Christian Leaders Institute’s student Cheryl Jordan enrolled to learn and practice ministry and cater to inmates in jail. Here is Cheryl’s story about how CLI made it possible to Minister to Jails with free online training!
Minister to Jails with Free Online Training – Cheryl’s Story
Hi my name is Cheryl Jordan I am from the United States. I was born and raised in the United States. I am 53 years old. I grew up a methodist but am not a religion of any kind anymore. I believe in God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. I believe in the trinity and that God is the only true God. I don’t believe in religion because it is man made. I believe every word of the Bible. Though we are free in America to practice religion and do ministry it is difficult due to so much evil in the world right now. And the fact that they have taken religion and God out of so many public places such as schools. It is truly a challenge.
I was introduced to church and God when I was very little by my mother in her church. It was a methodist church and I grew up going there. I really had no interest in it what-so-ever at that time. I went to church on sundays because mom made me. Once I got to be in high school it was my choice whether or not to go and I chose not to. Later at the age of about 19 I started going to a different church it was baptist. I liked it but really hadn’t changed my life style. I was living for me and my wants and desires. I was living in the flesh. Not good. Then I fell away from the church really until about 2007.
In 2007 I was at a local Mcdonalds when an aquantaince was there with his fiance. I had no plans of getting saved that day. I was going about my own business when I said “Hi to the aquantaince . He invited me to eat lunch with them and asked if he could pray for me. He prayed for me to receive the Holy Spirit. And WOW!!! I have never been the same since.
That day when I left Mcdonalds I felt like I was floating on air. I felt a love I had never felt before. God had knocked many times on my heart and I would not let him in. This one day all of the sudden it was like I surrendered and let him in. And he is AWESOME!!!!My ministry dream is to bring others to know God and his great love just as someone did for me.I want to minister to those locked up in the jail. I want to do jail ministry. I want to reach the brokenhearted. I have many things I want to do but the first and foremost is jail ministry.
I most identify with the word Pastor. It just feels right. Evangelism is great but I see myself more as a pastor than an evangelist.
I would say that I was prompted to pursue ministry because God has forgiven me much and poured out his grace and Holy Spirit on me to such a degree that I want to show others his great love. And when I was so lost he sent someone to save me when I did not deserve saving.
I would say the most unique challenge in my area would be the lack of faith in people in the schools, and just in society today.
My local church has supported me in my ministy calling by offering a volunteer chaplaincy and other christian teachings. And also I have done some ministry for One wholeheart ministry which is a healing ministry. We focus on trying to heal the heart.
My family is proud of how far I have come and the fact that I want to be an ambassador for God. Or in other words do ministry. They have seen some wonderful changes in my life.
A scholarship from CLI would be most important for my ministry dream because it is the only way I would be able to pursue my dream. I don’t have the money or time to go to a regular on campus college. And I have student loans that I am still paying off so I can’t get more in debt. It would give me the status I need to be taken seriously in my walk with Christ. And it will help me to learn all I need to learn so I can be a more effective minister or Pastor.
You can pray for me in my ministry by praying that the doors will start to open for me to start ministering in the jails. I have been trying to get in to the jails for probably about 4 years with no success. My past has sometimes held me back because though I am a new creature in Christ people often want to identify me with who I used to be. That person wasn’t a good person. But now I live for Christ and want to help others to find Christ as well.
Ashley Proctor enrolled at Christian Leaders Institute to learn and understand God’s Word and save lives through free Ministry Training. Here is her story…
Save Lives Through Free Ministry Training – Ashley’s Story
Hello My name is Ashley Proctor and I’m from a small town in South Carolina in the country of The United States. I have always had God in my life and I went to church on and off. About a year and half ago I lost my Grandmother to murder and I didn’t know where to go or who to turn to. But as I look back on that I would have known quickly if I would have been closer to God. I didn’t turn to any bad addictions but I lost my true self. I’ve always been a fun, outgoing, and kind person but when I lost my Grandmother I wasn’t that anymore. People started seeing that and I finally went back to church after 2 months after the incident with my Grandmother. I started praying more and turning to God for everything. I started to realize things were getting better but I still felt lost. One day one of the ladies at church asked me to be apart of the Youth Sunday and she asked me if I would like to preach a short sermon or just do children times. I told her I would get back to her and when I did she thought I was going to choose children times. I prayed and prayed and I believe God told me to do a sermon. After that sermon I knew ministry was for me. When I was speaking out to the congregation I felt something go all over me and I started speaking from my heart . I knew God came through me and gave me the words to spread to everyone. I’m truly blessed.
