Training for Officiant Ordination
I am Benjamin Alexander, 71 years old, born and reared in the state of Texas, United States. I was married to Peggy Alexander for 41 years until her death in June of this year after an extended illness. We had four children, one of whom died in 2001. The others live in New Mexico, Texas, and Rhode Island.
We have four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. I served three years in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving two tours in Vietnam with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. I spent 24 years in the U.S. Department of Justice as a Special Agent, retiring in 2002. In between I worked for AT&T, the Post Office, and on a cattle ranch driving cattle between Texas and California.
I grew up in a Christian family in Texas and was baptized at about age 14. When I graduated from high school I pretty much became the prodigal son until I married Peggy in 1975. It was then that I believe the Lord began the process of bringing me back to Him through Peggy and my mother. In 1997 we returned to the Church in California, where Peggy and I became seriously involved in caring ministries. We served as Stephen Ministers and Stephen Leaders for ten years in both California and Colorado. I commissioned as a Deacon, and then was ordained and served as a “Ruling” Elder for three years in our Presbyterian church in California. I now attend an Evangelical Free Church in Austin, Texas, although, because of my wife’s illness which struck shortly after we moved here, I have not been much involved other than worship, Bible study, and small groups.
My initial desire for seeking ministry training is to be able to unite my grandson (and his fiancée) in a Christian marriage this coming October. I looked at various offers for on-line ordination and discussed them with several pastors, but felt that such ordination would not allow me to legitimately serve my Lord. When I looked at CLI I realized that this might actually be a means to a “legitimate” ordination. I signed up for Training for Officiant Ordination at CLI! As I looked further into it, I began to feel a true calling from my Lord to pursue it, so I am. Where it leads, if anywhere, after marrying my grandson and his fiancée remains to be seen, but I feel that God is leading me somewhere with it beyond the marriage ceremony.
Although some of the courses leading to Officiant were, for me, a review of Christian principles, most of them offered a very interesting, informative, and challenging study into Christian leadership concepts. I am extremely grateful for the staff of CLI to have put their hearts into a project that provides instruction in matters that pertain to real-life Christian issues. The resources provided during this course, and the ability to refresh myself on issues that may arise, should prove to be very useful not only in any Officiant duties I may be called on to perform but for other Christian leadership duties. I do wish I had had this focused training previously.
So far, I intend to perform the marriage ceremony for my grandson and his fiancée this October. Beyond that, I have no other such plans. Small group and caring ministries will be my focus in the near future for which this course has given me much guidance.
Revival Leaders In India
I am Sayantan Mukherjee. I currently stay in West Bengal province of India, and I am born in a Hindu family. I am currently pursuing my Bachelor of Technology in the discipline of Computer Engineering and serving the Lord in my city named Durgapur.
I came to faith by knowing the Lord about six months ago, wherein, I was visiting a shopping mall, and a woman from America invited me to attend a personal development training through which I came to know about Jesus, as the training was mostly Purpose of Life. So, from then on I was traveling with my ministry group in various places where we evangelize people by sharing the Word of God, and through that, the habit of reading Bible developed in me.
My ministry dream is to serve the youth of my country, specially the women, to come out of their worldly addictions and support those women who face atrocities as this is common in India, by spreading the word of God, so that these people who are in darkness can see the Great Light, as said in Isaiah 9:2.
I am thankful to Christian Leader’s Institute and the beginner’s course they have provided, as this has helped me to have a distinctive understanding of my calling for ministry, and also gave me a good teaching on devotion life, which was required for me.
I dream of becoming a Pastor and serve my ministry, and share the word of God, specially among youth. I wish to become a service leader in my community, which is in the grasp of Satan. I wish to bring them in light, as Jesus is the light(John 8:12).
I have always looked for a platform to serve people, help those who are in need, and specially help women who face atrocities in this harsh male chauvinistic society of India. Through Word of God and the ministry life, I got that platform, where I can serve people and help those women who face hardships in life.
In my place, people are worshiping the Satan in the form of idols, and they have that dark cover around their eyes, so they cannot see the real God. They think Christians to be religious transformers, and they don’t entertain the Christians, they preach against Christianity, and my motive is to change their thought process in this regard, and these are the challenges I find in my society.
Bible, I believe will be the instrument to bring change in my society, as it brought change in me. Bible has given me a purpose driven life and provided me a way to attain salvation, and to preach the good news of salvation brought by the Messianic King, Jesus Christ, by seeking His kingdom. “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son”( Col 1:13).
