“My name is Pastor Russ Atter, and I am currently seeking assistance for my continued education through Christian Leadership Institute.
“I currently live in the United States and am involved in a couple different types of ministry. My wife and I operate a non-profit Christian Coffee Shop/Ministry. We are so grateful that we can openly share the gospel with those in need. We primarily serve individuals who may have issues with substance abuse, past incarceration, past abuse, homelessness, poverty, etc. Though we are available for anyone in our community. I also am a pastor at a local church, where I utilize my experience in our ministry to help people in crisis.
“I did not grow up in a Christian home, and came to know Christ when I was 18 years old. I was violently sexually abused as a child, and attempted suicide several times. One week after my last suicide attempt someone shared Christ with me. It was nothing short of an amazing conversion. My life has not been the same since. I met my wife in the church, and after 23 years of marriage we continue to serve God together. We have a lovely 18 year-old daughter.
“Our coffee shop/ministry is located in an area of our community that has a high poverty and crime level. God has protected us in the 7 years that we have been in operation with no crime or injury towards our ministry. Our community in general is moving closer and closer to recognizing their necessity for God. Even governmental agencies turn to us for help, because they see the success rate that we have had in working with individuals with substance abuse issues or aftercare assistance we provide to people recently out of incarceration. There is a large university in our community, and we feel that the students are the hardest to reach.
“There are several churches in our community that support our ministry financially or in other ways; such as people resources, food for our pantry, coats, hats, gloves, boots, and blankets for the homeless. We are the missionaries in our local mission field. My church has fully backed and supported our endeavors in our ministry.
“I am blessed that I have the privilege to be in ministry with my wife. She is a big part of the day-to-day operations of our coffee shop. It is amazing to see what God has done in our view of we are called to do… Neither of us would have ever guessed that we would be knee deep in ministering to the most difficult people of our community. We believe as Christ showed; go to the sinner, the sick, and the need; minister to them.”
Russ Atter Receives a Scholarship
“A scholarship at CLI is important to me, as I want to continue my growth in Christ as well as better equip me for what He has called me to do. We live on a limited income, as we do not take a salary from our ministry. Every dollar that is given is returned to the ministry. Therefore, it is difficult for me to afford tuition to continue my education.
“Prayer is always needed in any ministry. We ask for prayer for workers to help with the harvest. God is bringing us many people to minister to, and we have so few workers. We also ask for prayer that God will continue to bless the ministry with resources to help those in need.”
Russ Atter came to Christ after a childhood that was filled with hardship and abuse. After many work experiences, Russ Atter came to his current ministry which he and his wife run. With this coffee shop and ministry, Russ Atter seeks to help those living in poverty, living in addiction, living with abuse, homeless, and past incarceration. However, Russ Atter opens his doors to everyone who is willing to come and hear about God. Because Russ Atter does not take a salary from his own non-profit, a scholarship from Christian Leaders Institute is important to him for continuing to be better equipped with the knowledge of our Lord and the Bible.
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Stephen Omoding –
“Greetings to you all at CLI. It has been a great honor getting in touch with you. I am currently living in Tanzania, and doing ministry here is easy or free in the way that people are free to preach and speak freely to anyone you meet about Christ. There are thousands of Churches in this vast nation. Recently there has been a wave of violence targeting churches, but the church is still going strong.
“It was in 2003 when I gave my life to the Lord having gone through some hardships while i was in Uganda’s capital Kampala. Far from my family, with no relative but living with a friend who had no steady source of income and married, life was no easy. I roved the streets of Kampala with a high school certificate looking for any kind of job that I could do but in vain. Inside I was burning with physical pain and psychological frustration. All hope was gone. I saw no reason to live. my dad could not facilitate my college education. I could not find anything to do; life was meaningless and my final destiny by then was the grave. I had planned suicide. But thanks be God who loved me even before I was born. While I had written off myself, God with just beginning with me. A friend, who I later led to Christ, directed me to a church in the area, and on the 23rd of March 2003, I went to that church. That was the beginning of my new life that I live today.
“I believe that before I go home to be with God I will have set a center for reconciliation between men and God. I believe I will plant a church in my home area before I pass on, and I look forward to establishing a super praise and worship team that will shake the heavens to earth.
“I identify most with the word pastor because I desire that all men come to know God in His fullness.
“My wife is a big player in my ministry. I am so grateful because from her I derive courage to move on.”
Stephen Omoding Receives a Scholarship
“A scholarship at CLI is very very important to me because it will equip me for the work that the Lord has called to do. It will increase my understanding in the matters of God and ministry at large. It will also bring me face to face with those who have gone through what I have not and from them will I gain that which is right for my ministry.
“You may pray for me that the Lord by His grace enable my to accomplish what he has called my to do and that I should always walk according to his will and plans in all things that I do in ministry.”
Stephen Omoding is a man who knows what it means to live in the darkness. In fact, Stephen Omoding was on the verge of taking his own life when God called him out of the darkness. Now that he has experienced the new life in Christ, Stephen Omoding wants to lead others to that new life so that they can experience freedom. In pursuit of this calling, Stephen Omoding seeks a scholarship at Christian Leaders Institute, where he can be equipped as a leader without the cost of traditional seminary.
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Katherine Adams –
“My name is Katherine Adams, and I currently live in The USA, in a small city known as Racine, Wisconsin. Pursuing ministry in this country is a gift, there are many opportunities to share God’s Word with the people who live here.
“I came to know the Lord through childhood friends of mine, who were kind enough to include me in worship services in middle school. I felt then that God had a plan for me, I wasn’t sure yet what it exactly was, but I knew there was a plan.
“After finding The Lord, I felt that He was leading me towards a women’s ministry. More importantly, to try and help use my knowledge of the Bible to help women in domestic violence shelters. Being an abuse survivor and having lost friends to domestic violence, I truly feel that this is how I can best serve God. To try to lead these women back to God, and help use His words to heal the wounds that they have been afflicted with means so much to me. I know that this is what I am supposed to do with my life, not only to share my own personal experiences, but to honor those that have been lost to this issue.
“In my are, there are several unique challenges, for one, Wisconsin has the highest drunk driving arrest rate in the country. Also, they are high on the list for domestic violence as well. I know that through God, I can make a difference here. If I can become a Pastor, I feel that I can change lives, and lead people back to Christ.
“My local church has been so supportive of my decision to return to school, and I want to thank them so much for being an additional blessing on my life. They have been there through thick and thin and have never faltered on their love of Christ and for the people who attend the church. My family has also been very supportive in my life and always have been.”
Katherine Adams Receives a Scholarship
“A scholarship is so important to my dream of becoming a pastor, because without it, I won’t be able to attend school for a long time, if ever. I know that no matter what, God will always be with me and will always have my life in his hands, and if this is in his will, then it will happen. I hope that you can pray for me in my ministry so that I can be blessed enough to help lead others back to Christ and help people as much as I can.”
Katherine Adams has been through a lot in her life. In a state where alcoholism and spousal abuse are among the highest in the country, Katherine Adams looks to reach out to the victims of domestic violence. Instead of letting her own history of being abused rule her, Katherine Adams, in the power of God, will use her story to help other victims of domestic abuse find their way out of the suffering that it brings and into the love of God. Katherine Adams seeks a scholarship at Christian Leaders Institute so that she can be equipped with a fuller knowledge of the word of God as she moves forward to do the work God has called her to.
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