arrived back. One cold morning, the driver had difficulty starting the bus. As it was still early in the morning, the more he attempted to get the bus started, the more irritated I got. I then said in my head, “God, if you are real, make that bus start.” On the bus driver’s next attempt, the bus started, and I have believed in God since!
Generational Legacy
I come from a family of ministers and deacons. My grandfather was a deacon, and my father now serves as a minister. I officially received Christ into my life in 1988 at my place of employment. I asked Christ into my life after living in sin and seeing family members and friends die at an early age.
Tuition-Free Biblical Ministry Courses at CLI
In 1989, I joined the Navy. While serving on active duty, I assisted chaplains as a volunteer leader. During my many deployments, I taught Bible study classes and sang in the choir and men’s choir. After the required training, I served as a deacon at my local church. As a deacon, I serve communion, teach, and learn the Word of God, to name a few. I’ve volunteered to help raise money for many fund-raising events, including feeding the homeless.
The Christian Leaders Institute has opened my spiritual eyes. Thank you for these ministry and biblical courses. I have new goals and new horizons as I continue to walk with God and carry out His plan for my life!
Faithfulness Amid Imperfection
By no means am I perfect, but even when I am faithless, God remains faithful. I am still growing in Christ and patiently awaiting His next assignment. God bless!
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling you in the Getting Started Class at the Christian Leaders Learning Platform. The Getting Started class will take you less than an hour to complete.
When you log in to the Learning Platform, you will notice that the Getting Started Class automatically appears on your dashboard.
The Getting Started Class will orientate you to the Christian Leaders Learning Platform and the Programs offered, including:
- Ministry Awards, Certificates, Diplomas, and Degrees with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- Minister Credentialling (Ordination) with the Christian Leaders Alliance, including local Soul Center registration possibilities.
Note: You can enroll in tuition-free courses or mini-courses immediately without finishing the getting started class.
Find out more about women in ministry here.
Good day, everyone. I am Amalia Agbulos Servando, a mother of four boys and a student at the Christian Leaders Institute. The opportunity to study Bible and ministry at CLI is a beautiful gift for me at this time in my life.
My husband is a seaman, and we live a good and peaceful life here in the Philippines. The Lord is very good to us. He allowed my children to finish school without any problem. Three of my children graduated with a bachelor’s in marine transportation at the Philippine Maritime Institute. The youngest graduated with a bachelor’s in air transportation/aeronautics at PATTS College of Aeronautics. That is a big thanks to our LORD and Savior, who tirelessly guides our family.
All my children have their own families now, and they have given us cute, intelligent grandchildren. I pray my children will have a personal relationship with our Father in Heaven and that the Father will guide and bless them in their married life. Also, I pray that He will keep everyone in my family from harm, especially my husband and children, who are often onboard international ships at sea.
My Journey with Our LORD
I met and found our Lord when I was in high school. I attended a Christian fellowship with a classmate, Jesus is Lord Fellowship. At a young age, I met Him and accepted him as my Savior and Lord. I became busy with many things when I finished college with a BS in accounting at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in 1988. I came to a point where I could no longer attend the fellowship due to lack of time. However, I never missed reading my Bible and praying at night before and after bed. My life was not easy when I got married and had children, especially with my husband at sea. It came to the point that I had to sacrifice my career to care for our children.
The Great Opportunity to Study Bible and Ministry at CLI
In October of 2023, someone called me. They knew my name and asked me to be an officer in our homeowner’s association. That someone became a friend. She believes in Jesus and is part of POM – Patotoo Online Ministry. Interested, I watched the daily devotion online and became part of it under the leadership of Pastor Erwin Noriega. It is through the POM ministry that I found the Christian Leaders Institute.
Being with CLI, I enjoy free Christian learning. Further, I am a student again, a scholar. A week of my free study program here also brings much joy to my heart. I finished my first course, the Christian Basics: Introduction to Christian Doctrine, and a short course in Multiplying Christian Leaders. I am working on my second 3 credit course, The Christian Leaders Connection, and a short course, Ministry Calling and Confidence.
