Advancing the Gospel through Chaplaincy or Counseling

Advancing the gospel is the primary calling of the church. Everyone in the church participates to some degree. But God calls different people into advancing the gospel in different ways.

Robert Lee Johnson’s vision is advancing the gospel through work as a chaplain or a counselor. He wants to help people who are in difficult situations because he knows too well the brokenness that exists in the world.

My name is Robert Lee Johnson, Jr., but I answer to the name of “Lee.” I was born in Virginia and raised in the United States of America.

I did not always live a Christian life. Sure, I went to church as a young child. I believed in God, and I believed that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and was resurrected on the third day. However, I also grew up in a separated and dysfunctional family. I thought that was normal, that everyone lived that way. Unfortunately, as I grew older, the instability of my family of origin negatively affected my decisions, and I left a wake of broken promises, broken marriages and broken hearts in my life.

Many times I cried out to God, pleading for Him to take my life. But He had other plans. In fact, on four distinct occasions, he clearly spared my life when I should have died. I cried out to God, yes, but my prayers were of the “foxhole” variety, and I refused to surrender.

Finally, in 2001, I had had enough. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I got down on my knees for a final time and asked Jesus to come into my life to be my Lord and Savior. I wanted to know the real, living God, not just the historical figure I had learned about in Sunday school so many years ago. I wanted to follow Jesus.

Although I have had periods of challenge since that day, I have continued a steady walk toward the cross, and God has been faithful. He has given me beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning and my whole outlook on life has changed. He renews my mind and softens my heart. He has given me a garment of praise and removed my spirit of despair.

Since making the decision to follow Christ, I have sought to learn His Word through prayer and personal study, attendance at regular church services and bible studies, and participation in formal discipleship training programs, including the Gulf Coast Bible College. However, of all the classes and seminars and workshops and studies I have been engaged in, I have found the Christian Leaders Institute to be the most comprehensive. It is well-organized, well-presented and right on point scripturally. But it is more than that. It is also transformational, and has helped to define and refine my position in the Body of Christ.

I love encouraging people, listening to them when they need to vent, and speaking to them when they are ready to hear about Jesus. I love helping people in general. I am leaning toward chaplaincy officiant, or maybe even a counselor. God has called me and CLI has helped to equip me for the journey. While education and a title can’t substitute for the Holy Spirit, whereby God reveals His secrets, it may unlock a ministry opportunity which may in turn un-wedge an immovable heart.

“I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24) I wish to deeply thank the staff and supporters of the Christian Leaders Institute for this opportunity and ask you to pray that I would continue to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. It is with tremendous gratitude for my friends, my church family and the Christian Leaders Institute that I submit this final activity to you.

Christian leaders Institute is blessed to be able to help Robert Lee Johnson further his goals in advancing the gospel of our Lord. If you feel that this ministry training could help you be more effective in advancing the gospel, click here to enroll now.