My name is Jonas Alexandre, from the USA. I am an Accountant and work as a Finance Manager in Tampa, FL. Married for 33 years, my wife and I have two adult children and one grandson. I am excited to study at the Christian Leaders Institute for ministry training, credentials, and ordination (Learn more about online free Bible courses, Click Here).
Early Life, Conversion, and Growth
Born in Haiti, I grew up under solid Christian teaching. My mother, local Baptist church, and confessional secondary school taught me well. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord as a teenager. Sadly, I do not remember the exact date of my conversion. I remember it was at Vacation Bible School one summer upon the teacher’s prompting.
Therefore, my journey is like a “Nicodemus meeting Jesus at night” or as a “Road-to-Emmaus” type of experience. The resurrected Christ revealed himself to me through “what all the Scriptures said concerning himself!” I had already made a decision and was attending church. I have believed and served in the church in various capacities since my childhood. Further, I taught Sunday school to other young adults, etc.
Around 2000, I had a series of encounters with God through my daily early morning devotions. I started listening and yielding to the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to me through the Word of God, the Bible. God became real to me in that period. Previously, I was content to be a good and faithful church member and layman, a law-abiding citizen with few “external” vices. However, I neglected the “weightier matters of the Law- justice and mercy and faith.” The Lord challenged me to pay attention to the sins in my heart like covetousness, envy, hatred, hypocrisy, lust, lying, pride, unrighteous anger, etc. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”
Further Growth
I give credit to a few ministries and their tools for helping me along the way. First is the NLT version of the Life Application Study Bible and Notes. It opened up my understanding of many biblical concepts and doctrines and to apply them in my daily life. Next, the Experiencing God book and study by Blackaby and King challenged me to experience and – know – God through obedience. Then, the Bible Study Hour by the late James M. Boice was instrumental to my desire to study more and go to seminary. Finally, I also credit the Friends of Israel (FOI) ministry’s Institute of Jewish Studies, which I attended for a couple of years. It deepened my understanding of prophecy and eschatology. However, due to costs, I never finished the seminary programs.
I have been serving in the Church with a desire to grow for over three decades. It has been in various ministries with increasing responsibilities. I served in both French and English-speaking churches over the years. I served as a Church Trustee and Administrator, Sunday School Teacher and Superintendent, and Bible study teacher. Licensed to preach by my church in 2013, I also became an Associate Minister leading Sunday Worship and Bible Study.
After the Great Earthquake of 2010, the Lord put on my wife’s and my heart to organize annual missions trips to bring the gospel to remote areas in Haiti. In addition, the knowledge I gained in both previous seminary programs helped me to teach at church and work. I led a weekly Bible Study with co-workers for the past 13 years at work.
Ministry Training, Credentials, and Ordination
I thank the Lord for my wife’s support and encouragement to continue studying and growing. She encouraged me then to establish nightly family devotions in our home. She also encouraged me to go to school for training. Recently, she encouraged me to go back to school to obtain the necessary credentials and ordination to be more effective in ministry. My wife researched many seminaries online for me and found Christian Leaders Institute and CLI’s Leadership Excellence School!
I was incredulous at first when she told me it was entirely free! I could not believe it until I read the info on the site for myself. Then, I listened to Rev. Henry Reyenga and Rev. Steve Elzinga in the Getting Started class and saw Francis Chen’s video. Francis Chen had the same dream as me: a place online where one can study the Word of God via text, audio, or video and grow! Christian Leaders Institute and CLI’s Leadership Excellence School are simply visionary!
My ideal ministry is to teach and preach the gospel locally. I want to do this in churches in the USA and the countryside in Haiti. Unfortunately, many in Haiti are into animism or ritualistic traditional mass attendance without personal knowledge and relationship with Christ as their Lord and Savior.
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 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 CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
