Mentoring Pastor Training
I am 42 years old. I am receiving mentoring pastor training at Christian Leaders Institute. I am a mother of 8 children (6 girls and 2 boys). I was born and raised in the south but decided to move further north in 2012. I come from a long line of ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a little girl, I attended a church that was founded and pastored by my grandfather. After my grandfather’s death, my mother became the pastor and worked spreading the gospel until her death in 2016. Through my family, I thought that I knew everything that I needed to know about God. In my late twenties, I realized the importance of developing a personal relationship with God for myself. My struggle to know the difference between religious practices and having a relationship with God encouraged me to want to see others walk in liberty. My local church has supported me by recognizing the calling on my life and mentoring me. They are allowing me to exercise this calling through hands-on ministry.
My ministry dreams and goals are to be a messenger of Jesus Christ capable of reaching the lost and strengthening other believers. To not only be a witness and deliverer of His word but to understand the importance of rightly dividing the word of truth. I want to be able to stand as an equipped and mature believer. I want to be ready to serve in any area the Holy Spirit calls me to. The scholarship from Christian Leaders Institute makes available the necessary ministry training. This training has strengthened my personal walk with God. It gives me practical truths and tools needed for ministry and mentoring others. This class has reminded me of how to live for God intentionally. I have a more in-depth understanding of how to develop a closer relationship with God. The training provides practical tools for sustaining that relationship and growing in biblical knowledge.
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Church Planting Pastor
My name is Greg and I feel called to be a church planting pastor. I currently live near Raleigh, North Carolina in the United States of America. This is a fairly Christian nation. This state is much more Christian than my home state of California. People are more open to talking about Jesus and scripture. This area is considered part of the “Bible belt”, a religious region of the United States. There are many churches in this area from many different denominations.
I came to know the Lord through my wife, Megan. I did not consider myself to be a Christian before I met her. Her love for Jesus and the prayers and influence of her family helped me to understand the reality of who Jesus is. I was somewhat opposed to the idea of Christ prior to meeting Megan. I just didn’t understand. My own misconceptions blinded me to the ways Christ was already affecting my life.
My ministry dream is to start a church in this area. The county I live in has a great number of churches, but still has a great number of people that do not attend a church. I believe that these people are waiting for a church that will help them to feel loved and accepted by Christ. They’ve been judged and feel cast out. They need to know the truth, just like I did.
This class at Christian Leaders Institute has had a remarkable influence on my walk with God. It has renewed my determination to know Him more and share His love with those around me. I think I would most likely identify myself as a Church Planting Pastor at this time. My goal is to plant a church, but I don’t see myself planting more after this one is established.
After I finished serving in the United States Navy, my wife and I felt called to leave California and move to North Carolina. We sold everything to follow His call. We weren’t sure what we were going to do here, but we trusted that it was big. As we settled into life out here, I began drawing closer to God. I felt a clear calling to start a church. It was difficult to leave our church in California. We love the Pastor and his family. We love his message of honest grace. A message of hope, life, and truth. I believe that spreading this message is why God sent me and my family to North Carolina.
Even though this is a Christian region of the United States, there are still challenges to starting a church. There are a lot of churches in this area. I don’t anticipate this being a competition. We are all a part of the body of Christ. Beyond that, the people I am trying to reach aren’t going to those churches anyway. This area does have problems with drug use and poverty. It’s not as bad as it is in other parts of the state, but it is happening here. The people will need a lot of help, guidance, and care to follow Christ and leave those issues behind.
Connecting to the Bible has transformed my life and ministry immensely. The more I dig into the word, the more clearly I see His grace. It’s everywhere. I can’t keep myself from sharing this truth. My local church has been a great help. I am currently involved with a solid group of men to help others with addictions. This church understands that there are men and women who need help and need to know who they are in Christ.
My family will be a huge part of this church planting pastor ministry dream. They will be uniquely involved. My wife is ready to be a co-pastor. My children will show others the grace they know. They will also face the scrutiny that comes with being a part of the pastor’s family. I believe they will do well.
This training is incredibly valuable for my ministry dream. Without CLI, I doubt I would be able to attend any form of seminary training. My dream would probably die. Please pray for this dream of mine. Pray that I stay focused on completing this training. Pray that God would prepare the hearts of the men and women He sent me to reach. Pray that He would open doors to planting this church.
Learn about ordained minister study programs at Christian Leaders Alliance.
Ministry Education Training
My name is Melissa Blankenship and I am receiving ministry education training at CLI. I am a single mother of two wonderful young adults. My son is 18 his name is Justin. I also have a daughter Savannah and she is 17. I have been to college a few times but withdrew because I didn’t feel psychology was for me. I completed nursing school but also felt that was not my calling.
When I was younger I can remember going to V.B.S with my Uncle Eddie. There was a memory verse contest and I was the winner. I won my first Bible. It had pink flowers on the cover with white lace around the edges. Written on the front in white paint was “Jesus loves you”. I don’t recall much of my childhood, but one day I sat outside under my window. I was crying really hard to Jesus. I can’t remember what was wrong or what I was asking but I believe at that moment is when God heard me and I was saved. I didn’t read the Bible much. I did not think the Lord was speaking to me. I just prayed at night and believed in Jesus.
At 30 years old, I became a meth addict. That’s when the Lord really revealed himself to me. He set me free when I called out to him. I began reading my Bible and leaning on him. He led me to Christian Leaders Institute. Christian Leaders Institute will give me the ministry education training and credits I need to have a degree to be able to become what the Lord has called me to be. I believe if a person is anointed by God to do his will, the way will be taken care of. Now I begin my journey serving the Lord with all my heart, soul and mind. My past experience opens up a world of evangelism to people like me. An area of life the world has forgotten about or writes off as junkies. Jesus said he came to set the captives free, to call sinners to repentance. The Lord said he heals all things and the devil is a liar. With my education and training from Christian Leaders Institute, Satan’s lies and schemes will be exposed. God says that anyone who calls upon Him shall be saved. Now it’s time to spread his word to the lost and forgotten. Thank God he will never leave nor forsake anyone! Praise The Lord!!
Learn about minister ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.