Christian Ministry Education
I am Sherry J. McGregor and I am receiving my Christian ministry education at Christian Leaders Institute. I live in the United States. I am thankful that we are not only free to worship, but we also have many Christian based churches in my area and no matter where one is on Sunday, there is always a church nearby. I came to know the Lord in a way that is similar to many—a church service, conviction and the sinner’s prayer. Yet, it was many years before I found a church where I began to grow in the Spirit.
I am a Christian novelist and I believe that anything about God’s word or His principles that I use in my books must be accurate and lead people toward God. I also believe that if a person has a talent, they should use that gift to glorify God. Therefore, my books always have something that points toward God. My writing is also used in Christian columns and stories that I am blessed to put into two annual sections of a local newspaper. Through this, it has been emerging into a form of ministry. After joining Toastmasters International, it became apparent that I have speaking talent and that my heart was being drawn to teach God’s word. I believe that I may have something to offer to a women’s ministry. For both writing and a woman’s ministry, I need more knowledge and training through a Christian ministry education.
This class has taught me principles that I had not known before and even when I thought, “This really is not for me,” something kept pulling me forward—something inside me that kept telling me that I have to do this, I need to know more about God’s word. There was such a driving force that in three weeks, I finished the Getting Started Class.
I want to address those who have been shattered through domestic violence, who have been abused and who need the strength to heal. God is a major step in the healing process. I want to teach of God’s healing, and these abused women need God’s healing touch in many ways. Some may need salvation, while others just need to go through the steps of healing and to hold on to God to find a purpose, a feeling of acceptance and forgiveness, to have something to hold on to and to inspire them to grow and move forward.
If someone never connects to God’s word, they never grow toward ministry. I am glad to be able to learn more about God’s word and connecting to it at Christian Leaders Insitute. This will lead me to grow and I am hoping that in a chain reaction, I will have the skills to help others grow. My pastor’s wife encourages me, asks me questions to show her interest. My pastor always answers questions and encourages growth.
I need this education in God’s word to accomplish my heart’s desire to help others. To have the credibility to step out into a position to help women through a ministry, one needs a Christian ministry education as a foundation to build a successful ministry. People, churches or organizations want to know that the person they are asking to speak has the qualifications. Without such a foundation, I will not get far. Yet, with CLI’s help, I can help those shattered by domestic violence see that there is hope.
I ask for prayers for guidance, opportunity, longevity, understanding, discernment, wisdom, love, patience, kindness, and strength to stand strong. Also, prayer to follow God’s leading to go where He leads and to walk away from where He says to leave.
Learn about minister ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.
Family Ministry Journey
My name is Craig Zahniser and I am on a family ministry journey. My ministry is to share my belief in Christ Jesus with my family as it was shared with me. I came to know the Lord through the faith and example of my parents and grandparents and I feel led to pass that faith to my children and grandchildren. My grandfathers were very different men. One was a Methodist minister and one was a steel worker. Both men had a deep love and understanding of Jesus Christ and taught me about Him all through my childhood. My grandmothers were examples of Godly women who loved and served the Lord with all their hearts. My father is a very talented musician who at 83 years old still serves in the music ministry of his church and my mother up until her death was a relentless witness for Christ in word and deed to everyone she encountered.
Recently my oldest grandson Justin asked me to officiate at his upcoming wedding and I happily agreed. I began researching how to become ordained and it quickly became apparent to me that most of the organizations that provided online ordination had nothing to do with faith in Jesus Christ. For a fee, you can become a legally ordained minister of this or that and be able to perform a wedding ceremony but I would have to agree to be part of a group that did not believe in the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to do so. I absolutely could not and would not do that.
Even though I have believed in Jesus Christ since I was a child, I have not always set the best example for my family as was done for me. I believe the Lord is calling me to correct that on this family ministry journey of mine. I have 6 children, 19 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren most of whom will be present when I officiate at Justin and Allie’s wedding. I need them all to know how important faith in Jesus Christ is for their lives. I pray that they see through my actions in not taking the easy way of just paying for ordination but studying to become a Christian minister how much Jesus Christ means to me and how much I want the same for them. I don’t know what else the Lord would have me do once the wedding is over but I am open to doing His will whatever it may be.
Christian Leaders Institute has been very helpful in making me focus on what it means to minister to others and not focus solely on myself. I have for some time had a habit of daily Bible reading but I’m praying that through this ministry I will have the courage, compassion, and wisdom to share more about Jesus Christ with family and others around me. Please pray for me that my family understands the difference between being “spiritual” and the saving grace that comes from belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Thank you for this opportunity and may God bless you and this ministry.
Learn about minister ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.