My name is Annette Williams, from the USA, and the training and certification I get at the Christian Leaders Institute prepare me for ministry (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here). At a very young age, my spiritual journey started. My parents were not churchgoers or models of Godly living. However, my brothers, sister, and I grew up on Godly values. We had a family Bible which we read. It saw a lot of wear and tear over the years. That enormous white family Bible kept on the lower shelf of our living room coffee table lit a spark in me to find out if this God was genuine.
Godly Influencers in My Youth
My late paternal grandmother was a family leader in home discipleship, and she was the poster girl for reproducibility. Through evangelizing, teaching, and her life, she drew her own children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to the body of Christ. Over the years, I heard people say it is hard to minister to your family because they know you. Even though it may have been a challenge, my grandmother continued to proclaim Christ and the importance of Salvation. I remember thinking, what courage and endurance she must have to do this continually.
Although my parents did not regularly attend church, we had family members that attended church every week, and we were invited to come along. From time to time, my parents would visit for special services we were participating in, and they never kept my siblings and me from attending church services. I remember always being at church.
A New Desire in Christ
Growing up, I wanted to be a part of the entertainment industry, particularly dance and acting. This was not encouraged in my family or church family, but it was what I wanted to do. Only when the implantation of a new nature came that the Lord put a new desire in my heart. My curiosity peaked with my new life in Christ. I wanted to know more about God, Jesus, the infilling of the Holy Ghost, holy living, and what I was supposed to do with it.
For much of my younger life in the church, I participated in the youth choirs. The enjoyment and satisfaction of singing and bringing joy to people kept me in church. The leaders later transitioned me to work alongside the Pastor’s staff as support when needed. So I held dual roles as I remained with the choir.
The church leaders assigned the youth to various important roles during special services as a method of ministry training and discovering our gifts. I later discovered that I enjoyed leading Bible classes and workshops during our annual women’s and youth day services. Teaching is what gave me the most pleasure. I felt a desire to work more in that area of ministry. I currently serve alongside the pastor’s staff where needed.
Training and Certification for Ministry
Wanting to teach, I have a growing concern for believers who have little understanding of the Bible, what they believe, why they believe it, and how to serve and live for the Lord. If it is God’s will, may He move me into a position to teach by His grace and perfect timing. I pray that God blesses my teaching to be anointed and effective to draw people and enlighten them concerning His Word.
I hope that the Christian Leaders Institute will help me on this journey. CLI’s structured training and certification will help me to become an effective teacher for this generation.
Titus 1:9 “He must have a firm grasp of the word that is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able both to preach with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it” (NRSV).
