Deacon Ministry Call
I am Shelby Weissgerber and I have a deacon ministry call on my life. I currently live in the state of Ohio in the USA. I grew up in a military family and have had the opportunity to live in several different states. I moved to Ohio in 2008 and have chosen to make it my home. I find it to be a family-friendly area where we are free to raise our children in the church of our choosing and set forth Christian principles and goals for our family.
As a child growing up in upstate New York, my family did not attend church. I had a deep desire to go to Sunday services and often tagged along with friends who participated in regular church services. I became actively involved in a youth group and volunteered to serve others whenever I had the chance. I frequented the local shelters and soup kitchens to serve wherever there was a need. I still have a great passion for helping others which is key to my deacon ministry call. I am currently working on starting a new ministry that involves providing the homeless with counseling and shelter along with basic necessities.
My dream would be to continue to grow in my walk with the Lord. I desire to find new ways to help others and reach those who have not yet had the seed of faith planted in them. Taking this course has helped me make spiritual connections between my aspirations and my God-given drive. I want to continue my work for the Lord in my deacon ministry call. I feel that continuing my education through Christian Leaders Institute will allow me to do this.
I personally identify the most with the title of Youth Leader. I currently work in a church child care facility that ministers to youth in an inner-city setting. The children that I work with daily have been removed from their homes because of drug use and exposure. Teaching these children to turn to Jesus can often be difficult when they don’t understand what’s going on within their families. They are scared and confused and wondering where their parents are. Often they have never received the word of God before so I get the privilege of introducing it to them!
I have faced my own struggles and have been saved by the grace of God. After going through a bad marriage and a worse divorce and struggling with dependency and depression, I learned that I can do nothing without God. Everything I am is because of Him. If I can help just one person because of my trials and turn them toward God and His word, I will feel as though what I have gone through was worth it.
I don’t think I would be here today if it weren’t for Jesus. I want to share and spread that to those who have fallen into depression and despair. There is hope. Things can change. The Bible has taught me that God’s love is unconditional. He forgives and so should we. My own pastor has worked closely as a mentor to me and I am working with our church to help build a shelter for homelessness and recovery in our city.
My children are young, 6 years old and 6 months old. My daughter, 6, already has such a love for God and shares His word with everyone. She has taught me how to have a loving heart and bring joy to others. She reads her Bible to her baby brother daily. My husband is supportive and volunteers his time and trade skills to help construct or fix whatever our buildings need. I am truly blessed with an amazing family that God has given me to show me all about true love and how wonderful it is!
A scholarship from Christian Leaders Institute means the ability to grow in my faith and ministry when I would otherwise be unable to do so. As someone who is employed by a Christian organization, I do not make a lot of money. Obviously, I do what I do for the calling, not for the income. Without this scholarship, I would not be able to afford to continue my education. I would appreciate prayers for the opening, growth and community impact of the homeless shelter we are working so hard to open. Thank you!
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Spiritual Warrior Training
My name is Micah Shumate and I am receiving spiritual warrior training so that I make take my stand in God’s army. I am from Texas in the USA. I’m 27 years old, a father of a seven-year-old son and married to an absolutely beautiful, strong woman. This is my second marriage. I have struggled with this and only recently came to an understanding after much prayer and searching. I KNOW I am forgiven for this sin. This forgiveness is from the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
After I graduated high school, I began a career in medicine as a nurse’s aide. Then I moved forward with my EMT to be a paramedic. As a paramedic, I was moved by God to help several individuals and families. But as we all know, this world is full of sin and soon the evil and hatred seen on a daily basis among everyday people caused me to become cold and distant from those that loved me. This, in turn, drove me away from my walk with my Father. Soon my life spiraled out of control and poor decisions were made. Before I knew it, I was a part-time father and no longer a husband. It has taken the entire time since my divorce to come to terms with my own responsibility in the failure of my first marriage.
I have renewed my faith in the Lord my Savior and am staying on the path of salvation that is laid out in the Word of God. I read and study the Bible on a daily basis. I do this in the hope of growing in my spiritual warrior training, my walk with God, and having answers for others I meet that may need a friend to help them through difficult times and decisions. The ministry training classes at Christian Leaders Institute will also equip me for sharing the good news with others. I now have a job which is still in medicine that allows me to have a family life and not cause distance in my relationships. I am fully aware that Satan will attack, but I will be armed with the Word of God and the love of God. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-11)
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Pastor Dream
My name is Janet Turner and I have a pastor dream from God. I was born in the USA in the 70’s. There was a church on every corner and Christianity was very accessible. However, I never went to church as a young child. My mother worked three jobs to raise the five children she had. I came to be introduced to Christ when I was 11 years old and visiting my aunt’s house as I did every summer. My cousin had become a church bus kid. So while I was there I started attending as well. I was saved and baptized that summer and I felt the Holy Spirit very present in my life. I remember saying to myself that I have got to share this news with my friends back home and my siblings. When I went home, no one wanted to hear me, and in fact, they made fun of me. Days turned into weeks and weeks turned to months and the bad influence of my brothers and my friends made a distant light to my new found religion.
In my late teens, I was invited to church by a friend and the Holy Spirit was prompting me that service. He placed in my heart that I needed to turn back to God and He was going to use me as a spiritual leader. Well, my friend became my husband and we had three girls. We became very involved in the church for several years. We filled positions in the church such as Sunday school teacher, youth leaders, choir, etc. Then my husband had an affair and the devil destroyed our family. I never gave up my faith and continued my walk and raising the girls in a biblical way.
For many years now, I have been a director of a Christian school and have felt a calling to do more. My dream is to be a Pastor! I want to preach God’s Word to the world as I fulfill this pastor dream and call. When I’ve had to fill in for the chapel, the teachers get excited and tell me how much God speaks to them. I feel alive when I stand in front of people and speak about God. It’s one of the times where I’ve ever felt passion. I want to preach to thousands and for God to have all the glory.
This Getting Started class has already made me gain confidence and see that I am in fact being called. I couldn’t get the proper training without Christian Leaders Institute. I have had so many challenges in my life. I’ve been abused, had no parental role models, struggled academically, and was brought up around a lot of gangs. I have been cheated on and left for the devil to try and nail the door shut on me. But, I’m not allowing that to be the end or to be my truth. I’m strong in Christ and God has made me whole again and blessed me with an amazing new husband. I want to share my story and how others can overcome their obstacles too. There are many lost teenagers and young adults where I live. I want to reach them as well as all who are hurting.
I know I need this formal training in order to be taken seriously by churches so I may preach. I know that God will open the doors for me as He leads me. Please pray that I manage the time it will take for me to do these courses because I know 100% that God wants me to preach and give help for the hurting.
Learn about ordained minister study programs at Christian Leaders Alliance.