Henry Reyenga Jr.

My name is Henry Reyenga Jr. I am the last born of four children, I was born on May 14, 1961, to Henry and Anna Reyenga. My parents modeled a living faith and contentment to me, and at a young age I gave my heart to Jesus and received a calling from God to ministry.

In my teenage years, my faith was tested through “worldly” temptations, but I did not leave the path of moderation which kept me out of trouble. This did not make me any better than anyone, but those tests sparked me to the road of more surrender and a more fruitful walk with God. Different tests still come my way which keep me on that road of surrender and fruitful service.

The calling to the ministry came in my teenage years as I noticed that my friends at school were living with little hope. Many turned to drugs and sex but were really searching for God. I was seeking God and many times he placed urgency in my heart to proclaim the gospel.

Since I was dyslexic, I struggled at Dordt College, but God opened the door for me by raising up people and opportunities for me so I was able to overcome. I even was hired at a radio station called KDCR because no one else would take the late shift. This opportunity gave me valuable experience in overcoming my disability. I have attempted to bring my own struggle with dyslexia as an asset to develop sensitivity to different learning styles at CLI.

After I graduated from Dordt College in 1983 with a BA in Philosophy, I married Pamela Sue Feddema, the love of my life, on June 4, 1983. We moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan so I could attend Calvin Seminary where I graduated with a Masters of Divinity in 1987. I thank the Lord for my wife Pamela, who read many of my class reading assignments to assist me in all the reading required at the seminary. I was ordained in 1988.

Pam and I planted our first church in 1988 near Chicago, Illinois. Then we went on to plant a church in Colorado and then Oregon. We returned to the Chicago area to found a non-profit with Steve and Marie Ezinga called LifeNet 21. LifeNet merged with the Bible League in 1998 where I worked until 2001.  Christian Leaders was founded on September 20, 2001, after my experience in NYC on September 11, 2001. I started Christian Leaders to help local leaders and non-clergy type leaders to get the formal ministry training they needed. Pam and I bi-vocationally planted Family of Faith Church with Dr. David Feddes and his wife Wendy. Christian Leaders Institute was added in 2006 when the training went online. In 2008, we served at Eagle Rock Community Church as the bi-vocational senior pastor. Christian Leaders Institute continued to grow and in 2012 we moved to Grand Haven, Michigan so I could serve full time as president of CLI.

I love to help mobilize strong and bold Christian leaders to reach more people for Christ. I have a heart for every called Christian leader including the unlikely ones who would ordinarily never get ministry training but still need it and want it.

Pam and I have five children and sixteen grandchildren. Our children are Haley Reyenga, Brianna Prince, Christina Reyenga, Ann Merkel, and Abigail Dominiak.

My prayer is that CLI will raise up millions of Christian Leaders!