Educational Journey
My name is Amanda Stuckey and I am on an educational journey at Christian Leaders Institute. I am from Carterville, Missouri in the United States of America. I feel that being a Christian Leader where I live is a great thing for me and my community. I am able to share the gospel with those that may not have had the opportunity. I was raised in a United Methodist Church until I was old enough to move out. I bounced from church to church trying to find my home. I never felt wanted, loved, or even respected until I found my current church. I have known the Lord for several years but just recently opened my heart and mind to Him anew. I felt as if I strayed off the path, but I have realized that He is always there for me no matter what. My dream is to learn more about God and Jesus Christ. I hope to travel the world and help spread His message and love to people wherever God leads me.
I have struggled for several years with things that have happened in my past. So, when I finally opened my heart to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, He really showed me how I can change my life and get to know Him better. He has set me free. I hope to use my degree to strengthen my understanding of Jesus Christ and to help others. On my educational journey, I have struggled to find money to be able to obtain a degree. Then I found out that Christian Leaders Institute offers a scholarship and free classes. I knew I had found my school. Without Christian Leaders Institute, I would not be able to pursue my dreams.
Learn about ordained minister study programs at Christian Leaders Alliance.
Worship Leader
My name is Renee Hopper and I am studying to become an ordained worship leader. I currently live in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and am part of the Mustang, Oklahoma community. I am the worship leader at Freedom Fellowship Church in Mustang. I sing, play the keyboard, and am developing my skills as a songwriter. I am also a 3rd grade public school teacher in Mustang. I am a wife, mother of three amazing kids, and Nana to two beautiful grandbabies.
I was adopted by my grandparents when I was two years old. I grew up in the Assemblies of God and Non-Denominational churches. We attended church faithfully and were very involved with our church communities. I accepted Christ as my personal Savior at a Vacation Bible School in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma at the age of five. As soon as I was old enough, I began helping and serving at my church in the children’s programs, teaching kids in Sunday school and Missionettes, and leading them in praise and worship during children’s church. I was actively involved in girls’ choir, drama teams, a traveling puppet ministry, and church orchestra.
My heart for ministry started when I was very young. I can’t ever remember a time in my life that I didn’t have a song on my lips. As a young child, I couldn’t wait to find my friends on the playground or at church so we could get together and sing or play school. I started trying to play the piano when I was a toddler and learned a few things from my mom and sister in my younger years. I began taking piano and voice lessons at the age of 12 when I told my mom I might need these lessons in case I was going to marry a Pastor.
All through the years I have played the keyboard, led praise and worship, served on praise teams and in other areas of church ministry including Missionettes, teaching Sunday School, serving in Puppet Team Ministry, Drama Team, Orchestra – Keyboardist, Choir, Passion Play, Worship Team for Juvenile Detention Ministry, Children’s Church ministry, and Burn 24/7 – A city-wide worship and prayer outreach ministry. I have continued to follow my heart for ministry even through some very difficult setbacks and devastating times in my life. I have used these times to grow and strengthen my faith and trust in God.
I am very thankful for the opportunity to grow in ministry through Christian Leaders Institute. I am seeking ordination to continue on my path of becoming a Worship Pastor. I am also seeking education in the area of counseling to help my team as they become leaders, and to minister to others in our congregation and community. This opportunity for free online education is extremely valuable for me as I am recovering and rebuilding from a recent devastating financial crisis.
Learn about minister ordination with Christian Leaders Alliance.
Free Formal Christian Education
My name is Veronica Cordoba and I am receiving free formal Christian education at Christian Leaders Institute. I am originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I have been living in the United States since 2001. I was born and raised in a predominantly Roman Catholic society. I did all the right things in regards to tradition: baptism, communion, confirmation. Though I loved God and prayed to Him every day, I did not read the Bible. I still remember that God was very important to me at the time, but everything changed one night. I was 12 years old and I had a dream that I still vividly remember. It was the ocean and a big sun rising on the horizon getting bigger and bigger, and the sun became the face of Jesus saying to me: “ I want you to serve me.” After this experience, I woke up and I remember saying: “No, I want to get married and have a family.” Because I was Catholic, the only way I understood serving God was by becoming a nun and I didn’t want that. So, I remember saying No to Jesus at 12 years old and living my life my way … which ended up in a divorce in 2008 while living in the USA.
In 2008, I remember one Sunday coming out of Catholic mass with my son and looking at the sky and saying: “God, I really want to know you. There must be something else, please show me!” It was an honest cry from my heart (obviously the Holy Spirit was doing His job already). In a matter of weeks, the Lord surrounded me with Christian friends and people who introduced me to my first Bible Study and a ministry that teaches theology to women. I became very passionate about the Word of God and got into theology and apologetics. I also discovered my teaching gift. My transformation started the moment I opened up the pages of the Bible and was exposed to His Word. I can say that I got born again at the end of 2009 and my son and I started a journey of walking with the Lord through some tops and many valleys.
During my years as a born-again Christian, I have tried many times to get a formal Christian education or some kind of certificate. But every time I attempted it, I would lose my job and financial needs arose that would keep me from pursuing it. I believe in education, and I myself hold some professional licenses. So I am so glad I found Christian Leaders Institute! I can receive a free formal Christian education at CLI.
At 12 years old, I said no to Jesus. At 50, I say YES to Him and to whatever He has in store for me. God bless Christian Leaders Institute!
Learn about ordained minister study programs at Christian Leaders Alliance.