This Missouri Grandmother Studies to Be Ordained to Officiate a Niece’s Wedding.
Ellouise decided to study for Ordainment free with Christian Leaders Institute so she could officiate her nieces wedding. She has pressed toward God through abuse, alcohol and drugs and now as a responsible grandmother still strives to set examples. We are glad Christian Leaders Institute could help her study to become Ordained with the free scholarships we offer.
A scholarship with Christian Leaders Institute is important because it will allow me to study no matter where I am. The courses are presented in a clear and direct manner which I am able to understand. It is with faith that I know the Holy Spirit will guide me while I study and God will place me and use me he wishes. The mission of CLI’s leaders and staff is clearly to bring God’s word to all areas of the world regardless of financial burdens.My name is Ellouise (Elly) Hughes. I am a wife, mother of two and grandmother of three. My husband and I live in Missouri, USA. Our daughter is a wonderful Christian wife and mother. Our son is a LCPL in the USMC stationed in Japan. (Lance corporal, LCpl, is the third enlisted rank in order of seniority in the U.S. Marine Corps). I have been encouraging him to study with Christian Leaders Institute as well. Our daughter went on to attend Christian College in Havilland, KS.
I was brought up with my father’s side of the family being Presbyterian and my mother going to a variety of churches ranging from Pentecostal to Methodist to Baptist and others. I was brought up being abused by a parent. I love my parents… They are the ones who created me and made me strong even if I didn’t see that back then. It took lots of praying and talking to God along with reading and studying the Bible daily to change my angry heart. My anger was removed and the tone in my voice changed. The way I viewed my world softened and I felt peace and happiness from studying the Bible and getting to know God deeper.
I have always believed in the Bible, prayer and the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father I knew about. I thought I was a good person but at one point allowed alcohol and drugs to dominate my life. The life I was living was not the life that is described and desired by Jesus Christ. I always felt there was something more. I was never taught about Salvation. At 14 years of age I attended a Baptist church camp. It was at this camp I went to the altar and gave my heart to Christ. It took me another 10 years to figure out how to walk as a Christian. At the age of 24 I rededicated my life to the Lord. The rededication of my life was made publicly and I was baptized. After I was baptized I felt so cleansed. This was the first time I could remember telling my mother how much I loved her. Without God’s Grace I could not have done that. I have since raised my children in church with Christ and our children went to Christian schools. God also restored my marriage and by His Grace in May of 2014 we celebrate our 31st anniversary.
About a month ago I received a text message from my niece. Her text was asking me to officiate her wedding. I was overwhelmed with great joy and honor. I know I have to become ordained perform the service. I believe through this God is telling me to pursue mission or pastoral education while I study His word. Being ordained would mean more to me than just getting to perform their wedding. I want to study God’s word so I may share the truth of Jesus Christ and life everlasting. My family supports my studies and we see the presence of the Holy Spirit at work in many who are close to us.
I am still new to my church, but learning more each day. Each member is dedicated to an area of service and everyone works together to accomplish God’s work. Churches are abundant in the USA but so many do not have the right focus. I know God is calling out to the world in many ways to stop us from only being Christians on the surface. It is not about a religion. It is about a relationship with God the Father who sent his Son to die for us (me) and the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide us every day. That is the truth God placed in my heart.
In years past I would never have pictured myself being at this place in my life. I do not know if my calling will be to ultimately plant something or if there is more for me to learn. Your prayers for guidance in my life, knowledge and understanding of the courses I am studying and the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide me to discern the truth a welcomed.
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If you or someone you know has a testimony like this or like the many other hard working Christian leaders who study at Christian Leaders Institute we encourage signing up HERE! If it is your calling to support what we do here by donation please DONATE HERE. We are very blessed by the amount of sponsoring givers and student donations CLI receives regularly. Thank you for helping us provide these services for people like Ellouise…
Bible Training School
Graduates of any level at Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) are encouraged to start Bible Training School in their own church or area. This Bible training school could have only 1 enrollee or hundreds. At Christian Leaders Institute this is simple to do at a local level. We beam ministry training everywhere on earth that the Internet exists. You gather others who are interested in attending your Bible training school in your area. Everyone who attends signs up to get a CLI account. You meet when you want, maybe once a week or twice a month to encourage each other in your studies online. This encouragement and accountability bring much success in completing Bible studies.
When a Bible training school is started by a local church, this school also has the benefit of mentorship and opportunities provided by the local pastors and leaders. This is a win-win for the students and the local church.
Christian Leaders Institute graduates are starting Bible training schools called mentor centers everywhere. In some places they are even providing internet connections for students to watch videos and take tests. Check out this Facebook home page in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Read the graduate testimony of pastor Callie Broughton. She has a dream of starting a Bible Training school in West Palm Beach, Florida. Here is her story:
Pastor Callie Broughton pursues hopes of opening a Bible Training School.
Hi, my name is Callie Mae Broughton and I presently live in West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. I am married and the mother of eight children who are all grown up.
I am the third from the last of nine children; two brothers, six sisters. I grew up living between Shawnee Farms, Florida and Cassville, New York until I was ten years old. My family continued residence in Shawnee Farms, Florida until the passing of my father. My parents James and Nellie Broughton are both now deceased.
