I am Carmelo Prieto Jr., of the USA. I am a student at the Christian Leaders Institute to study to become a pastor.
My Journey
Growing up, I attended church in San Antonio, Texas. It was a small Mexican family-led church called El Divino Salvador. My grandfather was the Lead Pastor, and my dad and another uncle were Assistant Pastors. At an early age, I went to Sunday School every weekend and attended VBS during the summer. I loved worshiping and praising the Lord as a child. When I was twelve, a visiting pastor approached me during worship. He told me never to stop praising and worshiping, as he could see I loved Jesus.
However, I was on probation by fifteen due to legal trouble. I constantly got into fights at school and started using drugs and alcohol. Getting into continued trouble, they sent me to a military-styled boot camp for troubled youths. I was there for six months when I was 17 years old. When I got out, things got worse. My friends and I sold drugs and partied more heavily. This lifestyle continued into my early twenties when I finally decided I didn’t want to live that life anymore.
My Marriage
I met my wife through a mutual friend. I knew she was the one I wanted to marry and spend the rest of my life with. We married after three years of dating. She had a seven-year-old son when we met. Therefore, it was just the three of us. After four years of marriage, we had a little girl. Soon after that, we had a son and were a family of five. Things were great, but I was not serving the Lord. Taking my family to church was a thing I had to do, not something I wanted to do or grow more in.
Twelve years into our marriage and not having a relationship with the Lord, I stepped out on our marriage. It immediately turned our lives upside down. My wife filed for divorce within a week. We were on our way to separation and imminent divorce.
My wife started to go to church on her own. At that same time, I sought Christ once again. We began to reconcile after two months of separation. Through the grace of God, my wife was able to forgive me. We began to rebuild and pick up the pieces of our broken marriage. We added another son to our family in the six years since, making us a half dozen. My wife and I have helped lead our church’s Re/Engage marriage program. I also serve in our youth ministry, where our two teenagers attend youth night on Sunday evenings. Our kids also serve within our children’s Sunday school ministry at church.
At CLI to Study to Become a Pastor
I can see the wonders of God’s power firsthand as He helped restore our marriage and this broken man. Christ is using me and my family in many ways. Furthermore, I want to continue to serve, learn, and grow in Him and for His Glory. Therefore, I am here at the Christian Leaders Institute to study to become a pastor.
I thank the many wonderful people who donated to CLI to help others pursue their dreams of becoming ministers and spreading the Gospel.
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling you in the Getting Started Class at the Christian Leaders Learning Platform. The Getting Started class will take you less than an hour to complete.
When you log in to the Learning Platform, you will notice that the Getting Started Class automatically appears on your dashboard.
The Getting Started Class will orientate you to the Christian Leaders Learning Platform and the Programs offered, including:
- Ministry Awards, Certificates, Diplomas, and Degrees with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- Minister Credentialling (Ordination) with the Christian Leaders Alliance, including local Soul Center registration possibilities.
Note: You can enroll in tuition-free courses or mini-courses immediately without finishing the getting started class.
Find out more about women in ministry here.
My name is Frances Andersen from beautiful Southern Oregon. Looking for more training in ministry, a friend told me about the Christian Leaders Institute. Now, I study at CLI to prepare for whatever ministry God leads me to do.
My Journey
As I share my story with others, I see where God was in every step of my life. Growing up in a Catholic home introduced me to the existence of Yahweh very young. I received infant baptism in the Catholic Church, went through catechism in the second grade, and made confirmation as a teen, where I committed my life to Christ. My life was always His, even though it took me several years to understand how that would play out in the long run. For years, I searched for what was always with me from the beginning of my life.
Unfortunately, my interaction with the world of adulthood didn’t start out very well. Even though I was raised in a decent home with good parents, things happened. Easily influenced, I turned out to be an awesome follower of people, good and bad. Again, unfortunately, I tended to follow and take advice from people who didn’t always steer me in the right direction.
Called but Running
The whisper of a call was always there. However, like Jonah, I ran away until there was nowhere to run. I began to pay attention and learned to not only hear Him call but stop to listen. Nothing in the world I was turning to filled the emptiness or repaired the brokenness but God. He showed me that in Him, I would find comfort. Therefore, I surrendered.
More Training in Ministry at CLI
Many people have walked beside me, helping, encouraging, and listening while I learned, pondered, and wrestled with passages in the Bible. I began working with other people, doing for them what others had done for me. That’s why I am here at the Christian Leaders Institute. A friend of mine found CLI and told me to check it out. I wanted more training in ministry without the huge tuition I could not afford. Ready to retire from my current profession, I am dedicating the rest of my life to service work.