My local Church has been supportive, as they are the ones who developed the habit of reading scriptures in me. Through various training and preaching experience, I have gone in depth with the word of God and developed a base to my ministry life.
My scholarship will help me build my knowledge for the gospel and also be more confident when sharing the word. It will also enable me to be recognized as a trained Christian leader through my certificates and diplomas eventually in ministry, which is necessary to preach the gospel in a country like India.
Please pray that I grow more in the Word of God, and set an example as Christian leader, so I can say like Paul did, “Follow me, as I follow Christ” (1 Cor 1:11).
Christian Leaders Institute Scholarship
My Name is Alma Nelson-Pike. I am originally from New Orleans, Louisiana but, I currently reside in Phoenix, Arizona. I have received the Christian Leaders Institute Scholarship for ministry training.
Here is my story!
Since childhood, I have been told time and time again that I am called to be a minister, preacher, pastor in the Kingdom of God. I endured a great deal of heartache and pain in my life; however, it didn’t make me bitter. It made me closer to God. I learned to let go and to seek His goodness, love, and mercy. It was in those moments that my calling was made clearer. Because of God, I was able to endure; I was able to press on, I can testify of His love. In spite of everything, I believe that I am destined to soar and to fulfill my purpose in Him.
Living in Arizona, I have found a variety of different churches but, such scarce members in certain areas. So many people want to go to church, but they are conflicted on the inside about staying home or trying to fit in with so-called “church folks.” At the same time, I have seen many local churches overflowing with God’s people, praising God, honoring His name and rejoicing in His goodness, making the difference.
I believe that the Lord has commissioned me to set the captives free; to remind each person that Jesus died so that we could have life and life more abundantly. All throughout my life, I have sought to make a difference in the lives of others. I have fought to be a difference in the Kingdom of God. I have told God that I want what He wants and I will go wherever He leads me.
I have been challenged every step of the way, from the beginning. At day one, I was asked to examine why I came to Christian Leadership Institute if I believed that God had called me to work in the ministry and why? I am grateful for having been asked those questions. In addition to the many others, they forced me to take a second look and a third look at why I chose this institute and why I believe God chose me to come to this institute.
Before Christian Leaders Institute, I did not realize how many different styles of preaching there were or how to properly construct a sermon. To some extent, I understood the functions of the church and the church board but, I still lacked understanding with regards to structure and scripture. The video’s; illustrations; lecturers and the PowerPoint bulletins of information, all aided me in my endeavors.
With the assistance of this institute, I was able to understand better the “servant,” “woman” of God I was called to be. It was very interesting and cool to learn that my preaching style is that of the “Personal Testimony” style more than anything. Pastor Caldwell said, “Ecclesia is called out with a spiritual swagger,” I feel this way about where I am in God, and I believe that this is one of the reasons why I can function in every style. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “The presence of God is essential,” and I agree wholeheartedly. Without God, we can do nothing. Apart from God, we are nothing but, dust in the wind.
I was blessed when I learned that I had been accepted and given the Christian Leaders Institute Scholarship for my training. I would be able to go before God’s people and do what Christian Leaders Institute has instructed and God commanded: “19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The promises of God are clear here; He will be with us to the very end of the ages.
I believe that the promises of the Christian Leaders Institute Scholarship have been just as clear to me. I was promised before this was over that if I worked diligently; made a real consistent effort in all my endeavors; trusted the Will of God; studied the Word of God and the assignments provided by this institute, I would be far more knowledgeable in the Word and Will of the Lord for my life. I am happy to say that they were right. I now have an even closer walk with God and a more personal prayer time with Him. I have a better understanding of the word “balance” when it comes to God, my family, and the ministry.
The instructors are knowledgeable; the information is relevant and easy to understand. The spirit of the Lord is present within the Organization, I can feel it. The video’s and presentations make you think, they call for continued re-examination and a daily prayer life with God. I truly believe that anyone who attends this college will be blessed in every aspect of their life, I know I have been.
Because of the Christian Leaders Institute Scholarship awarded to me, I feel like I am far more qualified to preach and teach the Word of God. I feel like a better mother; a better woman; a better friend; a better person and above all, a better servant of the Lord. Through the Christian Leaders Institute Scholarship award, I have been restored, touched, encouraged, anchored. Much of the knowledge and healing that I needed, I found here because of these wonderful donors and sponsors who cared enough to give back. I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart. Coming to Christian Leaders Institute truly changed my life, and I will gladly tell the world. Please pray that the Lord will continue to lead, guide and keep me as I seek to do His will, to the utmost. Thank you again for making this possible for me. May God bless each one of you, all the days of your lives in Jesus Mighty Name.
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