Effective Ministry Training
My name is Richard Stearn and I am receiving effective ministry training at Christian Leaders Institute. I live in South Africa. There is a strong Christian culture in South Africa but unfortunately, many people who associate themselves as Christians aren’t truly born again and do not live in a true vibrant relationship with God. We have strong vibrant churches in South Africa with many passionate believers, but there are also many unsaved people that still need to encounter Christ as Saviour and Lord. And there are many people in churches who still need to grow in their realization of Who God is, so that they will grow in hunger and passion for Him.
I was raised by a Christian mother and had been exposed to the things of God at an early age. One day when I was somewhere between the age of 8-10 years old, I was on my own at our house and watching a televised church service. When the pastor ended his service and came to the altar call, I felt a stirring in my spirit and made my decision for Christ. I told my mom immediately when she came home. It’s been more than 20 years now, and I was too young to fully realize the significance of that day, so I didn’t take note of the date but I know with great certainty that on that day I met with God and He met with me. On that day, the greatest and most important journey of my life started. One that is still continuing. I had much to learn and to grow into. I’ve made mistakes along the way and faced many challenges, but through it all, God has been faithful and kept me close to Him.
I love God and I love what He is doing in and through the church. I feel especially passionate about the local church and believers growing to know and experience God more. My ministry dream is to serve God passionately and faithfully as He leads me. This has been by serving in the local church and that is where my passion is. My hope is to continue to be a part of God’s work in and through the church. I want people to get to know and experience the real and living God who can transform their lives like He did mine. I also want people to see the amazing revelations in God’s Word, to marvel at it as I have, and that it draws them closer to Him.
This Getting Started class at Christian Leaders Institute has challenged me and reminded me to always remember that effective and healthy ministry comes from a healthy and vibrant relationship with God. I know this, but in the busyness of life and the excitement of ministry, it becomes easy to get caught up in the things that are going on and to not put God first.
I serve and lead in various areas in my local church and enjoy all of them. Primarily, I see myself as a servant of God and want to be willing and ready to answer His call to do whatever, whenever. The two key areas of service for me at this time, though, are serving as an elder and as a member of the youth team.
My local church, Rhema South Coast Family Church, has been amazing in helping me to heal and grow in the things of God. When I started attending the church at age 21, I was a scared, broken mess. Although I’d been saved at a young age and walked with God and experienced Him in many amazing ways, there had been many storms in my family and other areas of my life. They left me broken, but God started challenging me to attend church and led me to RSCFC. It was at RSCFC that a process of healing and strengthening began. The amazing people there, especially the pastor, have encouraged and helped me in countless ways. They gave me opportunities to serve and lead. They taught and trained and corrected. They opened up opportunities for further training and growth. It is through RSCFC that I was encouraged to try CLI for effective ministry training.
A scholarship at CLI for effective ministry training will help me to develop new skills to serve God and to help others more effectively.
Learn about minister ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.
Called Ministry Education
My name is Charlotte McColl and I am receiving called ministry education at CLI. I live in Canada on Vancouver Island. I am originally from the U.K. The LORD has always known of me and I of him. It would be wrong not to confess to having denied him in my life for a time. I was adopted as a child and whilst I attended church and was baptized, I struggled with my reality. I felt great moral injury at having been separated from my roots. The reality, I understand now, was a test given to me by God. My walk with God was a fevered one. One where I requested much and gave very little in return. I struggled and I believed during my struggle that he did not show himself.
Some years ago, I changed and moved. I came to see other people’s struggles. I began to use the knowledge gained through life to help and to encourage others. But it was only when God answered my prayer and gave me a son that I truly saw, his goodness, his forgiveness, his love. I saw finally that he had never abandoned me, that it was his LOVE that had gotten me here. It was then that I saw him. Now I am consciously aware of the need to tell others that they are not alone and that through his love, through letting him in, they can find strength.
The first class at CLI has not been easy. There were parts I struggled with and it would have been easy to feel discouraged. But I am not looking for the easy road. The class has allowed me to focus further on my goals and to take note of the need to read the Bible daily. I most identify with the word Evangelist because it was an evangelistic church that brought me back and encouraged me to be all I could be in Christ.
The challenges I will face will be becoming more connected in my community and engaging more openly in conversation about God. I recently moved away from Edmonton due to the -30 weather which did not suit my British bones. The church I attended was very encouraging and supportive of me and my family. I miss them greatly. However, I am beginning to connect to my local church.
It is my hope to use my scholarship at Christian Leaders Institute to delve deeper into the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ our Savior and pass on what I learn to others. I recently applied to work at a center for the homeless. I feel that it would be a great advantage to study the Bible to help bring knowledge and encouragement to them. In time, I also hope to go further in my called ministry education and to minister.
Please pray for every man and woman who finds themselves, for whatever reason, outside tonight or any other. Pray that God gives them strength, hope, and friendship. That He leads them to shelter.
Learn about ordained minister study programs at Christian Leaders Alliance.