Ordained for Women’s Ministry
Charmaine Coetzee is a woman with a purpose she is focused in and didn’t let anyone or anything stop her from being ordained for women’s ministry in South Africa.
“I was brought up in a Christian home, and my mother was my role model of leading a Christ-like life,” Coetzee said. “However, my personal journey with Jesus truly began when I was a student at the North-West University, where I graduated as a Law Student. I joined and served in one of the student churches, His People (Every Nation Ministries). My eyes were opened for the first time about what it is to walk with God. I began to live for Jesus! I did not think of entering into ministry at that time, nor did I realize my calling to ministry.”
After coming to know Christ, Coetzee was a new woman, but it wasn’t until a couple of years later she started to feel a call to be ordained for women’s ministry in her community.
“After my graduation, I relocated to Pretoria and married my varsity sweetheart shortly after,” Coetzee said. “Unfortunately, after relocating, it took quite a while to get the “right” church again. We finally found our church family, Christ Generation Church Centurion, in 2014 and our whole lives changed. We started walking a path with our Pastor, who trained my husband and I to be the head ushers (deacons and elders) in the church. He laid a firm foundation for us out of the Word and understanding Grace. My hunger for knowing Christ was ignited again. This was the first time I realized my calling into ministry and my passion for it.”
Once Coetzee started to feel the desire to be a minister the Lord used death as a prompter for her to take action.
“The pivotal experience that prompted me to pursue ministry was the bereavement of our pastor,” Coetzee said. “He passed away at a very young age in April 2016, leaving behind his wife and two babies. His wife, our Senior Pastor, asked us to take over the church since she was left in a tough position and not able to proceed in the ministry although she still serves as a guide and supervisor to us.”
With the loss of her pastor, Coetzee and her husband have been made the main leaders in their church, and CLI has significantly help Coetzee with this leadership.
“My ministry dream is, therefore, to officially become a Pastor, alongside my husband,” Coetzee said. “Although I am already serving in this position, CLI assists equip me for ministry and make it official.”
Coetzee is now ordained for women’s ministry, but she still is a lawyer.
“It is probably two of the most contrasting occupations…A lawyer and a Pastor,” Coetzee said. “I would be my dream to enter into ministry full time, but until that is possible, I will use my passion for ministry in my law occupation to help people.”
Coetzee passion for ministry has lead to her starting her own ministry based in her church.
“I have recently started a women’s ministry in our church called Women of G.R.A.C.E. I want to use this forum to minister to women and to support my husband in the church,” Coetzee said. “I am trusting that the women in our church will grow spiritually, not only in themselves but also to lead their husbands and families and even the community to a mature relationship with God.”
CLI’s classes that are targeted for women’s ministry have been a blessing to Coetzee to achieve her dream to be ordained for women’s ministry in her church.
“The CLI Women’s Ministry course and Women’s Ministry Ordination course is truly helpful to reach this goal,” Coetzee said. “I have noted a lot of practical guidance on how to manage the ministry and things to be aware of. The teaching about women’s roles in the Bible also gave great insight.”
Coetzee is ordained for women’s ministry because she often feels women are the one that brings the family to church.
“Unique challenges in my geographic area are that there are a lot of churches and denominations,” Coetzee said. “Getting new members to visit and stay in the church is a challenge. It also appears that women are the forcing drive in bringing their families to church. A women’s ministry is ideal to introduce the women to our church and hopefully to bring her family here as well.”
Coetzee couldn’t be more thankfully that CLI has allowed her to be ordained for women’s ministry and give her the chance to marry couples.
“As an ordained minister, I will be able to assist people in my Women’s ministry to get married,” Coetzee said. “This provides the opportunity to work close with a couple and minister to them about the Godly institution of marriage.”
Due to the poor economic situation Coetzee wants to help more people get CLI training.
“Contrary to popular belief, South Africa is not a place where lions and wild animals roam the street,” Coetzee said. “However, we do face an economic crisis and poverty is a reality here and can prevent a person to obtain tertiary education. Sometimes, it is a challenge for people who do not have a computer or internet to complete CLI online courses. We have therefore decided to set up a space for interested students to use the church facilities to do the courses online on a weekly basis.”
Financially Coetzee couldn’t go to some fancy seminary. Thus, CLI has provided her with the ability to further her ministry education.
“I am a small business owner without a stable income, and furthermore, our church needs a lot of finances to sustain it,” Coetzee said. “Therefore, finances for further studies are not readily available. CLI made it possible to reach this dream.”
Supporting each other is key in Coetzee’s opinion.
“My family’s role in ministry training will be to be supportive,” Coetzee said. “My husband has been a pillar for the church after our Pastor’s passing as well as me. We all need to support each other, learn together and pray together for the ministry. It is also challenging for me to speak publicly in front of a crowd. My team of women have supported me every time I preach to become more confident.”
CLI gave Coetzee the confidence and credibility to be a minister.
