My name is Emma, I am from Melbourne, Australia.
I lived with my parents and one year older sister growing up and all 3 abused me. I spent most of my time alone and crying out to God to take me home to be with him. I always had an understanding that He existed and that my home was with Him, although consciously, I didn’t have a relationship with Him.
When I was 32 years old, I took my own life through overdose. The doctors told a loved one that “IF” I wake up, I will be a vegetable and to expect it. I did wake up, and I am not a vegetable… although my IQ did fall from 141 to 110 which, at times, was difficult to accept.
On December 3rd, 2006 at 9:03am during a time management lecture in a business seminar in Orlando, Florida I met Jesus.
I was daydreaming and remember thinking I wanted what the speaker (Dani Johnson) had. In an instant, God gave me the revelation that Jesus is God, that Jesus is alive and He is living in me. Suddenly I was on the edge of my seat, restless, and wanting to stand up and cry out that Jesus Christ is alive, that He is God and that He just saved me!! At the end of the day Dani asked for (business) testimonials so I put my hand up. I walked onto the stage, she gave me the microphone and then I proceeded to tell the 800 people in the room my testimony of what happened that morning. Dani started bawling as did many others. Dani had been praying for my salvation since she first met me 3 months earlier in Australia.
It was exceedingly tough the first few years of my walk. After having been on the receiving end of abuse for the vast majority of my life, God had begun to heal my heart of the pain of my past… He took me out of the world for five solid years. No secular tv, no job, no magazines, no radio, just the Bible and GOD TV. He took care of my finances for the whole five years. The day my financial support was to end, was also the day I started a job that I’m still in today.
God has called me to Missions. I have been on three missions trips in recent years. His favourite thing to do on my mission trips are weather miracles. BIG weather miracles. Last year in Mongolia at the tail end of the season, the river was half thawed, I told the tour guide that when we wake up in the morning there will be a centimetre of ground cover (snow) as far as the eye can see. She asked me how I knew. I told her that I am a Christian and that I had asked God for it because I really wanted to experience it. She thought I was a bit loopy. I woke up in the morning and there it was, one centimetre of ground cover… I measured it haha I then entered the host Ger and without missing a beat told the tour guide with a big smile on my face “I told you that my God is powerful and answers prayers.” She, with a smile on her face, told me she was in the middle of telling the hosts all about what my God had done for me. Gers in Mongolia also house shrines to their god which is Buddha. We left that day and as we drove, it continued to snow. God provided over and above when He answered my prayer. This is one of a few weather miracles God has performed.
At this point, doing this course is so I can study the Word of God in a more formal setting which will bring me closer to God. God has His plans for why He is leading me to do this.
Small Group Leader Journey
Hello, my name is Matthew G. Stickney, and I am on a small group leader journey. I was born in Oregon in 1980. We moved to Missouri in 1982 and have been here ever since. The most common nickname that is given to the area I live in is called the Bible Belt. Ministry in the USA has become fun and exciting. Jesus is good and ministry is good, and there will always be people that need to be reached.
Throughout my life, I tested the boundaries and pled with God to show me a sign or even just take over my life. It wasn’t until 2015 when I heard the call of Jesus. His voice took over my thoughts and this overwhelming feeling of joy hit me as I heard a voice say, “Here I am.” I began to feel different as my heart was moved to new heights. I was baptized this year and am moving on my journey to follow Jesus. In 2016, I joined a men’s ministry at Evangel Temple. At this group, I read, studied, and heard Jesus calling me to use my strengths and drive to pursue ministry on my small group leader journey.
My ministry dream is to bring men of all ages back to becoming leaders that can walk their faith openly with their families. Jesus is the ultimate example of how men should act and behave. Families are as distant as ever as technology continues to advance in children’s lives. I wish to help men become better men using the example and model of Jesus himself.
The getting started class at Christian Leaders Insitute has helped me to strengthen my faith and walk with the Lord by bringing back devotional time to my family. I will continue to see the Lord through talking, listening, and devotion. This class has helped me see the gaps in my current walk.
I most identify as a Small Group Leader, as I have been called to lead men on their journey to follow our Lord. My calling has pulled me to help men be better leaders of their families. With comfort, application, worshiping, discussing, and a little adventure, I believe that the Lord has given me the opportunity to reach families.
The church I currently call home has been a place of worship in my family for more than 25 years. I was walked away at an early age by my own doing and left with the thought that there was more in the world. To be called back to the church of my Grandparents is a blessing as we have been part of this church before and it feels like home. I hope to reach a greater number of men here. I have joined a security ministry and become one of the leaders in this group.
Free ministry training at CLI Is most important as I am unable to afford ministry training at a regular college or university. My training in the recent years since I have been called has been through books, prayer, and my local ministers at church. Until now, I felt that receiving a quality education in ministry was only a dream. Then one day, God lead me to Christian Leaders Institute. With God’s help and this training, I can fulfill my calling.
Learn about local ecuministry ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.