I don’t know what the Lord has in store for me at the end of all this, but I know without a doubt He brought me to CLI. He made more training in ministry possible. In faith, I will do what He puts in front of me.
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling you in the Getting Started Class at the Christian Leaders Learning Platform. The Getting Started class will take you less than an hour to complete.
When you log in to the Learning Platform, you will notice that the Getting Started Class automatically appears on your dashboard.
The Getting Started Class will orientate you to the Christian Leaders Learning Platform and the Programs offered, including:
- Ministry Awards, Certificates, Diplomas, and Degrees with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- Minister Credentialling (Ordination) with the Christian Leaders Alliance, including local Soul Center registration possibilities.
Note: You can enroll in tuition-free courses or mini-courses immediately without finishing the getting started class.
Find out more about women in ministry here.
Journey of Faith: From Engineering and Law to Ministry
Greetings, dear readers! My name is Daniel Jeffrey Gonzales from the Philippines. I am thrilled to share my life’s journey with you. The ministry courses and biblical knowledge taught at the Christian Leaders Institute equip me for my dual ministry calling.
My Early Years
I was born on a crisp October 30th morning in 1991, a day that would mark the beginning of an adventurous and faith-filled life. Raised in a loving family, I quickly developed a curiosity for understanding the world around me. This curiosity eventually led me down paths I could never have predicted.
Education and Career Convergence
As I grew, my passion for learning led me to pursue a dual career in engineering and law. Armed with a thirst for knowledge and an unyielding determination, I embarked on a journey through university. I honed my skills in these two seemingly disparate fields. With each milestone I achieved, I realized that God was weaving a unique tapestry for my life. One that blended my analytical engineering mind with a heart for justice and advocacy as a lawyer.
Marriage Union
On December 20, 2019, I experienced a life-altering event. I married the love of my life, Jane Marie. Our union symbolized more than just the merging of two souls. It was the embodiment of God’s perfect timing and His plan for our lives. Together, we set out on a journey of shared dreams. We support each other’s endeavors and embrace the challenges that come our way.
Answering the Call
My journey took an unexpected turn when God called me to serve Him in ministry. The call to ministry was like a whisper in my heart that grew louder with each passing day. I began to engage in various roles within my church community – from leading the youth to guiding worship and preaching. It was in these moments of service that I discovered a new dimension of purpose, a deeper connection to God’s work, and an unwavering desire to touch lives.
Birth of a Vision
The culmination of my experiences led me to found “Soul’d Out for Jesus Ministries Incorporated.” This organization was born out of a passion to bring hope, healing, and access to justice to those who needed it most. The ministry aimed to provide legal assistance to the underprivileged while also spreading the message of God’s love to the farthest corners of the world. The dual identity of lawyer and minister seamlessly merged. God created in me a powerful force for change and transformation.
CLI: Ministry Courses and Biblical Knowledge
As the vision for my ministry expanded, so did my quest for ministry courses, biblical knowledge, and spiritual growth. This search led me to the Christian Leaders Institute. There, I found a community dedicated to equipping individuals like me with the tools to serve effectively. With a heart for the marginalized and a passion for ministry, I joined CLI to enhance my skills and fulfill my calling. My ultimate goal is to empower those in need, whether through legal aid or spiritual guidance.
Embracing the Future
Dear reader, my journey continues to unfold each day, with its challenges and triumphs. From my early days as an engineer and lawyer to the unexpected path into ministry, my life has been a testament to God’s faithfulness and guidance. Through it all, my loving wife, Jane Marie, has been my constant companion. She supports me in every endeavor. As I look ahead, I am excited to see how God will continue to use me to impact lives and bring about positive change in this world.
Thank you for joining me on this autobiographical voyage. May my story inspire you to embrace your own journey with faith, courage, and an open heart.
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling you in the Getting Started Class at the Christian Leaders Learning Platform. The Getting Started class will take you less than an hour to complete.
When you log in to the Learning Platform, you will notice that the Getting Started Class automatically appears on your dashboard.
The Getting Started Class will orientate you to the Christian Leaders Learning Platform and the Programs offered, including:
- Ministry Awards, Certificates, Diplomas, and Degrees with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- Minister Credentialling (Ordination) with the Christian Leaders Alliance, including local Soul Center registration possibilities.
Note: You can enroll in tuition-free courses or mini-courses immediately without finishing the getting started class.
Find out more about women in ministry here.