Kendell T. O’Brien of Toronto, Canada – Christian Basics Graduate.
Toronto Free Ministry Training – “READY TO ANSWER GOD’S CALL”
Heavenly blessings in the Name of The Lord Jesus Christ! My name is Kendell T. O’Brien, and I am 39 years old. I am married to my gorgeous and lovely wife Samantha, and we have two adorable children.
I live in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada. Toronto is the most multicultural city in the world; it is very exciting to see. However, it is heartbreaking to know that millions have not surrendered their lives to Jesus.
When I was a little boy, I truly asked Jesus into my heart. When I got older, I began to make my own choices, which caused me to stray. I began to get full of the world; my eyes were blinded and my ears were dull to hearing the Truth.
In 1996, for about the entire month of August, God graciously began to pour out His Spirit upon my life in a series of supernatural encounters. I knew he was seeking me as according to LUKE 19:10, “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Then on August 31st 1996, I cried out to Him, surrendering my life to His Lordship. That day, I was born again and fill with His Spirit.
My dream is to see my city, my nation, and this world to encounter one of the greatest REVIVAL the world have ever seen, and to see others like me doing the same.
I have at times sought a way where I can be equipped to go and do whatever The Lord has purposed my wife and I to do, but there seemed to be no way. Then I stumbled across The Christian Leaders Institute website, after typing in “Ready to answer God’s call”.
I am currently serving as an Elder in my church. In the past I was involved in various ministries, the most recent as a Youth Leader. My wife and I are current Life Coach Leaders(one of our church various ministries). We mentor and lead a small group in our home, to help them grow in Christ and become disciples for Him.
Having a scholarship at CLI will be a tremendous blessing to me and my family. My wife and I prayed for God to make a way, and thank God, He did! The fields are ripe for harvest and we must fulfill Jesus’s commission(Matt. 28:19-20).
Whereever you live in this world, this Toronto Free Ministry Training not just offered in Toronto. Enroll now yourself!
This New York Graduate has ministry dreams as he continues his studies at Christian Leaders Institute.
Now the age of 27, I am glad to be the husband of my lovely wife, and father to our spirited son (with one more on the way, due April 2 2016). I was raised in church and involved with numerous ministry activities and outreaches throughout my childhood and young adult life. Though I had somewhat of an understanding of who God is, and though I had wonderful examples of walks with God in both of my parents, somehow I had not yet fully set my heart in God’s hands.
Around the ages of 19-20 years old I was a wayward young man; I was still attending chirch services 2-3 times a week, but my heart was far from God, and my actions proved it. It was at that age that I began to search in the wrong places for satisfaction and purpose, only to find myself without any particular direction or identity. I would float from one group of friends to the next, always craving to be in the middle of the next big event. I quickly found out that the sorrow and guilt of living a life apart from God were far worse than it seemed, no matter how great I dreamed the independence would feel. No party, no relationship, no thrill or experience could appear to fill the void in my heart. After some deep searching along with some divine intervention, I came to know Jesus at a more personal level. I was invited by a friend to visit Mexico on a quick mission trip, where I was invited to share my testimony.
I frantically opened up a Bible to look for something I could say, but quickly realized that my testimony was no better than the prodigal son before he returned home. I returned home after that trip with a new desire to know God, and a deep hunger for His word. Out of that time I began a new walk with God, that did not rely on the influence of others, but rather a deep understanding of my Savior’s love for me personally. Now I can say with absolute certainty that I know the Lord for myself; He is no longer the God of my father and mother, but my personal savior and friend. From that point on, despite the many attacks of the enemy, my foundation has been strong. The decision of choosing God for myself as a young man, and the experience of encountering His love and presence in my life, has been the beginning of a great walk with God which has only grown stronger with time.
You could say that I come from a family pedigree of ministry; not anyone famous, but some genuine, humble men of God. My paternal grandfather was an Assemblies of God pastor who planted 5+ churches throughout rural Michigan, while my maternal grandfather was an ordained Nazarene minister who spent most of his working years serving a church in a poor Hispanic community in Arizona. My father is now the pastor of a small church in rural Oregon with my mother and youngest 3 siblings. Throughout my short life I have helped to lead youth programs, Bible studies and outreach teams, while constantly looking for opportunities of one-on-one evangelism.
In December of 2013, in obedience to God’s leading, I moved with my “newly-wed” wife from San Diego, California (where I grew up) to Staten Island, New York (one of NYC’s 5 burros) to be near her family and their church, which is pastored by my father-in-law. I have been amazed at the Lord’s provision as He has faithfully supplied all that we have needed. As a young man with no degree (I initially dropped out of college to start my own business, and have not gone back), I have been blessed with an excellent job taking care of the maintenance of 2 buildings for a ministry organization in Manhattan, NY.
Over the past two years, God’s plan has been unfolding little by little, and my wife and I have been able to learn and grow together in Him. We have a growing circle of influence with new friends and family members and feel a strong calling plant a church near our home. I have for several years felt a strong calling to ministry, and one day hope to be a pastor. There are many young men and women near our home who have never known or experienced the love of God, let alone his ability to forgive and transform them from sinners into saints.
Most have grown up in Catholic homes while only attending mass for Easter and Christmas, thinking that a bite of a cracker and a sip of wine for communion will be good enough to get them into heaven. I am excited for this opportunity with Christian Leaders Institute to pursue ministry in a more studious manner while still being able to support my growing family. With a growing family in New York City, it can be difficult to get by, but with God’s provision and this new educational opportunity I am extremely glad for the scholarship offered by CLI. I am looking forward to seeing what God does next on this amazing adventure of serving Him!
The Foundation for Economic Education and Christian Leaders Institute are partnering to provide free, high-quality training for Christian Leaders Institute students and graduates. Christian Leaders Institute looks for partnerships with organizations that seek to glorify God in every area of life. This partnership will be foundational for our desire to help local Christian leaders excel in providing for their families whatever their income-earning situation is.
The Foundation for Economic Education was founded in 1946 by Leonard E. Read to study and advance the freedom philosophy. Today, Dr. Lawence Reed heads up this organization. CLI appreciates how Dr. Reed sees economics seeking to let free people be allowed to live out the “cultural mandate” of Genesis 1:28. Reed believes that “character” is core to economics. Check out one of his presentations Liberty and Character. Watch Dr. Reed as he was interviewed in a segment by John Stossel of FOX news.
Christian Leaders Institute is praying about introducing a Christian Enterprise Program of Study in the future years, depending on whether the Lord provides the funds, partnerships, and professors. We believe this program of study could impact millions of lives. The Foundation for Economic Education and CLI are now partnering with a core economic class as a first step toward a complete Christian Enterprise program of study. We prayerfully intend to develop Christian Enterprise classes grounded in a vivid Christian world and life view.
One of the things Christian Leaders Institute likes about the Foundation for Economic Education is their commitment to offering free, high-quality training, especially to young people, mentors, and teachers. Dr. Lawence Reed and CLI president Henry Reyenga share the common passion of bringing education to leaders everywhere. Reyenga believes that this partnership will help Christian leaders be more effective in their lives and ministry. Reyenga wants to bring this wealth of economic to the Christian Leaders Institute audience that includes all ages from young to old. Their material fits well with our vision of making difficult concepts understandable.
The Foundation for Economic Education is located in Atlanta, Georgia. FEE provides free events available in various parts of the United States. Click this link to find out more.