I am Melissa Miller from the USA. I am very excited to be a part of the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about free online Christian courses, Click Here). To gain a new family of believers interested in bringing the Light of Jesus to a broken world is a blessing! I was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. I have four amazing kids, a great husband, and two dogs and a kitty to round out our home.
My Journey
My childhood was not a traditional or blessed upbringing. After our parents divorced when I was five years old, my little brother and I split our time between our parents’ homes. We grew up in a very traditional Baptist church. At the age of 7, my father changed to the Church of God (Pentecostal). My mom, not wanting to confuse us further, stopped taking us to church. We had messed up theology and doctrine. Nobody knew what to believe or how even to be a “Christian.” Therefore, legalism and a broken view of God shaped my religious experience early on in life. I came to the Lord as a young child and followed His teachings to the best of my ability. However, I had limited knowledge on “how to be good.”
I married young, and we served as Youth Pastors. We had four beautiful kids and 13 years of marriage together. Unfortunately, my husband was often sick. After a fall off the roof, he was in and out of the hospital for two long years before he suddenly passed away in October of 2014. At his funeral, some people told me two things that changed the course of my life forever. “You must have had some hidden sin that caused God not to heal him,” and “your faith must not have been strong enough for God to heal him.” After that, I chose to walk away from my faith and went down a path of chaos. However, now I see how God used my path.
My Spiritual Awakening
In 2017, I went to a small church in a tiny town where they taught the true character of God. I started on a journey of learning who God is to me. However, I had one more crushing defeat to walk through. It forced me to my knees and the reality that I could not control my life. I needed Jesus to walk with me. I needed the Holy Spirit to guide my life. So I dove into re-finding the path God set before me and rededicated my life to the Lord. I got baptized again to show the devil that I meant what I was saying. In 2019, I started going to Victory Worship Center (now Zion City). In January of 2020, I did the 21 day fast with the church and decided that I needed to serve while waiting for my purpose to be revealed.
Ministry Call and Finding Free Online Christian Courses
I now run a small ladies’ group for women with loved ones who are addicts or incarcerated. In addition, I co-lead the women’s grief group through Celebrate Recovery, and I serve on the baptism team. In August 2020, I married my husband Brian, who walked a life of addiction and struggle. Together our spiritual dream is to have a ministry to help the homeless, addicts, and women broken due to the effects of addiction.
After months of prayer, I was begging God for some hint of what He has for me. I heard Him say, “You need to gain knowledge.” I knew that I could not afford to go back to school. So, I scoured the internet for free online Christian courses and came across Christian Leaders Institute. I was so excited, but I was sure that it had to be too good to be true!
Having access to free online Christian courses and ministry training means everything to me. It means that I can gain the knowledge needed to be all that God has called me to be. I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life and walking in God’s calling and purpose for me. Thank you, CLI, and the generous people who make this possible for people like me!
Steps to Sign Up At Christian Leaders Institute
Step 1 – Register for a free study account that automatically enrolls you in the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2.
After you register, you will automatically be enrolled in the “getting started” course. You will locate the course at your “home” button when you are logged in. Scroll down to find the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2 Link. Click the link and open the course.
Step 2 – Complete Part 1 of this course, and then you are allowed to enroll in mini-courses or regular courses.
The Christian Leaders Getting Started Class Part 1 shows you how to enroll in courses and mini-courses. Part 2 of the course connects your calling into ministry with programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute. Part 2 will offer some ministry training and introduce you to the other programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the Christian Leaders College.
