No More Ministry Training Debt
My name is Joel Rashid and I live in Herriman, Utah. Ministry here is different than anywhere else I’ve done ministry. My history is in youth. I’m a pastor’s son and 2nd generation minister. We’ve done ministry in affluent suburban neighborhoods, and we’ve done ministry in poverty-stricken urban neighborhoods, both with different needs, hurts, and challenges.
God’s always revealed Himself to His people in whatever way they’ve needed Him to. An encounter with God is an amazing thing to witness. Watching someone draw near to God is simply. Coming here to Utah, however, is something totally different, and I haven’t seen it before. With so being said, Utah is the most untouched state in our nation by missionaries.
Mormon, Utah is a real place, and it’s a sight to see. Evangelism can easily become a battle in apologetics, which rarely results in a soul won for God. There’s something genuine about it, though. Even though more difficult than I am used to, there is sweetness to the struggle. A Mormon converted to Christianity results in a believer that is so on fire for God that they’ll go to the ends of the earth for Him. I admire that, and I strive for that too.
I’ve grown since coming here as a person, and a man of God. It’s made me think about the times I was afraid of stepping out for God and realized how many people truly are lost and don’t know it. The numbers are staggering and alarming. I spent my life in the church, but the faith was not mine, my parents being pastors, I had always borrowed their salvation as my own, never making the decision for myself.
No one told me I could choose for myself. I read a book called Pilgrims Progress, and I watched a video on YouTube about the father’s sacrifice. God spoke to my spirit that I had been walking beside the path of salvation without actually coming through the door. On the outside, I had the appearance of a Christian, but a nicely wrapped package with no contents is no gift – so I came through the door, and not long after that, I received my mission.
Many people do what I did, and no one’s told them to go through the door that is Christ Jesus. The people of Utah are a perfect image of that. My dream in ministry is to see people set free and to walk in the confidence of their salvation. That being said, I identify most with the word evangelist. I used to think of an evangelist as someone who just does outreach, but it’s much more than that. There are believers in bondage too. Evangelism is a lifestyle where your primary goal is to get people to come to the realization of God and to come into relationship with Him.
I’ve been very blessed by my church over my course of ministry training and to this point forward. My Pastor, Al Zorn, taught me to be an optimist and believe the best in people. Pastor Zorn started me down the path of pursuing ministry training and I then completed a program and received a certificate.
This scholarship at CLI is so important to me because I have a copious amount of student debt already. Money is not a secure area for my wife and me, and I believe in God every month to provide for us, which He does every time. Having this scholarship means that I’m able to pursue the mission God has put on my heart without the burden of more debt. It’s difficult to eloquently express just what Christian Leaders Institute is doing for me.
In short, I never thought I’d be able to get training to do what God has called me to do, but just like how God provides for us every day when it comes to food, bills, and rent, He has also provided CLI. I know this is where I’m supposed to be.
Pray for me as much as you can! I believe in the power of prayer and the more prayer I get, the more power I would hope to walk in also. Pray that I have the right words to speak to the people here in Utah. The suicide rate is the highest in the nation, as well as abuse. People are hurting here, and the Christians are apathetic. We need God to heal our land. For my family pray that we don’t get tired. Starting a church is new to us, and it’s hard work. Pray that we would be strong in the face of spiritual attack. For me, pray for my confidence; sometimes I feel like the job we were put here to do is impossible. However, we serve a God who does the impossible.
Ministering to the Elderly
My name is Deborah Owens, a 45-year-old single mother, with one adult son who lives in a multi-generational home in Southern California. Praise God that my community is religion-friendly. Currently, at my Church, I like to serve between three teams as Usher, First Impressions Greeter and providing Administrative help in office during the week.
I came to know the Lord in my adult life when I went through many life trials. Being a single mother I searched, found and turned to Lord for his guidance and protection over my life. I felt lost and was unsure of my purpose and sought out a Savior who could restore me. I have survived divorce and healed, I had found my way when I was laid off from my job of 20 years with no notice and found a better job through Christ.
My dream for Ministry is to use my formal training from Christian Leaders Institute to mature myself in Christ, so I can be a real light in the world with the knowledge and the truth of the Bible.
I have a very tender heart for the aging in my community. Many people where I live simply are not aging and dying well. This weighs on me, and I feel called to get more involved with End of Life Care Ministry for support, encouragement, teachings and prayer. I plan to volunteer at my local hospital and in elder care facilities where I live. I am interested in Hospice, but there are no centers where I live at this point in time.
I am very humble and thankful to my local Church for their sermons, studies, and fellowship. They allow us as volunteers to choose areas of service where we feel called. We can explore, change and try new things as we mature and our calling changes. They have many care ministries in our community and have international ministries as well. There are many opportunities and need for help, so it is a great place to connect and get involved.
My Church and I share the same purpose and calling: To help people find and follow Jesus
Every day I am thankful for my scholarship at Christian Leaders Institute because I can’t afford to pursue other Bible College education because of my single income which limits my funds and choices. Currently, I am working two jobs to make ends meet. Christian Leaders Institute allows me to pursue my dreams of free formal Bible Education where I can use these resources to better serve my Lord and in my community helping others.
My prayer is for deepening my walk with Lord, learning to discern his will from my own. Anticipating where he may lead me and hoping it’s a place where others are searching for purpose and a Savior to restore them.
My name is Anjili maidawa Dagare I’m 22 years old a Nigerian from Dagare but I live in Damaturu the Yobe state capital of Nigeria I’m born in a Christian family to the polygamy family of Mr Maidawa Baba the fifth child in the family with nine siblings, the only male child of my mother. Both my parent are alive.
I gave my life to Christ in November 2007 in a program organise during my high school. I was baptize in 3rd July 2011 from that time I develop passion for ministry wining souls for Christ more especially in the northern part of my country where by many there are many churches an ministries but has low percentage of evangelism.
I’m Sunday school teacher of my church and the present Bible study coordinator in a campus ministry called ECWA STUDENT MINISTRY (ESM) of Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola Adamawa state Nigerian where I’m presenty doing my degree program in Chemistry Education trusting God to finish 2019 seeing how God have been using me an the position of Leadership he gave me I have have a deep conviction to become teacher an a pastor so that my goal is to raise Christians children an youth to stand firm even as they face these corrupt world.
One of the major challenges we face in my area today is the Muslim faith whereby 80% of the northern part of my country are Muslim including the place of my study and my hometown. Sometimes they even threaten us even killed our friends but still we are not afraid to die for the gospel. That’s why I took it as an mandate to share the gospel even if it will cost me my life
I’m always looking for a means to get into Bible College When my pastor introduce CLI to me is actually an answer prayer I was looking for a way out but whenever I think of the expenses i become discourage saying who will support me. With the out scholarship at CLI i don’t think my can ever afford it looking at my country present economy I don’t even think of making it but thank God for he has created a means through CLI with these I have full hope that my dream will come to pass
I plead with you please to join me in prayers so that Lord should help me even as reach out to souls of the lost (Muslim) I will do that without any fear, but Bold as the Apostles thank you and may God Bless You as pray along with me