God is at work in the state of California! Revival leaders like Donald Fontana are sending in stories every day, telling how God has called them. This generation of California revival leaders is reaching all ages and stations of life for Jesus.
As one of God’s called California revival leaders, Donald really feels the pull for those who are wandering away. His ministry dream is to make sure that everyone knows they are never too far for God’s love to reach them.
Hello, my name is Donald Fontana, a 61 year old husband and father of three with three grandchildren. My wife and I live in a small community south of Los Angeles California, USA. My oldest daughter lives in Texas, USA with our three grandchildren and our youngest son is in his second year of college studying nursing.
I was not brought up in a religious environment, in fact Easter was simply about a bunny and Christmas was about gift giving without an understanding of why. I always had a belief in God but always felt He was disconnected and far away. I came to know the Lord around the age of 27 via a co-worker while working for McDonald Douglas Aircraft. The co-workers name was Tommy and unfortunately, I cannot recall his last name and have lost all contact with him.
I was a Christian for a couple of months when I married to my first wife. I struggled to keep my faith as she was not a believer. After two and a half years I lost my job and shortly after that we divorced. I soon lost my faith and it wouldn’t be until 25 years later that the Lord called His prodigal son back. A couple of years after the divorce of my first wife I married again. My wife is Catholic, but at the time of our marriage she was not practicing her faith. It wasn’t until years later did she return to her Catholic church.
Shortly after our marriage we had a daughter, Jennifer. She is the apple of my eye as they say in the USA. We did everything together and as she reached 8 years old my wife and I decided that we should try for a son and we were blessed with a boy, Donald. It was about 2 years later that our marriage began to have issues. Throughout the next few years, I had become verbally abusive and it had gotten so bad that my wife took the kids and left me. She filed for divorce about a month later.
Although I didn’t know it at the time, God by His mercy and grace had taken hold of me and told me to seek counseling. I read a dozen books on marriage and went to counseling for 6 months, all the while my wife refusing to believe I had seen the truth in what I was doing and was truly changing. Still not believing that God was at work but hoping she would see my progress, just 3 days before our divorce would be finalized she came back with the kids.
Several years passed, and my daughter was now 16. She began arguing with her mother and at times wouldn’t come home until early the next day. Finally it all came to a head when we confronted her on some drug paraphernalia in her bedroom. She admitted to being addicted to crack cocaine. Shortly after that we sent her to Narconon, a drug rehab center that specialized in Cocaine addiction. After 6 months of rehab she came home. At the age of 18, our daughter moved out to be with her future husband in Texas.
Things were going well enough until my son reached the age of 15 where he was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia and had to undergo Chemo for 6 months. It was at this time I sought the counsel of a Christian friend and asked him to pray for my son because “God would listen to him”. I had no expectations that God would listen to me. Just before I went to the hospital to meet with the oncology team and hear the prognosis of recovery, I knelt by my bed and asked God to spare my son. Not feeling as though God heard me I left for the hospital. However as I was driving to the hospital three white doves flew down directly in front of my car and lead directly in front of me for several miles. I had no doubt that God had sent these three doves as a sign that he heard me and my son would recover. Needless to say, I repented of my past sins and returned to a relationship with my savior and my God. My son is now 22 and completely cured of his leukemia.
I have been following the Lord for ever since this took place and serve every Sunday at my local church as an usher. I also participate in a Wednesday evening bible study. My dedication to serving the Lord and knowing Him better is what led me to CLI for a deeper understanding of Him and a greater desire to tell others of God’s merciful love and unending grace even for this long lost prodigal son.
My prayer is that those who have fallen away and are wavering in returning to our Lord because too much time has past or they have done terrible things and can’t believe God still loves them, that they will read my story of redemption and believe in the power of grace.
Are you called as a revival leader? If so, Christian Leaders Institute could be for you. Check out our free, high-quality ministry training by clicking here.
Sipho Jele was called by God to spread revival in South Africa. Some would say Christianity already prevails in South Africa, but Sipho Jele sees that Africa, much like the United States, is experiencing a time when God’s presence is needed more than ever before.
As one of the leaders called to spread revival in the world, Sipho knows that he needs to start by getting the people he is called to serve a good, solid biblical message. It is this necessity that brought him to Christian Leaders Institute, where he can get quality teaching that will prepare him to effectively spread revival where God has called him.
I was born in Bulawayo Zimbabwe and moved to reside in Pretoria South Africa 10 years ago. I think that Africa needs God even more now than ever before, judging by what we are experiencing
After growing up in a mix of religion and traditional practices, I found myself confused as to what really to believe. Hence at one time in my life I did not believe in anything and thought people were making up for their inadequacies or shortcomings by looking to a different power. Then God began to speak to me, and I began by fasting and praying. I began to understand why I had to go through a period of unbelief, and I knew it could only be by the grace of God that Salvation found me.
My ministry dream is Knowing God and the grounding of God’s people in His word and principles. I also want to teach people to guard against the chasing of what God can do for them.
The word that I mostly Identify with is Pastor because I believe that is what it takes to ground people in God’s word and principles.
I strongly believe that ministry is a calling to me and has been before I was formed in my mother’s womb. After a period of non-belief when God started dealing with me and showing me how he had preserved my life for this purpose. Knowing about my calling became very strong at that point. Even people would meet me for the first time would address me as a Pastor, and the Prophetic encounters I was having were confirmation to me.
Challenges in my area relating to ministry are that there is a general lack of grounding of God’s people in His Word there is a serious shift and the focus is no longer God.
My Local Church has been very supportive in making me understand the magnitude of my calling and how I need to be grounded in the Word of God in order for me to be able to walk in faith towards the purpose of God for my life.
When I communicated my calling to my family it was like they had always expected. I never faced any form of resistance from them, and my wife has always been very supportive.
Finally I can get wholesome and comprehensive teachings and knowledge that will help to grow and develop me in my ministry dream. Even better, it will help me to be able to articulate and disseminate the Word of God in a way that will lead to the fulfillment of my ministry dream.
I request prayers that I may know God, understand His ways and in my ministry, that I should stand to disseminate the Word of God in a way that will bring positive transformation to the people of God, that will bring more understanding so that people of God will not perish because of lack of knowledge.
Are you called to spread revival to your corner of the world? Do you want a deeper relationship with God? Christian Leaders Institute can help you do both! Click here to create your student account and start classes today!