I would love to be able to pastor a church one day and to be a ministry leader. I would also love to counsel people with spiritual and personal issues . I believe I can do both because I am a true witness to God’s love and that anything is possible through Him. I would use Pastor or youth leader the most to identify myself because I feel like I can minister to both older and younger people. I just want to lead people to Jesus Christ and to do God’s work .
The key experience that lead me to do ministry is the horrific incident with my Grandmother being murdered, and that lead me to want to help others get closer to God. A lot of younger people ask me to pray for them, with them, and they also ask me questions about being saved. I believe they look up to me and want me to lead them more to God. That’s why I am so interested in ministry because I get so excited helping others climb the mountain to get to Jesus’s feet.
Where I live, I believe we have a lot of crime and drugs. A lot of people are turning to bad situations instead of God. I’m trying my best to be a great influence for God first and myself. I want them to see the importance in taking that walk with God. My church has always supported me in everything I have done and especially now since my calling of ministry has risen. My church family gives advice, and they support me well. My Pastor has been guiding me in the right direction and giving me the support and opportunities to help me be readier for my ministry experience shortly.
My family has always been so close, and they have been amazing on supporting me on my ministry journey. I have been writing books and poetry about our one and only true God. I am publishing a Christian book here soon, and God has blessed me with the knowledge and ability to write about Him.
If I received this scholarship, it would be a true blessing for me and everyone else because I am here for God and to spread His word. I am His servant and I will obey to His word. Pray for me to help save lives and to help me grow stronger in faith in God’s way so I can be the best I can be for God and His children.
Christina Mayhew yearned to be a leader in her Church and enrolled at Christian Leaders Institute to receive free Ministry Leader Training to achieve her goals and dreams. Here is her story…
Free Ministry Leader Training – Christina Mayhew’s Story
Hi! I am Christina Mayhew .I live in the United states. I am from the small town of Leland, located on the outskirts of Wilmington, NC. I am the proud wife of an amazing husband, James, and the mother of 3 beautiful children; William, Alyssa, and Erica. My husband is a foreman at a local construction company and I own a small residential cleaning business. I am dedicated to God, my family, and helping others.
My walk with God started at a young age, although I have strayed at times throughout the years. When I was a child, my grandmother would come and pick up my brother and I for the summer. Every year, it never failed, my grandma was there to get us. We would spend the whole summer going to vacation bible school, fishing, and just visiting. She taught me many things over the years, but the most amazing and wonderful thing she ever taught me was about the love of God and my savior Jesus Christ. She taught me how to pray, how to love, have compassion, and the everlasting love that God has for everyone.
As a child I loved going to church, learning about Jesus, memorizing verses, and meeting great people. Although, my parents did not go to church or lead christian lifestyles, my grandma’s words remained in my heart and soul. I prayed all the time, gave thanks to God, asked for his guidance, and continued to trust in him. My grandma’s kindness rubbed off on me as well. At the age of 10, my grandma passed away, I felt like my whole world was taken away.
As a teenager and young adult, I struggled with my faith. I rebelled and strayed from my spiritual journey. I loved to party, have some drinks, sneak out with my friends, and other things of this world. I found out I was pregnant and had my first child when I was only 20 years old. That little life inside of me, reminded me of the love that God had for me and that miracles can come unexpectedly. I felt an overwhelming draw to get back to church and to rededicate my life to God, our creator. I went to many different churches, and just could not find what I was searching for. I finally found a church that I felt compelled to stay at in 2014. I began reading my Bible more and more, and fell in love with the word of God. I am still not as secure in my knowledge of the word as I need to be, but reading the word and fellowship with others in faith has helped me tremendously.
I have a strong yearning to learn the word of God thoroughly, and I feel like God has led me to CLI. The women’s group at my church needs more leaders and I would love to become one. The problem is I don’t feel confident in my level of knowledge, to become a leader. “if anyone causes one of these little ones- those who believe in me- to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone, hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Mathew 18:6, NIV). I don’t want to unintentionally lead others, and therefore, CLI can assist me in gaining the knowledge I need, to confidently, spread the word of God. I want to share The word of God and instill it in the hearts of others, in a way that my grandma did for me.
I had a strong pulling on my heart to seek a Bible college that focuses on the word and the truth! I think I have found that at CLI and I look forward to my studies. I would not be able to afford this education otherwise, and I am very thankful and excited for this opportunity. May God bless you all.