While growing up I was taught the Bible and taken to church regularly. At the age of ten a personal tragedy took place while my family and I were in Cassville, New York. This put me in the hospital for approximately a month and ultimately changed the course of my life. The Lord appeared to me in the hospital and let me know that He was with me. I was young and didn’t really know God, but He saw to it that I learned of Him.
I became very curious about God and from that time on I couldn’t stop thinking about Him. I began studying the Bible and asking questions. The more I learned about God the more inquisitive I became. As I grew in the Word of God I began to hear the voice of God speaking to me at times. I couldn’t believe that was what was happening at first. He continued to speak to me often and I finally became convinced that it was God who was speaking to me. My love for God grew tremendously and since that time God’s presence has been my comfort and peace. I continue to study, pray, and learn more about God’s Word.
I became very active in the church and by the time I was 21, I was licensed as a missionary endorsed by two bishops of the attending church. Later, I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida. In West Palm Beach I started a program called “Save the Children that are caught between the gap”. The program is to help teens and working mothers who can’t afford after school childcare but need to work and support their children often on odd or inconvenient shift hours.
I now feel compelled to open a Bible Training School in our church for anyone interested in knowing more about Jesus Christ and furthering their walk. I want to help equip others, especially the younger generation. They greatly need to be encouraged and mentored in life and in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There are more young people at our church than older ones. I want to be as effective as possible in reaching out to our younger generation.
I believe continuing my spiritual growth and education with Christian Leaders Institute can help me to be a greater benefit to our community and the Kingdom of God in my dream to start a Bible training school in my area. It is awesome to have the support and assistance I found through Christian Leaders Institute.
Regards,
Pastor Callie Broughton
Online Bible Studies
Online Bible studies may be your only option to get the ministry training you need. We have found that true for thousands of students who have enrolled at Christian Leaders Institute. Can you imagine a life where you were threatened to be killed by your Marine husband? If you don’t leave you risk possibly being killed. Through it all God never left you. Instead he called you for ministry. Now you want to get ministry training and you search the web. You find that Christian Leaders Institute offers online Bible studies free of charge. You sign up.
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Read the spiritual journey of CLI Graduate Cathleen Barrow and why she liked the online bible studies option at Christian Leaders Institute.
My name is Cathleen Barrows, I am 30 years old and currently reside in Hollister, CA U.S.A. Ministry in many parts of the United States is difficult. Much of the teaching has pushed many people away from Christianity. Many people here think Christians are hypocrites or have heard religious preaching which lead them wrongly. As I continue to spread the gospel of grace I can see the people I minister to are often open to what I am saying. I leave them with things to think about and many times they contact me with more questions.
I was raised, attending church, by very devout Christian parents. As they began to face troubles in their marriage they sought counseling with our pastor. He told them to get divorced. He didn’t speak the word over their marriage and teach them. As our family fell apart so did my faith. I began to backslide and refused to go to church. I married a Marine and moved away with him. My husband was a non-believer and as he struggled with severe PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), he repeatedly tried to kill me. I had to make a choice to leave or risk being killed… I decided to leave and never look back.
I began to battle PTSD from the trauma of being attacked daily. I spiraled downward filled with anger and became void of all other emotions. I became suicidal and with three years of struggling through the pain inside my head I was ready to give up. I decided I couldn’t take another day but something urged me to turn on the TV. A Pastor was speaking on the grace of God and Jesus Christ’s finished works. God began to speak to me while I was watching. Jesus told me I am healed I just needed to trust and believe Him.
Cathleen did not just become a new Christian. Instead she devoted her life to Christ. Her need for online Bible studies was being kindled as the Holy Spirit brought her healing.
I devoted my life to the Lord and gave all my pain to Jesus. He began to heal my PTSD. My anger ceased and I started to see the beauty of the world instead of living in complete fear. God saved me once again. I started sharing what I was learning every day from reading the Bible and attending church. I started to notice a change in my life and in everyone in my life. Friends came to know the Lord just by watching the difference in me and wanting that “Jesus Peace”.
I believe touching a young person’s life and bringing them to the Lord is extremely important. Knowing the Lord will help them avoid living a sinful life and the pain that comes along with it. The youth of our present world are searching for something. They turn to drugs, alcohol, or immoral acts which heads them down the wrong path. We can reach them and share the good news of Jesus Christ. I assist with the youth ministries at my local church. As I progress, learning through Christian Leaders Institute, I am learning how to relate to youth and counsel them.
Christian Leaders Institute offers the world free online Bible studies as an option. We don’t offer a fee option that is common with many online courses. In a free model, all the funds needed to run the school are contributed as donations by those called to support CLI. This support has come from Foundations, Individuals, Churches and Students of CLI. This model of ministry training mirrors the New Testament. It is also the model that local churches use in providing worship services. In a church, you give as the Lord enables you or compels you to give. For Cathleen, this free model of ministry training is what she needed to pursue online Bible studies at CLI.
A scholarship with Christian Leaders Institute is important for my call to ministry. In my current situation money is scarce. Though I believe my situation will change, right now, I continue on the path God leads me. Having a free way to learn and grow in the word of God makes this online Bible studies option is a blessing.
Remember me in your prayers that God will show me the path He has for me and open doors where I can make the largest impact in my community. As I continue learning, allow me to be a blessing to others as I share the knowledge I learn through CLI with others.
If you are called to begin online Bible studies, we invite you to simply fill out an application and start immediately. Check out our Facebook page to read how students have recommended these free online Bible studies that will give you the ministry training you will need.