Christian Leaders Institute student Fran Hume has been a part of her Church’s outreach program for a long time now, but feels the need to take her involvement in ministry further. She has enrolled at CLI for a Formal Ministry Education, and will use her education to become more involved in her community. Here is her story…
Formal Ministry Education – Fran’s Story
My name is Fran Hume. I’m an American from the deep South, serving the international community in Lahti, Finland. For the past seven years, I’ve served my local Pentecostal church’s outreach program to our international residents. The roles I fill change according to need. They have been/were group leader, Bible teacher, deaconess, webmaster, and “mom”.
My ministry
Our growing group includes immigrants, students, multicultural families, and seekers, from about 15 countries and speaking about 25 mother tongues. Members’ religious backgrounds are diverse — they come from Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist, agnostic and atheist backgrounds. We build community by ignoring differences and focusing on Christ the One True Community. Our foundation is built on Christ’s sacrifice and salvation, and His instruction to love and forgive. We share faith by doing and pray that they see Christ through us.
How I came to Christ
All my life I’ve worked very hard to overcome the long years of abuse I’d suffered at the hands of an alcoholic parent. After leaving home at 19, I devoted my life to working hard as a writer and trying to be a “good Christian person”, but I didn’t have Jesus in my heart. Life was a struggle. By the time I was in my 50’s I had walked into, and pulled my way out of, one near-death experience after another, crisis after crisis. The NASDAQ crash of 2000? Yep — from rich to bankrupt overnight and I pulled myself back up. The World Trade Center in 2001? Yep — I lost everything and pulled myself up by moving to Finland. I climbed again to the top — but this time it was I who broke.I remember spinning in a circle and mumbling and hearing voices. I couldn’t separate present events from memories, was suicidal and suffering profound anxiety attacks. The doctors said I showed all the symptoms of a combat soldier returning from long combat in active war zones. Only then did this tough little Texan give up. I whispered “I give up. Jesus — if you’re real — then you do it.”
In the snap of a finger, I heard in my mind, “Go get a cuppa coffee.” That led me into a cafe run by an English-speaking saint. She led me to a social office, whose workers led me to a Salvation Army shelter. A few weeks later, another lady led me to the only church offering an English-language worship service and fellowship. Jesus began pouring a love over me.
As our beloved Apostle John wrote 2000 years ago, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them was written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (John 21:25)
In Christ, All Things Are Possible!
Now, I’m 62. My Lord and Savior has completely healed my body and mind; he baptized me with the fire of the Holy Spirit and delivered me from generational curses and demonization through my sinful choices. I live in His peace, and strive to give other immigrants the same assurance of Christ’s mercy, grace, and love that He showed me.Recently I’ve felt more urgently that I must shift my attention towards getting a degree in Bible studies. It feels like there’s a closed door somewhere that Jesus wants me to walk through, but first he wants me to get the key: a formal ministry education.
I’m 62 now, and as so many other immigrants here, am unable to find a job. It’s impossible for me to pay the high tuitions required by Bible schools. That’s why CLI’s scholarship program is crucial for me. It represents Christ’s perfect provision. Thank you, and God bless you all!
Please pray for all pilgrims forced to leave their homes, and for those receiving-country missionaries who minister His hope to them.
Brad DeForest could not afford to take additional courses through a traditional seminary, so he enrolled at Christian Leaders Institute for a Ministry Education Without Financial Obligation. Here is his story…
Ministry Education Without Financial Obligation – Brad’s Story
I grew up in a Catholic church and came to know the Lord through Bible study with my mom and Sunday school. I did not have a good Christian foundation of faith through High School and fell into the ways of the world in college. After college, I started to go back to church at a small non-denominational church where I began to know the Lord better through his word. Over the last five years, my relationship with the Lord has grown, and he has given me strength through hard times that brought me closer to him. My wife and I are currently the Youth Leaders at our church, and my dream is to grow the Youth Ministry at our church and eventually start a College Ministry. I think that there is a lack of Christian mentorship between the ages of 18 and 25, and would like to grow ministry to provide encouragement and guidance to this age group. I identify most with Youth Leader because I am a Youth Pastor. The lack of good Youth leadership in my younger years prompted me to step into ministry. I wish I would have had a good Christian mentor in High School and college to keep me from straying from the Lord. I live in South Florida, where society is extremely materialistic. Worldly influences are everywhere with more night clubs and strip clubs than churches. It is hard to keep the youth focused on God and not on the world. Our Lead Pastor has been a great mentor and is very encouraging. Additionally, the congregation has come behind us in encouraging the ministry and us as leaders. My wife has been a huge factor in continuing in ministry. She knows how much I enjoy ministry and encourages me when I get discouraged. Additionally, since I became a Youth Leader, my dad who has never known the Lord has decided to start going to church and seeing that God has used my step into ministry to bring him to God brings me great joy. A scholarship at CLI will allow me to get Bible and Ministry education that I would not have the means to get any other way. I work two jobs just to pay my bills and cannot afford to take out additional student loans to get this education. Please pray that God gives me a strength to continue in this calling for my life.
Jeffrey Whitlow recognizes that his community is on the Brink of Revival and wishes to use Christian Leaders Institute’s free online ministry training to bring Revival to Muskegon, MI. Here is his story…
Brink of Revival – Jeffrey’s Story
Hello! My name is Jeffrey Whitlow, and I live in Muskegon, Michigan in the United States. I first accepted Christ as a child, grew up attending church, and at the age a 20 I felt a strong calling become a pastor. I even checked out some Bible Colleges but was unable to afford the cost. By my mid-20s, I had turned away from God and the church to lead my life. I quickly sank into a world of drugs, sex, and witchcraft that nearly killed me. I spent 15 years practicing Wicca, even serving at times as a high priest. Fortunately, God rescued me and brought me home in 2005. Since that time, I have strived to live a life pleasing to Him. He has blessed me with a beautiful wife and opened many doors to serve.
My ministry dream is to become an ordained pastor and the doors for further ministry that that will open. However, I also recognize the many opportunities available now. In fact, I am currently preparing for another week of serving as a counselor at a Christian-based summer camp for Special needs adults.
I think one of the biggest challenges to ministry in my area is poverty; financial, spiritual, and moral. Muskegon is a city poised on the brink of revival, but we need more people willing to do what it takes to make that difference.
A CLI Scholarship is important to me because it will allow me to pursue the education that will help me to become a better leader.