CLI gives me the competence and confidence I need. I learned the importance of my walk with God, my marriage, and my family’s walk with Him. Furthermore, this learning makes me a better example for anyone: people I know in our community and the people looking at how our family is doing. Thanks to the Father and CLI for this excellent opportunity to study the Bible and Ministry!
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling you in the Getting Started Class at the Christian Leaders Learning Platform. The Getting Started class will take you less than an hour to complete.
When you log in to the Learning Platform, you will notice that the Getting Started Class automatically appears on your dashboard.
The Getting Started Class will orientate you to the Christian Leaders Learning Platform and the Programs offered, including:
- Ministry Awards, Certificates, Diplomas, and Degrees with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- Minister Credentialling (Ordination) with the Christian Leaders Alliance, including local Soul Center registration possibilities.
Note: You can enroll in tuition-free courses or mini-courses immediately without finishing the getting started class.
Find out more about women in ministry here.
My name is Sebastian Franitza, and I’m from Kansas City, Missouri. I recently moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to follow God’s calling for my life’s career and ministry. Over the past few years, God completely changed my life and showed me things I never thought possible. I am also studying at the Christian Leaders Institute for the Field Minister training.
My Journey
Since I was a child, I was an avid shortwave listener and electronics hobbyist. I was fascinated with electronics as far back as I can recall. I began building basic circuits, radios, and transmitting equipment in the 3rd and 4th grades. The local Radio Shack became my favorite hangout spot. My passion for radio and electronics grew throughout my teenage years, and I got my first Amateur Radio license when I was 15.
I grew up in a Christian household and made a profession of faith at the age of 9. However, I did not fully dedicate my life to Christ until years later while attending college at DeVry. The idea of working in Christian Radio was a long-time passion of mine. However, my college and career choices did not initially reflect this calling.
Spiritual Growth
As a young and immature believer, I did things my way. Despite this, every job experience God placed in my path contributed to my current calling somehow. Things began to happen when I prayerfully surrendered to God’s calling for my life. After much prayer and meditation, I heard from God that this was my chosen direction. In obedience, I am stepping out in faith to accept God’s calling. A calling that He had laid on my heart long ago.
I currently work as an engineer for an extensive Christian radio network and oversee several Indiana/Ohio/Michigan stations. In my travels, I have gotten into many spiritual discussions with strangers who need encouragement. I also felt the calling to become an ordained minister for a while now. In a recent conversation with a gentleman in a hotel lobby, he asked if I was a minister. Shocked at first, I didn’t know what to say. So I shook my head and said, “No, just a follower of Christ.” It hit me right then! God wants me to be more and to “study to show myself approved.”
Field Minister Training at CLI
My three most vital spiritual gifts are exhortation, prophecy, and discernment. I am a willing student. However, I need to be sharpened before I can be effective. I see myself as becoming an official lay pastor. I am interested in the Field Minister training program here at the Christian Leaders Institute. Part of what interested me was that I could take classes for free online and earn credits towards a pastoral degree in my spare time. I already see that the resources here are invaluable in this endeavor, especially since my schedule does not allow me to attend a traditional seminary.
God has called me to preach and encourage believers and non-believers alike. He has called me to evangelize and share His good news.
I will likely write more about this later, but to do so would require me to write a book. Yes, God may be calling me to write a few books. I can’t wait to see where all of this is going. I must trust Him and the visions and dreams He has given me these past few years. They are from Him because the daily scripture I read constantly affirms that they are His messages and directions for my life. Other believers in my life also affirm them during our times of fellowship!
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling you in the Getting Started Class at the Christian Leaders Learning Platform. The Getting Started class will take you less than an hour to complete.
When you log in to the Learning Platform, you will notice that the Getting Started Class automatically appears on your dashboard.
The Getting Started Class will orientate you to the Christian Leaders Learning Platform and the Programs offered, including:
- Ministry Awards, Certificates, Diplomas, and Degrees with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- Minister Credentialling (Ordination) with the Christian Leaders Alliance, including local Soul Center registration possibilities.
Note: You can enroll in tuition-free courses or mini-courses immediately without finishing the getting started class.
Find out more about women in ministry here.