What is my story?

              Life is totally amazing! We are all on the ultimate journey right now. It's called your life.

Since the moment we all came into this World, we have been searching for something, we're searching for meaning, answers, and love, and we all want to know what life is all about. One of the things that we often take for granted is just getting to be here, breathe right now, and experience. It is a journey, and we are all going somewhere.

Did you ever stop to think, where are you going, where is this journey taking me, what is this all about, what am I looking for from this life?

What do I seek? Hi, my name is Randy Schwingle, and I reside in the Finger Lakes area of Upstate New York, in Penn Yan, with my family. I was raised and brought up in a Christian home and was baptized in 1969 at the United Methodist Church located in the small hamlet of Benton Center, where I lived and attended Sunday school. I attended Church every Sunday with my mother and father.

Around the fall of 1993, my mother converted and attended the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults ( RCIA ) and was confirmed into the Catholic Church. She always encouraged and asked me to convert and become a catholic with her. I would always say to her someday. My mother passed away in 2008. As a way of feeling closer to her and honoring her memory and wishes, I received my First Holy Communion. I was Confirmed into the Catholic faith that following year, on April 11^th, 2009.  

After the unexpected death of my first wife in 2013,  my faith started to waver during the following months. From the guidance I received from the Priest at my Parish, his words were of great comfort, allowing me to process the loss and start healing. I am so thankful that my relationship with our heavenly Father was restored, and I experienced a deeper connection.

I know the Lord works in mysterious ways, and though I had questioned decisions he made previously, I am blessed and thankful that In 2017 he brought a person into my life to love, share my dreams and ambitions with, and in 2020 she became my wife.

After our wedding in February of 2020, I felt a calling from God to become a minister. I shared this calling with friends and a stranger I met at a Catholic bookstore in Florida. I told everyone about our wedding day and what a beautiful ceremony our Officiant performed. I said that everyone should have the opportunity to have their wedding day be like what my wife and I had experienced. Marriage is one of life's greatest gifts that we are each given.

"What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." (Mark 10:9)

   I joined Christian Leaders and enrolled in the courses to become a wedding officiant. I have completed the programs, and currently, I'm a licensed wedding officiant, minister, and life coach with Christian Leaders. I am continuing with CLI and pursuing a degree. I have completed the certification and licensing requirements for Life Coach, and hopefully will be adding a specialized coaching badge to that certification. I have completed all of the requirements and training to be Ordained as a Deacon and, I am excited as to what the future plans God has for me as I continue to strengthen and grow my wedding and marriage ministry.

As a wedding officiant and licensed minister, I have been truly blessed to meet many beautiful couples in the past two years. I have been honored to perform at many weddings. When talking with the couples as we plan their wedding ceremony, we discuss their spiritual journey and faith background. So many of them had said they wished they had someone to share and walk along with them so they could deepen their relationship with God as a married couple and as parents someday. This was when I realized that God was sending me a message to be that person. I realized that the Life Coach Minister program is my spiritual goal to become a certified life coach minister. My spiritual dream is to walk alongside couples and individuals to be a source of encouragement and support as they pursue their spiritual journey.

In today's World, I believe more and more people are searching to find strength, hope, and love. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (John 13:34) I have talked to people searching for God and have no idea where to begin. They tell me they have no idea what Church to attend or what denomination they should be. I recently heard a Catholic Deacon say that Christianity is like coffee and that some of us are just flavored Catholic, Protestant, or Baptist. He said, "It doesn't matter what flavor you are as long as you are coffee."

So I have used that line numerous times with individuals who genuinely desire to strengthen their relationship with God. I have encouraged people to consider prayer, read scripture, and quietly sit and listen to him. He will tell you what flavor you should be.

I am grateful for CLI and its outstanding training programs and certifications. I feel blessed to receive the education and knowledge to inspire people who may be missing out on religion and their spiritual journey because of how it has been presented.  

 Jesus's first words to humanity in the Gospel of John were rather striking; he turned to two people following him and said, "What do you seek?" 

This is my story – this is what I seek. To be called and serve the Lord as a Life Coach Minister.

What do you seek? – I will pray to the Lord that he will help all CLI students in their calling.