My name is Vivian Anderson of the United States. I lived in many places, which all impacted my life. I currently reside in Columbia, SC. In 2005, I graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. This was after over ten years of being out of school. I am new at the Christian Leaders Institute for minister training for a strong foundation. The online courses are a blessing.
My Story
Born in Chicago, I grew up in Detroit, MI. I am one of 10 children. I grew up in a single-parent household. My father left home when I was about 5. However, he was a part of my life. Most of my aunts and uncles and my mom were or are pastors, ministers, evangelists, or closely connected to the church. My mom worked a lot, which took her away from home. However, she was still present in my life. Financially poor, a lot of trauma happened in our house. During my childhood, I was abused. I didn’t tell anyone until I was 13.
When I was ten, I heard the pastor at church say something about God dwelling where Satan is most. Then I watched a movie with a billboard saying Welcome to Satan’s Den. The movie was filmed in New York City. At ten years old, I said I was going to New York. Because if that was Satan’s Den, then God must be there. I wanted to find God. I experienced so much abuse, and I felt so alone and unhappy. My mom, aunts, and uncles seemed joyful, although we endured so much trauma. I wanted what they had. Therefore, I concluded to have joy, I needed to know the God they knew.
My Spiritual Dream
My spiritual dream is to share God’s love through my work with youth and community. I run a not-for-profit that works directly with youth and the community. It also does advocacy around policies that impact the lives of the people I serve. My work involves restorative justice practices. I want to ensure God is the center of this crucial work needed to heal our world.
Growing into an adult, there were many obstacles I faced. Many were normal going from childhood to teenager to adult. College was the first time I was away from home. In college, I lost myself to fit in, which made for hard times. I suffered from anxiety attacks and attempted suicide. Losing my best friend’s sister, who was like my big sister, to a motorcycle accident and then losing my dad, grandmother, and mother was too much. Therefore, substances became my comfort and discomfort. Because of God, none of this took me out or caused me to hate God. God has always been real to me. However, I didn’t know how to stay close to Him.
CLI: Ministry Training for a Strong Foundation
I hope to use the Christian Leaders Institute training to heal my community. More than anything, I want to use the training to keep me close to God by understanding how to read the Bible. I want to use the training to set a strong foundation so I can help others build a strong foundation in Christ.
The free training was an answered prayer. I prayed to God that if ministry were where He called me, it would need to pay for itself. My finances don’t allow me to attend a traditional Seminary or Bible College. Until now, when God made a way through CLI. The tuition-free training is crucial because I know many people are searching. CLI provides an answer!
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling you in the Getting Started Class at the Christian Leaders Learning Platform. The Getting Started class will take you less than an hour to complete.
When you log in to the Learning Platform, you will notice that the Getting Started Class automatically appears on your dashboard.
The Getting Started Class will orientate you to the Christian Leaders Learning Platform and the Programs offered, including:
- Ministry Awards, Certificates, Diplomas, and Degrees with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- Minister Credentialling (Ordination) with the Christian Leaders Alliance, including local Soul Center registration possibilities.
Note: You can enroll in tuition-free courses or mini-courses immediately without finishing the getting started class.
Find out more about women in ministry here.
