Hello and Blessings! My name is Charles Larsen, although I usually go by the nickname “Chuck”. I live in a beautiful area on the western side of the state of Michigan in the USA. Our town is called Grand Haven and is a community blessed with water, sandy beaches and many churches, including the one I attend and am privileged to be an elder at. This church started just over 25 years ago with a handful of people and has grown into a diverse and wonderful church with over 900 people attending on Sunday services.
I would like to say that I have had a strong relationship with the Lord for many years, but alas although I thought myself a strong Christian it wasn’t until we started attending this church about 4 years ago that my relationship with God really blossomed and grew! A recent trip to the Holy Land fueled my passion for Jesus and then “discovering” CLI through a group of friends has served as an important step in my walk with Jesus!
My wife and I are recently retired which allows us to participate more in church activities, small groups, eldership, as well as our bible study and CLI. I am looking forward to learning and increasing my knowledge and personal spiritual education.
Being retired and now on a fixed income, we find it important and wonderful that CLI is an online low-cost way to accomplish these goals. Should I be blessed to be able to proceed to a degree, I feel that this will allow me to achieve these goals within the framework of a regular structured course where the material is accessible, presented in clear and entertaining manners and organized in a progressive way.
I feel that I am fortunate to be supported in CLI work by my wife and a study group, as well as with comfort and support of church leadership. Through my prayers I know that the Holy Spirit will be with me in my studies as well as my Walk and in performing whatever Work God is going to call me to do.
I continue to pray that CLI will further equip me to do His Work and lead me to an even closer and stronger relationship with Jesus!
DANIEL NYARKO FROM GHANA
My name is Daniel Nyarko, a 32-year-old caring Husband. I am married to Deborah Nyarko, a nurse by profession in Ghana in the Eastern region, who has been very instrumental in my ministry. I am currently the Coordinator of the English Assembly of the Christ Apostolic Church International, Akim Oda – New Town Assembly.
Doing ministry in Ghana is awesome and fulfilling despite the economic challenge one may encounter. I was born into the Church of Pentecost, dedicated and brought up in the ministry. Having duly gone through the Bible outline ascribed to the children’s ministry, I was baptized and ushered into the Adult service. I acquainted myself with the Bible and personally believed in the inspirational word, prayer, fasting and the oneness of God.
I have always desired of serving the Lord in His divine vineyard as a Pastor. I have always felt the calling of God upon my life until one faithful day; I felt sick to the point of death; I clearly heard the voice of God trumpeting into my ears that I will not die unless I have fulfilled His calling upon my life. I surrendered all and answered to the calling. God blessed me a book that I wrote, entitled: Discovering your Purpose in life. The book was launched at the Christ Apostolic Church, Akim Oda – New Town. After a while, I had a revelation that I had joined the Christ Apostolic Church. I sought the Lord in prayers, and after I had received a confirmation, I joined the church.
Because of the economic downturn in Ghana, standard of living is very high in our geographical area; rendering the local church financially unsound. Again, members attend to their work early and return late, which affect attendance at church in the evening services. Just to mention a few.
Given the challenges stated, the Christian Leaders Institute Scholarship will be of help to me to be able to fulfill my dream calling.
My church had been of tremendous assistance to me regarding advice, motivation, prayers among others when I told them of my enrollment in the Christian Leaders Institute.
Your prayers for long life, dream calling guidance, understanding the Holy Spirit more and perseverance to finish the race will be of much assistance. God bless you for this opportunity to share my story.
Trained Church Planter
Steve Stoltzfus is a trained church planter from Pennsylvania. Church planting is challenging. You dare to preach the gospel in a community. You sense the calling to minister to the lives of people touching the souls of humanity. A Godly trained church planter begins with a simple understanding. Stoltzfus testified,
God gave me Life, Healing and Free Ministry Training, I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress
Christian Leaders Institute has been giving out free ministry training for years now. God has been raising up one Christian leaders.
Trained Church Planter Story
I am married to a wonderful woman named Naomi who has been my faithful wife for 27 yrs. I have 6 daughters and 2 sons. I also own a small business and we sell sheds all over North Eastern United States I gave my life to the Lord in 1997 after growing up in the Amish community. God has completely changed my outlook on life and has given me so many things to thank Him for including my Family my life and most of all the things that He has done for me.
I want to use this training to further learn about the will of God in my life. I am currently a Deacon in the local church. And also we currently lead a weekly bible study. Also have been a youth leader in the past. God is calling me in to spend more and more time in the ministry and I want to rightly divide the word of truth. Many people come to me with questions about Gods word or asking for prayer God has been calling me for years it is time to answer the call.
Wow as I write this I am amazed at what God can do. About a 1 1/2 ago I found Christian Leaders Institute. I had always wanted to go to a seminary but wasn’t able to because of family or other constraints. But God changed that I am now an Officiant and God is shortly going to help me become a pastor. God is so good and faithful he is helping me to rightly divide the word of truth. A few things He has done since starting at CLI are he has showed me so many truths through the good teachers also I have learned how to teach better.
Steve is in the process of starting our his ow church plant in East Stroudsburg Pa. As a trained church planter he has now started a church in his own home. He also has weekly bible studies and outreaches. He has also connected 3 other people to CLI. and am looking to be an Ambassador for Ministry training in his area. God is doing great things through Steve. Pray that he is used to be an effective leader, preacher and teacher to fulfill the great commission of making disciples.