“People do not always understand how you can be a Pastor without having any theological training,” Coetzee said. “I also had trouble referring to myself as a Pastor, since I did not have any training. Completing the CLI ministry training and receiving certificates, which is handed out in our church, also gives credibility to our ministry training. I will feel more at ease to call myself a pastor now, after completing this ordination program.”
Coetzee is equipped for the ministry she now only asks for pray.
“Completing the CLI courses assisted me to achieve my ministry goals and provided me with the tools required for ministry,” Coetzee said. “Thank you, CLI for making this possible. You can pray for my journey in ministry to become more confident in preaching and growing our women’s ministry and our church.”
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Christian Leaders Enterprise
Yesterday, president of CLI Henry Reyenga and Steve Elzinga, who will be the dean of the new Christian Leaders Enterprise Program, met to discuss the details of that program.
The Christian Leaders Enterprise Program will involve classes like the People Smart for Ministry, Management from Philemon, and many more. The Christian Leaders Enterprise Program will be offering the option of certificates, diplomas, and degrees in enterprise leadership.
Both of them feel that enterprise is the best word to use to explain the theme of this program.
“Enterprise to me suggests taking responsibility to love your family, to be able to impact your local community with jobs and commerce so that your community does well and your family does well,” Reyenga said. “To really look to the architect of enterprise in the Bible: the Apostle Paul. Here is a guy who did enterprise. He had a network of people and used those connections with others to promote the gospel. I love the idea that local church leaders can do well with an enterprise.”
Elzinga agrees with Reyenga in defining enterprise as taking responsibility for something, but he also sees enterprise as taking care of this earth and God’s creation.
“Enterprise literally means an undertaking; you are taking something on,” Elzinga said. “You’re trying to do something; the kid selling lemonade on the corner of the block is an enterprise. He is trying to affect something. Ultimately, enterprise is right there in Genesis when God tells us to take care of the earth. God created this earth and gave us all these building blocks, and opportunities make something and do something. God is about doing stuff. Enterprise is being a steward of the earth for the construction of God’s Kingdom.“
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Ordained Leader
After starting Faith and God Ministry in Atlanta Georgia, Michael Vertner felt the deep desire to gain more formal education and become an ordained leader to aid him in ministry.
“I started this ministry [Faith and God Ministry] about four years ago, and I have always been a dedicated student of the Bible but always felt that I needed some type of formal training to assist in my growth,” Vertner said. “I started studying with CLI around May of 2015 and will say I am very pleased with the amount of classes they offer as well as the quality of these classes.”
CLI gives people the ability to gain knowledge and skills that are key to being a Christian Leader.
“If you are looking to grow in your knowledge of Christian Theology as well as learning many practical skills that can help you better manage a Church or a Bible study, CLI is a great place to pursue that goal,” Vertner said. “They offer a variety of classes and the instructors are easy to understand, and the great thing about studying with CLI is you can listen to the courses as many times as you want to help you better understand the material.”
Vertner is excited about taking what he has learned at CLI to grow his ministry further.
“The direction I am moving in for 2016 is the revival field. I believe my call is to do my part in introducing salvation to an unsaved world, and I will use all the gifts that God have given me to accomplish this mission for God,” Vertner said. “I need people to pray for this Ministry and ask God to send me a team of Holy Ghost filled believers who are willing to share the good news gospel.”
As Vertner advances his ministry, he is aware of the importance of being an ordained leader.
“The importance of ordination is this, it shows people that you went through a formal process of study and preparation for the Ministry through guidelines of a Christian body of believers, which is good to have as a checks and balance system in one’s life when preparing for the Ministry,” Vertner said. “Having a Christ-centered organization behind you is always good, especially one that requires you to complete a designed study package for your readiness to serve as an ordained leader. You have a responsibility to God and his flock to teach the word to the best of your ability.”
Just as CLI is about raising up Christian leaders, Vertner is also hoping God will use him to assemble more leaders.
“Raising up other leaders is another important part of being an ordained leader,” Vertner said. “It’s not about the pastor, but it’s always about God and his church and what we can do to spread the good news gospel to the world. Being an ordained leader is a covenant that you go into with God, and this is serious business; it should not be taken lightly, it is more than just a piece of paper, it is a statement of service that you are entering into for the Kingdom of God. As an ordained leader, we are to be workers in the field and helping the fallen up and standing them back on their feet so they can be used by God.”
Vertner knows that because he is an ordained leader, he will have spiritual attack, but he is a conquer in Christ.
“In my opinion, you never stop your studies of the holy word of God once you are an ordained leader; it is an ongoing process of reading and studying of the word of God and constantly learning better ways to manage the church and the task that God has assigned you to accomplish,” Vertner said. “Being an ordained leader is a huge step because now Satan will even try harder to discredit you and your ministry as well as your reputation. The attack will come, but we have the victory with the blood of Jesus Christ, and we will overcome.”
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