Youth Minister Calling
My name is Alicia and I am located in the USA. I grew up in a Lutheran church school, which is where my basic knowledge began. It was in my teenage years where I learned the importance of serving God in prayer and worship. It was in my early adulthood that I found how important it was to be fully saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Spirit. These spiritual bridges were built through a variety of people. Parents, classmates, family, and others. Someone told me before that I had a youth minister calling and was meant to do more for others. However, back then I didn’t see it. My second and third confirmation came after 10 years of trials and tribulations. I always saw myself as a worshipper only, but now I understand that my life, testimony, and knowledge are meant to be shared in order to fulfill God’s greater purpose.
The course has given me the Biblical fundamentals I wanted to learn. Some of the units have spoken to me personally regarding family and what is needed to make a family function in Christ. At this time, my ministry focus is on the youth. I know there is a major gap with my generation in seeking Christ. I want to make sure that the gap is filled here in my community, which is in great need of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. That is why I am following my youth minister calling as I study here at Christian Leaders Institute.
There are so many experiences that have prompted me to pursue ministry. I believe my hard times triggered a major turn around in my life. I sought Christ more and began to receive blessings. My journey has made me stronger in the Lord and it has been evident that it is time to pay it forward.
Poverty, lack of education, drugs, gang violence, corruption, and everything that is destructive is a challenge. Here at home, my community is one where worldly distractions have consumed people and their thoughts. People forget to pray and go to church. Our leaders within in the community have also failed us. They have fallen victim to selfishness and their own desires. They work against those in need and it’s heartbreaking.
My church is actually the force that has encouraged me to keep working toward ordination. I have a supportive pastor and many of people who care and encourage me in my walk of faith. The scholarship is important because I can’t afford to go to a pay school. I have a large family and a big heart for ministry. Please pray for strength and success in my ministry endeavors.
Learn about Local Ecuministry Ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.
House Church Ministry
I am currently living in Manitoba, Canada. The weather is different compared to our home country of the Philippines. Our ministry is more a house to house church where we are doing Bible Study and Fellowshipping. One of our visions is to establish a house church ministry that will reach out to and encourage the Filipino immigrants in our town. It is very challenging to start a ministry in our town as most people are busy with their own family and jobs.
I was baptized in the Catholic Church in the Philippines and at the age of 5, my parents accepted our Lord Jesus Christ in a local Baptist Church. I grew up in that church, came to know Jesus Christ and accepted Him as my personal Lord and Savior. I was then baptized at the age of 14.
My ministry dream is to lead a house church ministry that will help Christians grow into a deeper relationship with God and evangelize the unbeliever in our area. Also, I would encourage my brethren to get a course in Christian Leaders Institute so that they can also determine their calling from God. One of my visions is God showing me a building where we are doing a Sunday Service with my family and brethren.
I learned from Christian Leaders Institute to connect practically with God. This strengthens my relationship with Him and encourages me in my roles as a husband and a father in my home. It transforms my relationship with my wife and kids by spending time reading the word of God in a very creative way together. CLI answered my prayer to become an effective servant of God. I am very confident in my calling that I would fulfill the house church ministry which God called me to do. I believe that I will be an effective Evangelist or Pastor because this is my heart’s desire. I am happy to share the Gospel to everyone and encourage people to live with faith.
Christians in our community are very small in numbers and most of them are Catholic. This ignites my passion for sharing the story of salvation and testimonies from God. As I commit my life to God, it gives me joy with confidence to win a soul because of the training I have in evangelism. Also, I observe that our community really needs a revival so that they will commit their lives to God.
Since our ministry is a house to house church. We are doing this ministry without a pastor because all of us come from different countries. And since there is no Filipino Christian Organization in our community when we moved to Canada, I believe as a deacon and a cell church leader in our church back in Saudi Arabia gives me an opportunity to be used by God to start a ministry. I believe that is one of the reasons why God sent me to Canada. My fire in my heart always reminds me that there is no excuse for not serving the Lord.
Every time I read the Bible especially with my morning devotion, it fills my heart full of joy. It empowers me from my weaknesses when I have struggles so that I can still focus on my everyday tasks. It shows a revelation on my daily needs. It gives me more confidence when I am in corporate prayer. It strengthens me in my work profession in the world. It reminds me of everything I need in my ministry. It gives me the courage to share the truth and allows me to be useful wherever I go.
One of my biggest dreams in our house church ministry is to serve God with my wife and kids. Also, to train my two kids and guide them so that at an early age, they will serve our God with passion. And, I want to share the JOY with my family in serving the Lord inside and outside the house.
