Free Christian Leader Classes
My name is Gabrielle Marie Sipes and I am receiving free Christian leader classes at Christian Leaders Institute. I am from Greenfield, Missouri. It is wonderful to be a Christian leader. Being a Sunday school teacher means I have the teens and younger children that look up to me. Even living in a small town you have drugs and teen pregnancies and a lot of other stuff. I didn’t ever think that I would have younger children looking up to me but it makes me feel like their big sister if that makes sense. I want them to know that they can always come and talk to me about anything and everything, no matter what it is.
My childhood was troubled. I grew up in Iowa with my mom and whatever guy she was with. I didn’t know who my real dad was until the age of ten. Growing up, my mom stole and lied in front of me so I thought that was the right thing to do. I ended up in several programs and being sent away for awhile. I even ended up in foster care for a couple of months. When I was ten, I moved in with my dad. That situation was not any better. It was a mental and physically abusive situation. He used us kids as slaves and always had a new girl over every week. He was a person who read the Bible but didn’t follow it. I didn’t really believe in God until I got a little older.
Even though my childhood was hard, I have fixed the relationship with my mother and kind of with my father. I feel like I have faced a lot of obstacles. There was a time when I was depressed and suicidal and I cut myself. I thought God had abandoned me, but slowly I fought the depression on my own and stopped cutting. I turned to Jesus and He helped me through my family life. The abuse never stopped. The women my dad married made sure of that.
When I moved here to Missouri, I felt I might know peace with my husband Jake. I believe that God put him in my life to help me get out of a bad situation. That is when I realized I wanted to strengthen my relationship with God. I got re-baptized at the age of 19 by my own choice. I became a Sunday School teacher and that is when I really felt the presence of God. My husband has helped me through so much and so has God.
I started taking Christian Leaders Institute free Christian leader classes for a few different reasons. One, to expand my knowledge of God, and two, because I feel like this school will help me on my spiritual journey as a Christian leader. I always like learning new things and this school has a lot of things to teach. When I am in my church is when I feel the most connected with God, but I want that connection all the time and I feel that CLI will help me with that. Expanding my knowledge of God will also help when we decide to have children. I cannot wait to see what is in store for me at CLI.
Learn about minister ordination with Christian Leaders Alliance.
Bible College Classes
My name is David Kohen and I am taking free Bible college classes at Christian Leaders Institute. I am originally from Israel, but I currently live in Ghana. I was adopted by a Christian family who raised me. Therefore, I grew up in a Christian home. I was surrounded by God and the church from the very beginning. Even though I was raised in a Christian home, I just followed through the motions of doing “Christian things” that I thought I was supposed to do. I didn’t know Him, I just knew about Him.
I found myself searching for purpose and meaning in people and also in myself. Whether that was through my friends or relationships, I poured my whole heart into them. I also became very fixated on myself and my image. I became very consumed with what people thought of me and was living for the acceptance of the world.
At my lowest point when I was alone and afraid, God drew me to Himself. From growing up in a Christian home, I knew what to do. I knew that He could save me if I just let Him. I confessed that I am a sinner and that I was trying to find life in other people and myself. I acknowledged that He sent Jesus to die on the cross so that I can be saved from my sin and have eternal life. I committed to living for God instead of others.
Since knowing Him, God showed me that being a “Christian” isn’t about just doing good works. He made it clear that I do not have to earn my salvation or His love (Eph. 2:8-9). He has given me fulfillment and purpose and joy. I am not perfect and I still mess up, but God loves me despite my flaws and imperfections. And where the things I was pursuing before continually let me down, God has never once left me or let me down. He has shown Himself to me in His Word, the Bible. God loved me even at my lowest point and He rescued me from myself and eternal separation from Him. I am thankful that God has led me to Christian Leaders Institute for free Bible college classes to learn more about Him and so I can better serve Him in His kingdom.
Learn about minister ordination with Christian Leaders Alliance.
Ministry Calling Dream
My name is Leonette Saayman and I have a ministry calling dream to bring God’s word to the people. I live on the South-Coast of South Africa. Probably the most beautiful part of the country. I am married to the most amazing man God chose for me and we have two brilliant teenage boys.
I grew up in a Christian”religious” home with battles to fight daily. My mother and stepfather went to church on a monthly basis, but I would walk to church if it was possible. We moved around a lot so at times it wasn’t possible to get to church, but my Bible study was important to me. In grade 11, I volunteered in the grade 2 Sunday School class. Wow, what a journey! They had me caught up in their little busy hands! It was a real wake-up call to me!
Ever since I have had a ministry calling dream to teach the word of God to the ones in need of knowledge, however, my self-esteem got the better of me. I always looked at my disadvantages from a point of not-good-enough. I first had to find out exactly what God saw in me. It was a life’s journey… the opportunities never arose and I gave up on that dream.
About 9 years ago, my husband and I joined the local church in the new town where God purposely moved us. It was a new experience with praise and worship, praying in heavenly languages, baptism, and everything that goes with it. It was a revival of my spirit. Then at my first home cell meeting, an elder of the church prophesied over me from an open Bible, even knowing that I am shy, that I will bring the Word of God to people.
Now that was unexpected but turned my vision back to my ministry calling dream where it was previously. The church we attend is so amazing and supportive, with good values and solid doctrine. Our pastor is a man that leads and guides God’s sheep, a faithful shepherd and God-fearing man, who gives good advice and support and sets a true example. We have grown through the word of God and have volunteered wherever we could.
We (my husband and I) are fully devoted to our church as elders. Our sons are honoring God for the calling He has on their young lives, and they attend a brilliant school away from home in a boarding establishment in Durban on the north coast. We support each other the best we can, and are always connected in Christ and our precious Holy Spirit. Due to the school fees and expenses, we chose to lay a firm foundation for our boys and their future. I am a florist and my husband is in construction, and the funds first are for them right now. So we will proceed with our calling once they’re settled.
Now, we praise God for the opportunity at Christian Leaders Institute, to make God’s perfect will come to pass and to see His plans and purposes for our ministry calling dream in our lives. This causes us to study and grow into the very persons God intended us to become. With no parents alive anymore to support us, except for a mother-in-law, there would not be a possibility to study to grow as God’s disciples as He intended. CLI made this possible and we give God all glory and honor. We pray daily for CLI and the people that make this free ministry training possible. I experience God’s divine direction in my life and His glory every day as I grow in knowledge and in His Word.
Thank you, CLI, for being the vessels of God, to enable me to carry the correct information and knowledge of love and grace to others in my season.
Learn about minister ordination with Christian Leaders Alliance.