Educational Ministry Journey
My name is David West and I am on an educational ministry journey at Christian Leaders Institute. I am a single, divorced father currently working in the hospitality industry. Though I have four children, only my youngest daughter lives with me since all are over eighteen now. Over the years, I have spent much time in technology with various support roles as a volunteer in churches, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and the Red Cross.
Being the youngest of two children born into a Roman Catholic family, the church was initially a priority. After my parents divorced, we became more Christmas and Easter only members as I got older. The gap of faith grew in my life as I was questioning many things.
In my teen years, I fell away from the church when I saw a local church refuse to help a pregnant teen mother. Taking a path of many poor choices led me down a road that ended in the intensive care unit in the hospital and a total life change. Not too long after getting out of college, I was married but had a pulling to the Lord in the background that I did not follow. Around 1998, a friend gave me a copy of The Screwtape Letters that really engaged me. Thankfully, he did not stop there and mentored me until I came back to the faith.
Many trials and changes have come through the years. Moving from state to state, losing two children, several jobs but still stayed active in various church roles from Youth, VBS, sound, and general support. I have been drawn back to teaching again and again. Several times I have been placed and put into service unknown to me until that moment. God placed me at a Baptist church just prior to VBS week once. I was neither a member or had ever been before. There were not enough workers and I found myself leading the youth that week throughout the program. Later, I was running sound and service support in a Methodist church which allowed me to meet many people who taught me about real life. Work with homeless ministries, bereavement, and others expanded my understanding.
Now I am resuming my educational ministry journey to increase my ability to serve. Ministry is still going where I am sent since I am not sure yet of the end goal. I know that God has put me here for a purpose to serve. The further I dive into the word and study the program here at CLI, a reawaking is occurring in me. The scholarship and opportunity will allow growth for the sake of His kingdom.
Learn about minister ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.
Ministry Education Dream
My name is Linette Mitchell and I have a ministry education dream. I live on the East Coast of the United States of America. I came to know that Jesus was truly Lord and Savior a few weeks after my father passed away in 1999. He would tell me about Jesus and ask me to watch televangelists with him, and I would laugh and refuse. After I found him lifeless in bed and went through all the funeral arrangements, I found myself alone in his home (my childhood home) with my three girls. Scared and full of grief, I cried out, “I don’t want this life anymore… what do I do?” I was answered immediately, “Jesus!” I thought I was dreaming and I heard the voice again, “Jesus.” I dropped to the floor and said, “My Lord! You, Jesus, are real!” And that was the beginning of my walk with God. I was so rebellious, my friend said, “The Lord had to save you like Paul because I kept kicking against the pricks.”
My ministry dream or the vision the Lord has given me is my 28-year career as well as leading/mentoring for the Kingdom all tied together. I am working toward opening bakeries, which I have already investigated employee benefits, a peaceful and safe work environment, creating jobs for the underprivileged and continuing to serve our community. My husband and our 6 girls have been active in MBK Outreach (My Brother’s Keeper Outreach,) our family was lead by God to start this ministry, we serve the homeless community, work to keep our neighborhood safe and look for ways to build up the urban environment we live in.
The Christian Leaders Institute class thus far has blessed me in a way, I was not expecting. I am an ordained Pastor, unfortunately, I didn’t complete my seminary schooling. In my ministry education dream, I have been looking for years online for courses that would help me grow, stretch, rekindle the fire and walk closer with the Lord. Just these few introductory courses with CLI opened my eyes more, searched my heart, and reminded me why God called me to this walk in the first place. We all have a season where we need to be reminded, that it’s not in our own strength that we will finish this course, but by the Spirit of the Lord!
I identify with the word Pastor. The key experience in my life that prompted me to pursue ministry was the Lord reminding me of how my earthly father spent his last days trying to tell me about the Love of my Heavenly Father. The Lord used my father’s life and death to pull me close to him. The Lord moved me from my childhood home to an area that may not be considered a place many would have desired to move to, the neighborhood has a lot of vandalism, drug dealing, etc. going on. Yet the Lord has used us (my family) to look at the building up of the community through His eyes.
Reading the Word of God and seeing the power of the Holy Spirit in my life and those around me is something words can not explain. I know we all have a testimony, but I can not pick out just one miraculous event the Lord has done through His word for me. They are too numerous.
The scholarship at CLI is so important to my ministry dream and my ministry education dream because the desire to learn and grow in my relationship with the Lord is my main objective. We lead and mentor by example. In January the Lord led me to shut down my social media pages, I started fasting and praying. After my fast was over I came across CLI online. I believe this is the will of God for this season of my life. I feel blessed and thankful to be a part of this Spirit-led learning institution.
Learn about ordained minister study programs at Christian Leaders Alliance.
Chaplain Minister Journey
My name is Robert Martin and I am on a chaplain minister journey which has led me to Christian Leaders Institute. I came to know and accept the Lord Jesus Christ in 1982. I learned all I could about Jesus by reading his word. I am now living in Kennewick, WA, and I have received the call to be a Chaplain in the Hospital/Hospice setting. As a nurse, I did deal with a lot of hospice so I have some knowledge about what Hospice is and what it does. God called me to this ministry. It was just something I felt but prayed about it a long time before I accepted God’s calling. My father was an Assembly of God pastor for fifteen years after his retirement from the US NAVY as a chaplain, I had two uncles that were Pentecostal preachers, and one uncle who is a Chaplain. I guess I got the calling to follow my father’s and uncles steps after I prayed long and hard seeking God’s will before I took on the challenge of this chaplain minister journey.
The wait for me was 40 years. I am now 62, and just starting in my ministry courses here at CLI. I learned that it takes a long time, but that’s okay. I have good patience and I rely on the Lord for everything I do. I have devotion time daily, prayer time, time to just sit and be quiet and know that He is God, praise and worship, and my church family. God has shown me many things and has not once let me down. In fact, I followed God’s timing to do this course at Christian Leaders Institute. I wanted to make sure this was ABSOLUTELY 100%. I talked with my uncles, I talked with God a lot, and I mostly chatted with the Pastor of my church and asked his opinion of me becoming a chaplain. He and the associate pastor both felt that I had a calling to work in the Hospice/Hospital setting to spread God’s word and love to sick people and to pray for them. I’m learning that it’s not an easy job!! But, with God, ALL things are possible! Matthew 19:26.
I am a firm believer in God’s word, I pray every minute of every day when I am able to. I praise God and talk to him daily. Just giving thanks alone means a lot to our Savior!!! I have a long road ahead of me, but I can do this!! One step at a time, in God’s hands and his timing, I will do this. “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, faithful, putting me into the ministry!” (1 Timothy 1:12) Blessings!
Learn about minister ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.