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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Evangelism Training
Join today and receive a scholarship towards pursuing evangelism training and becoming a leader in Christian ministry. Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) offers free high-quality online ministry training. CLI accepts any individual anywhere in their life to learn about Christianity. Read a student’s testimony below who found CLI and is using the scholarship for pursuing evangelism training to spread the word of God.
My name is Judith Ferguson-Missick. I am 54 years old and from the Bahamas. I am the first of 10 children by my mother and father but there are 26 half siblings by my father. I live in the greater Miami area for over 35 years. I am married to my husband Luellen Missick for 32 years and we have three children along with three grandchildren. I serve at The Open Bible Church in North Miami Fl for 11 years under Pastor Albert Guthrie.
I accepted the Lord at the tender age of 11, but as I got older, I wandered away from the Lord. At the age of 36, during a very turbulent time in my life, the Lord opened my eyes to Him in the most dramatic and radical way. One New Year’s Eve night, I was getting ready for a party while looking in the mirror for a last look before I left the house; I saw a vision of the condition of my soul; a grotesque, decomposing skeletal creature was staring back at me… I was shocked and horrified by what I saw, fear took hold of me; I tried to gather my composure, my husband who was not going out with me and probably did not want me to go either was confused by my reaction. I didn’t say anything to him as I too was confused. I sat at the foot of the bed trying to understand what just happened. Then, a very strong impression with a voice came to my mind as if I could literally hear it in the natural saying “if you were to go to this party tonight; that which you saw in the mirror will be your final end…” I realized quickly it must have been the Lord warning and showing me what looked like in the spirit. Right then and there my life had changed, I whispered “Jesus…” I mustered up the courage and looked again in the mirror this time I saw my natural face. I did leave the house that night however it was to go to a church and publicly turn my life over to God. I gave my entire life to Christ at the midnight hour of 1999 at a little church in Coconut Grove called Beulah Missionary Baptist Church in Florida.
I grew there in the Lord with the help of the Holy Spirit and the Elders. I developed an insatiable hunger and thirst for the word of God. Two years later I was asked to teach Sunday school, which led to filling in for the pastor in Bible study; which ultimately led to me preaching all within a few short years. My life has been an incredible adventure in the Lord, life for me has never been the same. Hence I don’t think I’ve ever been bored since I gave over my life to Christ. I had some real challenges and some very difficult storms in my life, but the Lord saw me through them all. I trust in His faithfulness. My husband was not a believer and was in some way not very fond of my new life, but through many prayers, the Lord changed his life. He is now a deacon who takes the task of opening the door and welcoming each person to the Sunday morning service a serious duty he also sings for the Lord which is a personal joy for me; what an awesome God we serve! I minister in many capacities in my church mainly as an evangelist with a heart for mission. My dreams are to continue evangelism training.
My passion for God and serving in His kingdom is the best thing that ever happened to me. Helping people to not only accept the Lord but grow in the Him is a call I accepted and very serious about. I believe with all my heart that if people would have good understanding of the word of God, they allow the Holy Spirit to lead them into a changed life in the word of God, they will achieve as the book of Joshua calls it “good success” and peace will flow into their lives like the mighty river; regardless of the difficulties of life. I love the Lord with all my heart. I desire to help others and develop a continuous and meaningful relationship with the Lord. I look forward to my studies with CLI and hoping for my ordination process. I am greatly excited for what this ministry and evangelism training will entail. I am willing to take as many courses possible to make sure I did not miss anything vital. I have formal study training with the Open Bible Church INSTE Bible College and accredited in Des Moines, Iowa. I completed level 1 with above average grades, but due to cost constraints I was unable to start level 2 which comes with ordination. I can’t tell you how happy I am to find your school the feeling that at long last I can accomplish my goals and move ahead with confidence, that I have the knowledge and understanding that is essential to the Call of the Lord and my ministry… It is my prayer that CLI and I will have a lifelong relationship. After completing the ” getting started class” I can say, I have truly experienced a revival; I came to CLI with a desire to get more training to help my walk with God, and a ministry to help the inner-city youth in Miami; I truly believe I have already benefited from this course, praise the Lord! I now look forward to CLI with anticipation… I also look forward to writing a book of my story there is so much more to tell of the incredible work of the Lord in my life. The journey to my book begins here at CLI. Thank you, I hope you would consider me for a scholarship may God continue to bless you and your school.
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I am an African-American born and raised in the United States.I gave my life to the Lord in October 1999, and I was Baptized November 1999. I had an almost fatal car accident in 2002. I fractured C-1 vertebrae in my neck, had a punctured lung from a broken rib, and other broken bones. God healed me. Also, I was an injured, ill combat veteran, who was medically evacuated back to the United States. This is where I went through the Wounded Warrior Program at Fort Gordon for two years. I was then medically discharged at 100% disabled in April 2013. After all this, I still was actively participating in my church choir, even though it was harder for me now. I knew God had more for me. After spending time with God and asking Him for what is it that He would have me do; I had a dream. In the dream, He told me to Preach His Word. So when I woke, I was a bit puzzled. How can I preach His Word and I have aches and pains, insomnia, traumatic brain injury, a cognitive disorder, anxiety, depression, chronic migraines, memory problems, and taking all this medication that keeps me sleeping half the day. And the Holy Spirit said, “but you remember My Word, even if you don’t remember world stuff.” He also later told me, ” If I called you, I’m going to equip you.” What’ll you know, the Holy Spirit brought the scripture back to my remembrance. So long story short, ” I became a licensed minister at my local church on November 13, 2016. By His stripes, I am healed. I know there is so much more that God has for me to do for The Kingdom. Thank you, Jesus!!!!!!!