Finding the Light in the Darkness
I am Linda Brown, from Missouri. With a call to Chaplaincy, I became a student at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about studying the Bible online, Click Here).
I am a 46-year-old wife and mom to four awesome kids and two wonderful stepchildren. My amazing husband and I have three grandchildren (with one on the way) and an adorable brand-new great-granddaughter. For the last 23 years, I have passionately worked as a mental health nurse. In addition, I am a program supervisor for a company that works with the developmentally disabled. And I also love to read and watch true crime!
Growing in God
As a small-town girl in northwest Missouri, I grew up involved in the United Methodist Church. From the time I was young, the Bible fascinated me. I was always searching for more. More understanding, more answers. My experiences in our church youth group continue to be some of my most memorable and incredible experiences. Whether volunteering in Rocky Mountain National Park, feeding the homeless in Chicago, or standing in awe surrounded by God’s magnificent beauty in The Grand Canyon, I felt a deepening love and adoration for God.
Around age 15, I dreamed of being a pastor and fully committed myself to our Lord, Jesus Christ. However, a couple of years later, my outlook changed drastically. I found myself pregnant and unwed at seventeen. A series of bad decisions led me down a very dark path for quite some time.
The Darkness
Fast forward several years, and I was a struggling single mom of four. The light of God was growing dimmer and dimmer in my heart. I managed to get myself through nursing school and began a journey into the mental health field. I worked with those who suffered like me: those with depression and anxiety. So, I offered my help and guidance to them but refused it myself. Angry, bitter, and tired, I blamed everyone but myself for my circumstances, even God. It was a very dark path indeed.
Then I met my husband and true love. However, it wasn’t happily ever after right away. The depression didn’t go away. It got worse. I was lost in that darkness, and God seemed very far away. Then one night, everything became too overwhelming, and I wanted out. Fighting it every step of the way, my husband got me help. Of course, I didn’t want or need it, so I told myself. Finally, I accepted the fact that I needed help. I tried to find the light again, but it wasn’t easy. Although my mental health improved, I still felt far away from God. I felt like a disappointment and a failure. I had been gone too long and wasn’t worthy of God’s love.
Tragedy and Finding God’s Light
Life went on, and I succeeded in my career. I had beautiful, wonderful children and a loving husband, but something was still missing. I went to one church after another but couldn’t find my way back to God.
Already in bed asleep, my phone rang. Fear immediately entered my mind as my shaky fingers tried to push the answer button. Tears were in my son’s voice as he told me the news. My child was now going through every parent’s nightmare. My son and daughter-in-law’s baby died just weeks from the due date. His life was over before it even started. I rushed to the hospital two hours away while my daughter-in-law went through labor and delivery. What we thought would be a joyous occasion turned into a tragedy.
Before he was taken away, I held my grandson and prayed. It was the first time I had genuinely prayed with all my heart in a long time. At that moment, I felt a stirring in my heart. I was lost for so long. However, through His grace and mercy, God was calling me back.
When I came back home, I pulled out my dusty Bible and read it. I asked God’s forgiveness for being away for so long. Then, I fully committed myself to Jesus Christ, and suddenly, the light was there. Then, I felt the love and peace that I had been missing. And now, I want to learn everything I can. I want to share God with as many as I can.
And Now: A Call to Chaplaincy and Study at CLI
That dream I had so many years ago crept up on me again. My first instinct was to make excuses. I’m too old, too busy; there’s not enough money. Then one afternoon, I browsed the internet. On a random whim, I clicked on Christian Leaders Institute. In the blink of an eye, I knew I was where I was supposed to be. I know God led me here to fulfill His purpose for me. Unsure exactly what that purpose was, but I knew I could find it here. And find it I did, a call to Chaplaincy.
I have felt a strong call to spread God’s word through a Chaplaincy degree. God’s light has never shined brighter for me. A scholarship would ensure that I never let that light burn out.
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account that automatically enrolls 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, and Diplomas with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- College Degrees with the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
- 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
