My name is Henry William Conoly II, I live in the United States and am blessed that the country I live in does not persecute those who practice our faith. Sadly though with that has come much doubt in the power of Christ and the temptation to follow other “gods”. Further separating people from the one true God and the only path to salvation, Christ. Many like me want to work to change this sad situation in America and bring people to their one true home in God.
I came to know the Lord through the death of my Grandmother Sharon Conoly in the early 2000’s. That moment in time made me realize that I cannot live in this world alone and need something that can guide me. It is when I first read the Bible and started to learn the power of God Almighty and Christ the Redeemer. I realized that by putting my trust in the Trinity and living a life that is pleasing to God all my fears and pain disappear. I learned that Christ alone can bring me hope and eternal happiness. Since then I have looked to live a life serving Him.
My dream is to serve as a leader in the Church I recently became a part of and hopefully as they expand start leading worship at one of their new churches. We take an up-beat approach to ministry and I believe that with this style of church we have we can bring more people into Christ’s family. Our non-judgmental approach to faith welcomes all who seek to experience Christ to join us and worship in the hopes that they will be touched by God and continue to grow in faith.
I would find myself to be both a Pastor and a Youth Leader. The reason lies in that every leader who has made an impact on my life religiously was a Pastor. I am non-denominational and find that the word Pastor is representative of that. I also want to be called a Youth Leader because working with the minds of the young seems to be easy for me. I can share their pains, and have fought through them and feel that that connection will help them see the light of God. I want to help shape young minds and help them see the Glory of God and the power of Christ.
I was prompted to pursue ministry after I felt the overwhelming peace and joy in Christ. I was in church and had questions, but I opened my heart to Jesus and asked Him to come to me and I felt Him. I felt calm I felt peace I felt hope and knew right then and there that this is what I must do. I must help others find Christ and his salvation and that I must help others to the Kingdom of God. I was told to find this and CLI was the first stop. It was like God was pointing my way to this school and program.
One of the most unique challenges in my area is how many different religions exist in my area, it confuses the young minds and makes it easier for them to be tempted by the devil to worship false gods. They need people who will connect with them in order to find the path to salvation and in the end the Lord and God. I hope that with this training and education I can help to connect to them to help them find salvation.
I haven’t spoke with my church about this yet, but I know when I do they will be behind me with all their love, support and prayers to help me through this. They want more young leaders and I know that they will see the future of me being a Pastor. I dream and pray for the day I can lead in one of their churches and help others. Their church reignited the flame in my heart for God.
The scholarship would assist in so many ways. I work full time and use allot of what I make to support myself and the many bills I have. It’s hard, but Christ gives me hope for a brighter future and as a part of that I believe He has set me on the path through this school. I know the scholarship will allow me to achieve my dreams and pay it forward to others in need.
The prayer that I need is that my mind can stay focused on the task at hand. That I do not stray away from this education and that I may continue to grow as a Christian and a future Pastor. I dream of being ordained and cannot wait until that days comes. Prayer is the best way to achieve my dreams and I will be praying to God for strength, knowledge and determination to do this.
I am Jacquelyne Kancir from the United States of America. As an American and a wife of a USMC Purple Heart Veteran with post-combat PTSD, I’d like to apply my ministry to spouses and families of other veterans affected by the recent OIF and OEF conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Our VA system offers counseling, medication, and other worldly helps, but true healing requires a strong spiritual fight against the deceiver’s lies. I want to help equip wives to become that spiritual help for their suffering husbands. These veterans signed up for a physical war, but many had no idea the spiritual war that would await them when they returned home.
While I had known the Lord for as long as I could remember, I was introduced to legalistic doctrine early in my childhood. I was raised in a home that taught of a punishing God and rules of religion. In my twenties, I fell from my faith after a series of significant traumas. My mother-in-law introduced me to the truth of the Lord, modeled a beautiful loving relationship with our Father, and I was born again in my thirties. From there on, I sought a relationship with the Lord. My entire mindset and way of life changed. I truly have been renewed, and I seek daily for a continual renewal.
My ministry dream is to help others that may currently be in a place of darkness or suffering from traumas or relationship pains come to see the great miracles of healing that can only come through a relationship with our Savoir. I have been abundantly blessed and filled with the Spirit, and I want to be a willing vessel for the Lord to use me to spread His loving message to others.
I identify most as a small group leader. I’m often finding women’s Bible studies to attend, conferences, and I’ll purchase materials and invite other women in my life that can share in the experience with me. I also lead a Christian support group for wives and family of OIF/OEF post-combat PTSD veterans.
