Chaplain Ministry
I am Steve Russell from the United States living in Florida and I have a call to chaplain ministry. I found Jesus as I was volunteering at a Vacation Bible School (VBS), that led me to be baptized in the Gulf of Mexico.
My ministry dream is to be a chaplain in an ALF, nursing home, or the like. A place where I can share the Word and comfort people and where some will have a chance to find Jesus and be saved before passing on. Now I am here at Christian Leaders Institute to learn more about the sharing of God’s Word with more people in chaplain ministry. The Connections class at CLI has given me many tools already on strengthening my relationship with God, studying His Word, and sharing His Word.
While I was in VBS that year, I was freaking out about having to lead all these kids hollering around me, arguing and so on. I told my wife that my first year helping could be my last. On the last night, a note was left on my clipboard by one of the kids that stated how much he liked VBS and he thanked me and told me that he loves me. Jesus used this boy to reach in and touch me! I have worked with VBS three more times since then.
During a small group outing, we went to a nursing home and gave out cards and candy to the residents and talked and prayed with them. It was during this visit that I found my calling. Now I am working on getting approved to do this on a regular basis.
My church is going through a pastor change right now, so I am not certain about mentoring with the new pastor. But there are other pastors in the area that I have been using for a sounding board and mentoring.
CLI is aiding me in my ministry training for my chaplain ministry as well as for church training. Prayers for a clear mind and focus on completing the courses are needed for this ministry training.
Learn more about ordained minister study programs at Christian Leaders Alliance.
Salvation Army Officer
My name is Itoro Enang and I am a Salvation Army officer with a ministry dream. I was born on the 29th of August, 1970. I am Nigerian, but I live in Pointe Noire, The Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville). I have been here since the 23rd of December 2001, when I was transferred here. I am married to a wonderful woman, Ndifreke (NDI) and we have four wonderful kids.
On the eve of my first birthday, my parents separated, and my mother took me with her. I rejoined my father in 1977. At this time, my father was in between churches. I wouldn’t call him a Christian in the true sense of the word as he was also involved in some traditional practices. He eventually joined his father in the Salvation Army and rose to become the Corps Sergeant Major of my home Corps. That is how I became a Salvation Army officer too, along with my other siblings. My father gave his life to Christ and was an ardent believer when he died in 2007.
In my early years in the Salvation Army, I did not know that there was more to being a Christian than just going to church. In the 1980s, new churches sprang up everywhere in Nigeria, and preachers emphasized repentance, new birth, holiness, etc. Back then, we found them to be strange teachings, and the preachers were more radical and aggressive than what we were used to in what we called the “Orthodox” churches.
I made a commitment to give my life to Christ around 1989/1990, with a resolve to remain in the Salvation Army and preach to those who were like me. Since I could not further my education due to lack of funds, I got more involved in the church.
My walk with the Lord was not as straightforward as it could have been. During my various travels for work both within and outside the country, I found myself straying away, getting involved in sexual sins. But in all this, I did not forget the Lord. I still considered myself a born-again Christian and struggled to pray from time to time.
When I got married in 2003, I decided it was the time to return to God fully. By God’s grace, I overcame the power of sin and rededicated my life to God. Today, I am the Assistant Corps Sergeant Major in my local church. My role is to ensure the spiritual well-being of my members. I preach from time to time, and I lead the Corps Cadets class as well. I feel so fulfilled when people testify to the impact of the messages God communicates through me upon their lives.
My only handicap has been that I don’t have any sound Biblical training, such as what the Christian Leaders Institute is offering. I have really longed for it and I thank God for leading me to CLI. It meets my expectations for sound Biblical training and doctrine. It’s online, it’s free, and I am willing to donate whatever God places in my heart. The best part is the bi-vocational option.
I believe many people just attend church but do not really know God, or what it means to be a Christian. There are so many false teachings today flowing from very sophisticated sources, well-packaged and delivered to deceive the children of God. I feel I have a duty to teach the body of Christ so they will know the true gospel.
Learn about minister ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.
Legitimate Free Ministry Training
My name is Matthew A. Erwin and I am excited to receive legitimate free ministry training at CLI. I’m 31 years old, and I live in Seattle, WA. I am 6’2 with a very athletic frame and have a hearing disability. Seattle can be a rough place to minister, primarily to the homeless, and with that comes a certain stereotyping that falls on me, as some find me intimidating, as my inability to hear and respond to people and tendency to talk over them (unaware they are speaking) often gives that impression. I see so much spiritual sickness in the world and I know the cure–Jesus Christ–but have no ability to administer it. Through my prayers, it’s been made clear that the Lord wants me to wait for His time, not my own, so I am at ease knowing he is in control as I walk with Him and continue to grow.
I come from a mixed family. I’m the eldest sibling, having two younger brothers, Joseph (29) and William (13). My loving parents, after having Joseph and me, unfortunately, separated when I was 15 years of age. My mother had William with another man when I was 18 before separating from him as well shortly after. It was my three sets of grandparents that took me to church, introduced me to Jesus, and established my foundation in Christianity. On Christmas and my birthday, I would get the opportunity to see my Uncle Kevin, who all my life has been a father figure, mentor, and much-needed Christian influence. It wasn’t until I was 18 that I found and dedicated my life to Jesus Christ fully as Uncle Kevin introduced me to his church family at Family Life Center Church of God in Auburn, WA, including Pastor Paul Allison. I was I baptized by Pastor Allison in the White River.
Despite the brokenness of my parents’ marriage, I still hoped and prayed to be married one day. I was 24 when God answered that prayer with His most beautiful blessing on my life, Tashara. Five years after we met we married on February 28, 2015. We faced many obstacles, yet we still stand victorious today in love. I have learned patience, compassion, leadership, sacrifice, and forgiveness on a whole new level through our marriage covenant. My walk with God amplified to a new degree when I took Tashara’s hand. Through my shortcomings and overcomings, it brought about a confidence in my leadership and raised new questions I’d never asked about God’s plan for me and how He wants to utilize the gifts He’s given me to minister and mentor.
I felt that Jesus was calling to me to be a disciple, but dealt with so many obstacles. Having hearing and learning disabilities and being financially unable to get specialist doctors, hearing aids or schooling to aid them stalemated me for many years. How was I to hear people’s needs? How was I to remember all the material, names or testimonies? Who is going to be willing to listen to spiritual advice from someone who can’t even hear them or their needs? But this time I couldn’t get through half the list of things I couldn’t do on my own before God interceded and spoke the obvious to me: it’s Him. I’m not capable on my own; it’s all only possible through Him. It’s victory through struggle that reaps the most glory unto Him.
It wasn’t long after that revelation that my wife came across Christian Leaders Institute and enrolled. She was so excited and full of zeal. She shared everything about CLI: the operations, the mission, the website, the intro video, and the bios of the pastors. I was skeptical at first about how authentic it was. Was this legitimate free ministry training? After praying about it and upon my wife completing the “Getting Started” class, I knew it was the answer to my prayers. I can’t express how anxious I am to receive the knowledge CLI has to give, so I can fulfill God’s instruction to me to spread the Gospel!
Obtaining a degree in Divinity is vital to me. I feel it’s the next big step in my spiritual journey and a test of faith. It will bring my testimony to a new level and bring more glory to God by conquering and claiming victory over all the struggles I’ve faced through my walk in ministry. I’m so thankful to the donors and staff who help keep this program alive for people who can’t afford this level of training like myself. I hope to one day be in a financial position to be able to be a donor myself to this wonderful organization with its legitimate free ministry training. Thank you for taking the time to read my testimony and may God bless your life beyond your imagination as He has mine!
Learn about minister ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.