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.
Abu Umoru has a deep desire to Present the Gospel through Ministry Training, and enrolled at Chrisitan Leaders Institute for all of the free ministry courses that will help him do so accurately and effectively! Here is his story..
Present the Gospel Through Ministry Training – Abu’s Story
My name is Abu Once Simon Umoru. I was born in 1976 as a Nigerian, brought up in the Northern part of the country, in the Army barracks where my father was serving the Nigerian Army. I grew up in a home with eight children. During my secondary School days, I developed a desire to serve God even as a Catholic, I use to fellowship with other denomination outside our church. As we share the gospel together with the brethren from other denomination, I discovered that there is a vacuum in me that needed to be filled. My life was changed completely in 1994 when I surrendered to Christ and decided to make Him my personal Lord and Savior.
I completed my higher national diploma in management from the Benue State Polytechnic by 2006, after my father’s retirement from active service. Am married to Mary, a caring wife since 2010 and the Lord has blessed our union with two boys. Presently we live in Otsuka, Benue State Nigeria. We fellowship with a church called “The Established Pentecostal Church of Christ.”
In Benue state, we Have lots of Churches. As the middle belt of the country, doing ministry here requires patience and commitment. This end time you see many people attending and bearing denominational names without bearing the fruits of genuine repentance. In my place, people belong to one church or the other though crime and lawlessness are on the increase. About 40% of the people living in my locality are literate while most of the illiterate ones live in rural areas, since they can not read and write, it makes a rural work more tedious since one will need to adopt the people by using there language to present the gospel to them.
CLI has been a blessing to me; I have obtained a diploma of ministry through there support. I will ever live to appreciate the impact of some of the professors, especially my mentor professor Henry Reyenga Jr. There good tutelage has been of tremendous blessing. My learning experience with CLI has been inspiring. Initially, I intended to take only the getting started class. I discovered more of the grace of God shed on my ministerial callings as I delve into Further studies with CLI. My life and ministry are been greatly transformed by some of these courses like the: Church History, sermon construction and presentation, Church Planting, People Smart for ministry, Christian Ethics, Exegesis, among others. My passion for the presentation of the Gospel has been raised to a level that nothing matters to me like the Gospel. Am now well equipped to present the Gospel at every slight opportunity, care for the members of the fold in my way as the spirit directs.
At ordination, I believe the grace of God will help me to harness all my potentials to fulfill my ministry goals. I have a passion for youth evangelism, rural outreaches, Missions and Church administration. Currently, my wife and I are assisting in the work of the gospel in a branch of our church in Otsuka a village in Benue State. As a bi-vocational minister, I feel the ordination will launch me into a full commitment to the work as an associate pastor in our church and my wife will be assisting in the musical department.
My ordination will brighten up the future of my calling; I feel the urgent need to present the undiluted word of God to the people of my generation. Like brother Jude said in Jude 3 that we should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints.
I identify with the word Pastor because it is my earnest desire to know people, preach to and teach them the principles of the kingdom that will help them to grow into the fullness of Christ.
Our local Church has been very supportive. The state overseer have been backing us with prayers and giving other necessary guidance during my studies. The church also requested that we share our visions with the senior pastors so that they can pray along with us and serve as mentors to aid effectiveness in our area of calling. I have been requested to forward my certificate to serve the Church after my training and ordination as a pastor.
Please pray that God will release His grace on me abundantly so that, I will be effective in the ministry. That the entire future ministry goal God lay in my heart will find expression as I live to fulfill His mandate alone.
Christianity is not welcome in all communities, and can be hard to find a seminary available where some students live. CLI is able to help students from all over the world Live For God Through Ministry, no matter where they live, what culture they come from or what financial situation they are in!
Live For God Through Ministry – Caribbean Student at CLI
I live in the Caribbean, which is located in the West Indies. I belong to the lovely island of Trinidad which is known as the sister isle of Tobago. In Trinidad, persons are open to hearing the word of God which makes it easy to express one’s belief freely without having to hide or be afraid to show who you are in Christ. The greatest challenge is finding persons who are truly willing to take up the mantle and go into the communities and tell others about the love of God. Just as anywhere else time is the biggest hindrance to spreading the word of God.
The days seems so short that sometimes it is so difficult to do all that is needed about strengthening oneself through God’s word. Through my teenage year, I took the time to seek the Lord but due to little guidance, I always strayed from really finding my place in him. After getting married, my husband and I decided that we should find a new foundation in which to start our new family. June of this year will be our 12th anniversary and December of this year will make it 11 years serving the Lord. My dream is basically to be able to be a Christ-like example to my two children and those that I may interact with on a daily basis. I just want to be able to equip myself such that when called upon I will be able to answer the call.
I am at present a Sunday school teacher for beginners ages 3-8. I want to be able to help children that don’t belong to a family that trust and depend on God. These children that attend my Sunday school class may only hear the word of God on Sundays when they come to church, so I must be able to find ways that will keep then wanting to know more about God while they grow. It is easy to focus and try to accomplish all that I can in Christ because my husband is also a believer and my children are between the ages of 4 and 11, so there is really no hindrance family wise. Everyone in the family has one main focus, and that is to live according to the word of God because as parents my husband and I are trying to instill this in the mind of our children.My main goal is just about staying focus on what I will like to accomplish which is to live life, according to the word of God. I am not quite sure what my calling is, but I know I have to be fully prepared for when that time arrives. I believe it is better to be prepared and wait than the time come, and you are not ready. I know that in time God will make my purpose clear to me as to what He wants me to be or where He wants me to go. It is all about having God lead; once he is in control, I am positive that there is no room for mistakes. At present, I am enjoy doing activities with the beginners that help them understand about God, his love and all that they can have if they will just trust him.
At the time, we believe that children at this age will not understand who Jesus is, but they do. They may not be able to express themselves but little by little the teaching that they receive make a great difference in their lives. I am truly blessed to have this privilege to make a difference in the life of a child. Being focused will make this very easy, but most of all I am just making sure that when God is ready to place me where ever He choose I can say yes Lord I am ready. I will like prayer in the area of not losing focus of who I should be in Christ and what I need to do as I use the word of God to help others who may be unsure of their purpose in Christ.