My husband and I suffered for years through the effects of PTSD before I turned it all over to the Lord and allowed him to work miracles in our lives. Women like Stormie Omartian, Joyce Meyer, and Katie Souza were instrumental vessels in getting me to hear the message of surrender to God, the Father. As in I Peter 4:8, I learned to love my husband fervently, to provide him the charity of love, (even in times I personally didn’t feel him deserving), and that covered a multitude of sins, both his and mine. I learned that I could be strengthened through Christ in ways I couldn’t fathom. I experienced amazing peace in midst of the most tremendous storms. I became very difficult to offend and quick to forgive (Meyer, “Power Thoughts”). I watched God melt my husband’s heart and bring him, me, and our entire family into alignment with His will. I became a warrior for a spiritual battle that my husband was suffering in versus battling him. We became a team for God’s plan. As I watched other women continue to suffer in their marriages from the post-war effects, I felt a yearning to share this good news, that healing was possible!
In my area of ministry, my main challenge is the secrecy and shame often associated with PTSD in veterans. Many are unwilling to admit they have a problem, and even for those that do, often they try to suffer on their own, instead of allowing their wives to help. Thus, there are many wives that aren’t even aware what is causing their marriage such difficulties or changing the love of their life. In my experience, hearing from even one other wife that they are not alone can help ignite a flame that fuels these women to find hope and healing.
A scholarship at CLI will give me the support, knowledge, wisdom, and growth I need to remove the callouses from my eyes and ears to better see and hear the will of God, to allow myself to be molded into a true working vessel of the Lord’s message. My ministry spiritually arms and supports people walking in incredible darkness with strong demons. It is absolutely imperative I maintain a very close walk with the Lord. Please pray that I may remain strong to help others.
Ministry in Ghana
Ministry in Ghana – I am Leslie Armah a Ghanaian, and I do ministry in Ghana, West Africa and a holder of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
I always have the desire to worship and most of all work for our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, but yet I always desired the flesh (i.e. the sinful nature). As a matter of fact in those days before I go to sleep I always pray to Jesus Christ to have mercy on me and change me before I die, and should not be when I am aged as my father but rather in my youthful age as I am.
On the 6th June, 2010, I went for a youth program in my local church at about 7pm and on that day we listen to a revelation about Heaven and Hell by an Ecuadorian girl named Angelica Zambrano.
At dawn on the 7th June, 2010 at about 2am the Holy Spirit woke me up and He was reminding me of all that I heard from the lady’s revelation and I was asked do I know that if I should have died my place would have been in hell.
I cried all dawn to 5am asking for forgiveness of my sins and disobedience. On the following Sunday, I confessed Jesus Christ before the church, and I was prayed for. Since then I have been working for the Lord.
Since I was not working for Jesus Christ, I was working for Satan, so till the day I was visited by the Holy Spirit and was forgiven I promised Him that I would work ten times for Him.
Ministry in Ghana is difficult. People in my locality are hard ears to the truth, and Muslims and traditionalist are also invoking and deceiving others these are the challenges that I face.
I am recognized as the head of the evangelism team in my local church, and now I am known as an Evangelist and I like it because that is the work that I do most. In some few years to come, I will be made the youth pastor in my local church. I am also a Sunday school teacher for some adults and the youth in my church.
My family including my sweet wife helps me in prayers and encourages me in my calling. My dedication to Jesus Christ has empowered one out of three of my siblings to be zealous for Christ.
Since my graduation from my University in 2012, I decided not to work for any organization which will take most of my time from working for Jesus Christ but rather do my own business so I can have time for the work of Jesus Christ. As at now I am helping in a family business and I do have some time to work as will for Jesus Christ, I hope the Lord will open way for me to own my own business some few time to come.
The fact is that I do not have enough money now which I would use to pay for a Bible school in my country. CLI has helped me to receive a Christian Basic Certificate in studying the Bible free of charge that I never dreamt of. I am so excited about ministry in Ghana now. CLI has also increased my knowledge about the word of God and given me understanding of the Holy Scripture which I use for teaching in church and on the field when I go out with my team to proclaim the Gospel.
I will plead with CLI to help me by praying to God over my lost neighbors in my locality to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance in the Kingdom of God.
I am grateful for being a student in CLI. The Godhead richly bless you in all that you are doing for us all, not forgetting those who are giving donations to the Institute for such a wonderful and beneficial program to be kept running for the growth of the living church.