Christian Leaders Institute offers their tremendous scholarship to help Christians to fulfill their calling and follow their spiritual dream in terms of time and money. CLI encourages believers to pursue their spiritual gifts and to be ready for the ministry. CLI gives opportunities for Christians who cannot afford to pay tuition and is flexible for those who are also working while studying at CLI. We will include them in our prayers and personally promote CLI.
Learn about minister ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.
Prison Ministry Ordination
My name is Elliott Nichols and I live in the United States. I have been blessed to be married to my beautiful wife Rosemary for 32 years. Together we have raised three children and have six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. I am called to a prison ministry ordination.
I retired from the military after twenty years of service. I have been on a lot of missions overseas, and have had many duties for the Navy. Since my retirement, God has led me into Prison Ministry. Now I am assigned to another mission. My full-time duty is to be in the service of and be an active, productive Soldier for the Lord on the battlefield of Prison Ministry.
I had a desire to be more prepared spiritually and intellectually to support those in prison. Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) has been highly integral in assisting me in my prison ministry ordination. The fact that I could have access to this superior quality Christian education for free is priceless. The quality of instructors and curriculum has been equal to any other prestigious theological school or seminary in the nation. The online curriculum has allowed me to complete this course in my own time even with a busy schedule.
I go into one prison and two jails in the San Diego, California area of the United States. When I go into the prison and jails, I get to see what God can do with a soul that desires and needs to be saved. They need someone to have enough love and compassion to walk with them as God works on them. I get to see what the Devil thought he had…be taken back. Jesus said in Mathew 25:36 that we should visit those who are imprisoned. We want to let them know that they are still loved and can be redeemed just like we can. Let them know that Jesus died and shed his blood for them. It is a humbling honor and privilege to be a witness to what the Lord can do with a broken soul.
Being ordained as a Chaplain is the culmination of my desire to be used by the Lord to go where I never thought I would go and to serve where I never thought I would serve. I initially thought I would bring those lost inmates Jesus. I found out quickly that Jesus is already there, has always been there, and He was preparing us mentally and spiritually to show up and do his work in that part of the vineyard. As I embark on my calling of being an Ordained Chaplain I am thoroughly cognizant of the awesome responsibility this entails. While knowing and understanding the seriousness of this responsibility of being ordained I unequivocally know it is God’s calling for me…and I am too scared not to answer the call.
The truth is I have been called to prison ministry ordination not because that is something I thought about doing. Not because I am so great and I needed to go to the prison to demonstrate that to others, brag about it and receive accolades. There are no cameras or phones recording my message in prison. No selfies are taken. As in most cases and with most people, it took a trial and tribulation that devastated me and overwhelmed my family and myself for the Lord to get my attention. Now I was not in charge. I did not have enough military rank, worldly or supernatural power. I was overwhelmed and driven to my knees. I had to call on the one who I was introduced to when I was young going to my grandmother’s church. I had to call on the name of JESUS to ask for help.
It took the incarceration of a family member to get me to call on the Lord like I never had before. The Lord told me in my spirit that He would watch out for my loved one but He called on me to do more for Him. Jesus paid it all and now he desired my payment of obedience. I can’t give Him anything else because He owns it all already. He made me aware of the fact that right in my area someone else has a son, a father, a grandson, a nephew, an uncle that is incarcerated just like my family. In alignment with Matthew 25:36 He wanted me to go see them. He wanted me to look them in the eye and say, “Jesus Loves You and there is nothing you could ever do to change that!” He wants me to encourage them like I would my own son. My favorite saying to them is, “Prayed Up, Head Up. Don’t walk around here like you don’t know Jesus!” It is the same thing I tell my son.
I am blessed immensely by the fact that my wife goes to the prison with me. Being involved in prison ministry has been cathartic for my wife and me. They look at her and see the compassion of a mother, sister, and aunt. When people ask me what going into the prison is like I say it is humbling. God is working miracles and changing hearts and minds in prison. He is building an army in prison and I am privileged to witness it.
In summary, this prison ministry ordination and indeed the whole CLI experience has provided me the requisite knowledge and foundation in the gospel of Jesus Christ. It enables me to be an excellent teacher, leader, and disciple maker in prison and where ever I go.
I humbly ask the CLI staff, students and anyone else reading my story to pray with me and for me. Pray that I take the gifts God has blessed me with and do his will and not mine. Pray that I always let him guide me. Pray that I always let his light shine in and through me. Pray that I always show love, always show compassion, always show forgiveness to others. Especially to those who are incarcerated and deemed unworthy of love by the outside world. My sincere blessings to you and yours.
Learn about Ordained Minister Study Programs at Christian Leaders Alliance.