Minister Calling
Greetings to my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. My name is Chuck Smith and I have a minister calling. I currently reside in the State of Arizona in the United States of America. I am 43 years old and have 3 teenage children. Although I feel I have known the Lord my entire life, I have not always listened to Him. I have had my bouts with drug addiction and other selfish behaviors, but God was always there when I would call out to Him. I was baptized with water in 1996 and baptized by the Holy Spirit in 1998 although I didn’t know it at the time.
I had been praying earnestly to speak in tongues while at a Bible study. The next thing I knew, I was speaking in tongues and could not control it. I remember trying to stop my mouth and couldn’t. Then I thought to myself that if this is God, why am I trying to stop. As soon as I quit trying to stop my mouth, I quit speaking in tongues. Although that experience has never repeated itself, it was quite the experience. I have contemplated going into ministry many times during my life and always let fear get in the way (fear of teaching something wrong or fear that I wasn’t good enough, holy enough, pure enough, well you get the idea).
For the last few years, I had pretty much given up on doing anything with my life. I was over 40 and working at a gas station. Then I stumbled across an ad for Christian Leaders Institute while on Facebook and something quickened inside me. I clicked on the ad and prayed about this site and whether or not I should enroll. I was unsure of this whole “free and internet-based schooling” thing. I was led to enrolling at CLI, and although the sessions seemed a bit quirky to me, I felt God telling me to stay with it; that this is what He wanted.
As I went through the class and reflected, God reminded me of numerous times He had called me to be a Pastor (shepherd of His people). There was a time about 7 years ago that a group of people was praying and one of them spoke over me prophesying about my life, but I didn’t give it much thought. Another time, a missionary from Micaiah Ministries that I had seen speak a few times (but never really spoke to personally more than 5 minutes at a time) was having lunch with my local church and asked me why I wasn’t a pastor yet. He remembered me from about 2 years prior to this meeting when I had seen him at a different church in a different town. The specifics of what he said elude me today, but that question has not. That question has hung in my head ever since. I was working at a gas station at the time and was also looking for other employment. That’s when, while praying, I heard God telling me multiple times that I would not find better employment because until I submit to his will, I am basically stuck here (at the gas station).
I also around this time went for a walk to pray and read the Bible. While at my spot reading and praying, I felt God asking me the same thing he asked Peter about loving Him and feeding His sheep. I remember feeling shamed, hurt, and convicted all at the same time. I came to understand at that point that I had a minister calling on my life. I was to be a pastor and am a pastor to those that God places in my life.
Unfortunately, slowly the fire died and I allowed the cares of this world to stunt my growth and therefore my effectiveness for the Kingdom. Then while taking the class at CLI, and doubting my minister calling yet again, God reminded me of these times. He also brought forth the scripture about everything being proven by two or more witnesses – well, I had four, plus God bringing to mind that passage. I now truly feel that regardless of my shortcomings, I have no choice but to obey. Since CLI is generosity-driven and you can work at your own pace, it is the perfect tool for me. CLI gives me flexibility for my time and resources. I know that CLI will help me to learn and grow as a Christian, father, spouse, and friend. CLI will equip me to be a better shepherd while alleviating some of my aforementioned fears. I know not where my journey will lead, but I know that I am in God’s hands. For now, He has me at CLI preparing for what is ahead.
Learn about local ecuministry ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.
Spirit Filled Ministry
My name is Peggy Oatis Flynn (recently married) and I am called to Spirit filled ministry. I reside in Tennessee in the United States of America. It is a joy to minister in the USA because you are free to teach the Word of God without being persecuted. I am an ordained minister and over the years have been a Sunday School Superintendent and an Assistant Pastor.
I was introduced to the Lord from birth. All of my family on both sides, biological and adopted parents, belonged to the apostolic church. I grew up playing the tambourine and praising God in the church. I strayed away from the church when I grew up and thought I could make it without God on my side. But, of course, that all changed over time.
My ministry dream is to bring back the power of the Holy Ghost filling the church – a Spirit filled ministry. I want to see people saved and wanting the fullness of Christ. I believe in true holiness and nothing else. My favorite scripture is in Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.” I believe in seeking God first for all things and everything else will fall into place.
This first class at Christian Leaders Institute has truly been a blessing to me. I have learned so much in so little time. The videos and the readings have truly inspired me to continue pursuing this degree. I love the fact that it is online and I can do it at my own pace, which is fast. It is my dream to share an undiluted Gospel with the world.
There are two words that I identify with that is Pastor and Church Planter. I am constantly getting ideas about how a church should be and how to bring others to the forefront of ministry. I am working on how to start my own church and where. I will go where God sends me. If it is in my home city, then I will do it. If he sends me to another city I will go.
I had a very bad breakup in a relationship before I was called into ministry. I believe it was God’s way of getting my attention. That test was the hardest I had ever faced. But thanks to a man of God that labored with me and taught me who I was, I began to bounce back from a dark place and now I am shining like a star in Christ. I went back to my “first love”. Out of this heart-wrenching experience, I found a Spirit filled ministry calling.
There are some great challenges in my area and the main one is poverty. The poverty level is very high. People attend church, but many do not attend church for various reasons. The one reason I find is that people complain about the pastors begging for money, and they say they will not support a ministry. I want to change that attitude because giving is a part of the ministry and a building up of faith in God that He is the provider.
My local church is very supportive of women in ministry. I have a pastor who loves to assist in any way that he can. His wife is also in ministry and they are very supportive. My family is very supportive of my calling also, especially my mother and husband. My mother is an evangelist and plays a big role in counseling me and mentoring me. My children and other family members are supportive as well.
A scholarship at CLI would help with my dream of one day obtaining a doctorate in ministry. I love the fact that I can take the classes and then at the end receive my degree. It’s truly a blessing to have such a program online.
Learn about minister ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.
Gospel Ministry Calling
My name is Rouvaun Joubert and I have a Gospel ministry calling! I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a sinful man fearing God. A believer that through Christ Jesus I am saved and not of my own accomplishments, but through His love and grace. I am a small business owner, a blessed father of three, and the husband of the most beautiful woman.
I was born in 1988 and grew up in a fairly religious family. From a young age, I thought that I was a believer and a Christian. My beliefs were of a worldly view about what Christianity is and because of this distorted mindset, I fell into the jaws of sin. I never truly gave my life to Jesus Christ, until now. Now I strive to do God’s will, worship God Almighty, through the perfect example of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Most of my life I sat through sermon after sermon, hearing a message about the gospel, never really hearing or getting the TRUE message about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And THIS is the calling to ministry I received to share the Gospel and bring the true meaning of Christianity to all. God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, calls me to share the ONE true gospel.
I can not tell exactly when I received this conviction, but it’s burning in me like a raging fire to ensure that people hear how lukewarm their Christianity truly is and that we all need to repent and turn away from sin.
I was a sinful, arrogant man that served only my own agendas and selfish wants. I spent the money and resources that God gave me, to manage for His will, on worldly sins and the god of self. In 2016, God intervened and humbled me before Him. God took away all monetary and materialistic gods in my life, which I served above Him. I fought with God for more than a year until I couldn’t fight anymore. That is when Jesus spoke to me and told me to repent, to turn away from sin and share His Word. Biblical devotion is the only way, through Jesus Christ (John 14:15).
I came across Christian Leaders Institute in February of 2018 and I truly believe that the Holy Spirit led me to start this journey of ministry training here with CLI.
Learn about local ecuministry ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.