Purpose Filled Women
I am a 32-year-old entrepreneur from London, Ontario and I am called to lead purpose filled women. I was raised in a Roman Catholic family, with strong morals and values instilled in me from a young age. However, I never felt I had a real relationship with the Lord. After going down my own path, I found myself empty, bankrupt and divorced when I was 27. I surrendered my life to the Lord in November of 2014. Since then he has delivered me in so many ways. I have been married to my wonderful husband, Curtis for two years and we look forward to a lifetime and eternity together. He is my best friend and my biggest source of encouragement. I have been completely transformed physically, mentally and emotionally by God’s work in my life over the last five years.
My ministry dream is to help women know God, love themselves, and find a holistic way of living that includes God, healthy eating, and fitness. I have a marketing and graphic design background and have my own small business. I also have my personal training certification. I am excited to begin my Women’s Ministry Certification with Christian Leaders Institute. I believe my calling is to help women who have past pains from relationships with men to bring healing through a real relationship with God. From this foundation, my dream is that these purpose filled women will also improve their health, nutrition, fitness and overall wellness.
This class has completely affirmed that I have heard God’s call to ministry. As I was reading through the material, I was able to relate to it and hope to help other’s apply it to their lives as I have applied it to my own.
I identify most with Pastor, as I have many experiences where people have come to me for advice, confided in me and sought support due to me sharing my painful past experiences. I feel this is part of God’s calling on my life. A key experience that prompted me to pursue ministry is the work that God has done to transform my exterior appearance (60 lb weight loss) after he transformed my interior (heart). This has encouraged me to examine my current career and if it is in line with the purpose God has for me.
Some unique challenges in my geographic area include people struggling with their relationships; whether it be with themselves, their spouse, their family, etc. God is missing in most family households and even Christians may not be walking with God. I feel with my skill set with technology that I will be able to reach most of the world with God’s message… thanks to the internet!
Reading my Bible daily is something that I have just recently implemented. I can open up my Bible and really feel God speaking to me through the story/verse/circumstance. I used to struggle with application and understanding, but as I grow in my relationship with God, I can really hear his voice when I prioritize the time to engage with him in prayer and reading.
I met with my pastor at Gateway Church here in London at the beginning of November 2017. I’d just finished up a course he taught on Spiritual Gifts. He encouraged me to take a Christian Life Coaching course through Lombardi as well as brought up Bible College as a suitable path for me once I explained my ministry dream to him.
My husband and in-laws have been extremely encouraging to me in following my ministry calling. They have watched me deepen my relationship with God, and have seen him transform me inside and out over the last four years.
I believe a scholarship at CLI will help me to deepen my faith, and to be a confidant to struggling women. My passion is to help women by introducing them to God and a relationship with him and also helping them discover their purpose. Then as purpose filled women for the Lord, helping them implement self-care exercise through nutrition and fitness. I strongly believe being certified through CLI will give me the confidence to accomplish all of my goals.
Please pray for all of the broken women out there, walking in victim mentality, to be drawn to my experiences and find validation and understanding in knowing God. I ask God to help me to bring out the best in them, coach them to point them in the right direction, discover their purpose and walk with Him through life and not in their own strength. All in His name and to His glory.
Learn about Ordained minister study programs at Christian Leaders Alliance.
Outdoorsman Chaplain
My name is Ian Gould and I feel called to minister as an outdoorsman chaplain. I’m a bit wary and skeptical of things and scams on the internet, especially free offers. When I joined this course at Christian Leaders Institute, I was a bit skeptical. I’m not now. I can see the great benefits CLI provides in helping arm thousands of people from all backgrounds and cultures with the knowledge and confidence to help spread the word of God. I’m in Melbourne, Australia and was born into a Presbyterian family who for a number of reasons stopped going to church in my teens. I’m now in my 50’s and worship at an Anglican church.
My journey started a few years ago with seeing a movie about Martin Luther (“Luther”) which lead to reading some of his sermons (I especially like his sermon on Lent). More recently a book I was reading had a chapter on prayer that quoted from “The Message” Psalm 6 which struck a chord with me. I’d say this was my turning point. Like David, I spoke/prayed alone and out loud to God. Almost immediately things started to change for the better. It wasn’t just my attitude that changed. Good things happened. And then I started going to a local church.
Hunting is a predominantly masculine pursuit and men are under-represented in many churches. My dream is to be an outdoorsman chaplain. My dream is to help bring the word of God to men who hunt. Men who like the outdoors need God too.
I like to hunt and fish. I like to hunt my own food (sustainably and ethically and legally). To me being in the outdoors refreshes and renews my soul. Sleeping out in the bush and under the stars helps me appreciate the wonder and beauty of God’s works and to keep eternity in mind (in the city of Melbourne you can rarely ever see any stars). Hunting often requires many solitary hours, allowing for quiet reflection. Taking an animal’s life to eat, and respecting that life, reminds me of my own mortality. Saying grace over meat or fish I have killed has a deeper meaning for me than store-bought meat as I have seen the animal or fish it came from. I killed it. It died so I could eat.
I’ve contacted a number of denominations about reaching out to hunters and fishermen. In spite of shrinking congregations and fewer and fewer men, it’s clear to me they are not interested in reaching out to men (especially if they hunt). I have proposed that a part-time outdoorsman chaplain to hunting and shooting clubs and organizations would be a good way to begin to connect with these men. I’ve had rude responses. Hunting and shooting are not politically correct, and it seems to me the church leaders here are just not interested in anything not politically correct.
I think ordinary men are neglected by the church. Outreach programs to the poor and homeless are good, but in a welfare State like Australia, where single mothers on government benefits can afford to go to Thailand for a holiday (fact), how much extra material help is really needed? Where is the spiritual help? Where is there any attempt to reach ordinary men? Aren’t they in equally great need of knowing Jesus? Can’t the church do both, i.e. walk and chew gum, at the same time?
In my view, the church needs all types of leaders from all backgrounds. There are pastors from all backgrounds and cultures it seems, EXCEPT outdoor-type men. Men like me need God too. In the early 19th Century, the Rev Dr. John Flynn (Flynn of the Outback) was widely admired and respected for his work in the Bush, his portrait is on our $20 banknote. As a kid, one of my pastors played VFL (professional) football. Others were veterans. I could relate to them. But now I see very few church leaders that I can relate too and even fewer leaders who even want to know ordinary men like me.
I’d like to show by example to other Australian men that it’s okay to hunt and fish and to be a Christian. Where are the “fishers of men”? (Matt 4:19).
Learn about minister ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.