Youth Ministry Journey

Youth Ministry Journey

Hello. My name is Martha Berge and I am on a youth ministry journey. I live in a small town called Beacon Falls in the USA. I am the eldest of two children and the fourth of eleven grandchildren. I grew up in a home with three Christian women in the form of my mother, aunt, and grandmother and an alcoholic father. My entire life I went to church and sang in the junior choir and dance ministry.

I gave my life to the Lord at a very young age. When I was a senior in high school, I started teaching Sunday School. Growing up, my mother supported every decision I made regarding ministry and church. At one point, I switched from a congregational church (that my ancestors helped to found) to a Southern Baptist church. I taught Sunday School and sang in the choir there as well. I went back to the church I grew up in when a ministry opportunity arose three years ago and have been teaching there ever since. I now teach fourth through sixth grades. This is an important class since our fifth graders make their first communion. Apparently, I’m the one teacher who knows the Bible the best, though I’m not that comfortable with my Bible knowledge.
That is why I enrolled at Christian Leaders Institute. A friend got his online ordination without the education, and that made me think about my ministry. I went online and found CLI.

I am an EMT in my town and love serving God and my community in that way as well. It’s hard to not stray when you’re surrounded by people who don’t have that foundation. I have experienced so much spiritual warfare and need to ask God constantly for help in my fight with Satan. I praise God every day for getting me through those tough times.

Growing up, I went through some very difficult times. In the second grade, I was diagnosed with ADD and arthritis. That’s when I started dancing in church. This also presented some hurdles in my education and future as a youth. In high school, I wanted to join the Air Force but couldn’t because of my physical limitations. I eventually received my Associates in Human Services twelve years after graduating high school. I then struggled when I went on for my bachelor’s degree.

Because of my disabilities, I now have Social Security and so don’t have the resources to go to a formal seminary. CLI makes it so easy for me to further my education and advance in ministry. I can get a free education and go on to youth ministry. I look forward to the way God will use me in my home church or where ever He decides He needs me on this youth ministry journey.

In my community, one challenge we face is that everyone is big in sports. Most of the children are on one team or another, and they all have either practice or games on Sundays. Because of this, our Sunday School attendance is dwindling. People seem to have stopped making God a priority. I pray I can help to change that ideology.

Thank you to CLI for this opportunity to be able to serve and get to know Him and grow as a Christian. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for my future on this earth.

Learn about minister ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.