Veteran Ministry Training
My name is Bob Pilkington. I reside in the State of Nevada, USA. I currently speak with the elderly, usually in hospice care, and veteran’s who need assistance in coming to terms with their mortality or their accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior. It can be difficult because most of the people I talk to are at the end of their lives and realize that they need to get right with God before they die. It is hard sometimes to convince them that they are getting right with God, when they are not getting any physically better.
I started going to church on a regular basis when in my teens and continued through my 20’s. I got very sick with Crohn’s Disease at the age of 29, and instead of asking the Lord for guidance and help, I tried to take on the sickness by myself. Life expectancy for someone with Crohn’s Disease is at 15 years. A little more than 21 years later, I got sick again asked the Lord to help me, and within weeks, I felt healthy. That was 8 years ago and according to my physician from the results of a recent physical examination, I have no symptoms of Crohn’s Disease and my health is A++.
About a year ago, I had this overwhelming feeling that I should get training and become a Pastor. It took several months and me to lose my best friend in the world (who happened to be my blind dog) – but here I am – at Christian Leaders Institute, getting some of the best spiritual education I could find – and it is all on me to get it done and become a pastor.
My ministry dream is to continue to help those at the end of their walk through this world find the Lord before they pass away.
Pastor: Because I have a certain demeanor about me that I did not know I had, in comforting those at the end of their lives. It is not something I ever studied – or really ever wanted to do – but I am good at it and I enjoy seeing people get their spiritual house in order before they pass away.
I don’t know what actually prompted me to become a pastor: I just woke up one day and had the feeling that I wanted to help people who were elderly and sick get right spiritually.
Living in a rural county, ministering to the outlying parts can be challenging regarding time. Usually, people want to talk to me just before they pass away – which time and distance have created problems. Living in a small town; EVERYBODY knows your business. Until August, 2015, I wasn’t always the “ministering” type. I was a drinker and someone not to be trifled with and had a very low tolerance level for nonsense. Since my calling to the Lord, I no longer drink and I have become a very patient, caring, loving and understanding man. I don’t get angry, and those who used to be afraid of me, now enjoy my company.
My local churches support my efforts. They want to see me succeed in my education because of me, my life and how they have all seen me change from what I was to who I am.
My wife supports my wanting to become a Pastor. She is probably to most happy to see my life what it is now.
Without Christian Leaders Institute, I simply could not afford to go to Seminary school. This Veteran Ministry Training is a big help. It is that simple. I have the time, desire and wherewithal to go through a program, but I am retired, on a fixed income and do not have the ability to take that much money from our retirement to pay for school – for someone that will probably never pay it back.
Pray that I can help EVERYONE get right with God before they pass away. It is my goal to see every senior citizen in hospice care and every disabled veteran and veteran who needs help.
Free Ministry Degree
My name is Anthony Dempsey I am from Michigan u.s.a, am 30 years old a husband and father of 3. My country is very involved with the worldly way of life and is sucked into the growing paganism views taking over, there is a great need to minister, and many are becoming more open as they see how much pain and suffering follows living an ungodly life.
I was raised in a Christian home and was taught the word of God from a young age; I faced many tragedies throughout the rest of my childhood and early adult hood which ultimately built a strong foundation and a trust and faith in Christ Jesus that now leads my life and my leading of my family.
I would love to be apart of a world wide effort to spread God’s kingdom to all nations so each and every person can have a chance to turn to God and know of his love, his kingdom and his teachings as well as bringing my family to experience and be involved.
As an evangelist, I would like to take all the tools I have gained through my life and God’s word to try and convert as many as possible and being able to relate to younger people on the way to talk with them about Christ where they wouldn’t feel comfortable otherwise.
Having children and amazing God fearing wife has been the key experience and driving force In wanting me to take the lead and to teach my family and to take my experience and put it to work in God’s ministry.
There are unique challenges in my area as there is many different ethnicities and many Christians or religious people who are lost in their faith or have been taught what is not aligned with the Bible, so there is a lot if work to be done.
My local church has supported by always having resources available when needing extra insight or knowledge or prayer and encouragement
I look forward to being able to serve God while having my family beside me all of the way learning and growing as well.
A free ministry degree through CLI is something I am looking forward to having as a door opener, knowledge grower and faith builder.
I ask that you may pray for my family and me to be protected and guided by God’s holy spirit and to have his blessings over all of our work.
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Youth Pastor School
My name is Jessica Brown, and I am an Ambassador of Christ, a wife, a mother, and a Youth Pastor. I was born prematurely with a hole in my heart, and doctors believed I would have a severe mental disability. With a blood transfusion and too many stitches to count, I made it through and defied the odds. Beginning in middle school, I started suffering from seizures, shaking then blacking out. After years of tests, doctors diagnosed me with Benign Peripheral Vertigo and Hypoglycemic.
During that time, I discovered a lot of things were different than they seemed. I was told if my mother had the option, she would have terminated me. My father was not dead, but in prison, with a life sentence. Further, my mother was adopted into the family I knew. My mother let me know how much she didn’t like children and told me how unattractive she believed my features were. I felt alone and ugly. Rejected by my mother’s adopted family after being beaten up by her boyfriend and sexually assaulted by my uncle, I became homeless just out of high school. I didn’t feel valued. I didn’t understand love. With no self-worth, I didn’t feel beautiful. Afraid of men, unable to trust, and with a scarred heart, I was broken.
God Changed Everything
BUT GOD! I found Him under a bridge. I found Him bartering for food and when I had lost everything else. While homeless, I found a home in Him. Made whole in God, and He was my Mother and Father. He taught me about love and removed the fear. He gave me a dance to talk to Him. Also, He healed me through food from Vertigo and Hypoglycemia after 14 years. He showed me my beauty and value. He taught me to be resilient.
I learned to love myself and met my husband through ministry. I also became a mother of two beautiful boys, a co-founder of a nonprofit (5A Elite Youth Empowerment), and a Youth Pastor for Central Baptist. Our church has trusted what God says about us and has allowed us to pastor their young people. We come alongside seasoned leaders in the ministry to glean from them, and we are covered with wise counsel. Our church is a blessing because they believe in family and welcomed both my husband and me as pastors. God provided us the word of Priscilla and Aquila and confirmed where we were to be through our head pastor’s decision for us to co-pastor the youth.
Youth Pastor Ministry and Study at CLI
Praising God and giving Him all the Glory, we preach the Kingdom and teach the things of Jesus Christ. God showed me the importance of empowering the youth. I help them address their trauma and encourage them so they can see who they are in Christ. What God brought me out of is to be used to help others. They aren’t too young to be used. Jesus’ ministry was entrusted to people so young they didn’t have to pay the temple tax; how much more should we be removing the young people from the “kiddy table” and providing them the meat.
Christian Leaders Institute is a youth pastor school that is an answer to prayer. Unable to go to a brick and mortar with my young children and unable to afford the costs associated with Christian education, CLI is wonderful. Outside of the convenience, CLI provides a quality curriculum and allows me to be further equipped for my service for God! (Learn more about Studying the Bible, Click Here) It is wonderful to study and learn with so many believers with different backgrounds and experiences. I request prayer for the youth in the Pennsylvania area to be drawn to the Lord and to be active for His Kingdom.