Finding My Calling
My name is Jessika Smith. I am from Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, USA. My husband Derek and I have lived here our entire lives and we have two beautiful daughters together. Right now, I am just getting started in the free Christian ministry courses at the Christian Leaders Institute. I have had a calling on my heart from a very young age. However, at that young age, I did not know what it was. I only knew that when I talked to God, I felt safe and loved in a very unsafe environment.
My Spiritual Journey
My childhood was filled with fear, chaos, and sadness. Sporadically, my family attended church. But, when we did go, I would find peace and hope. I felt safe and found a word that would follow me my entire life. That word is Joy. I have been seeking joy. Each time I would fall into sadness, God would be the only one who could bring my joy back.
I came to know the Lord from going to church with my grandmother and parents off and on throughout my childhood. When I was 12, I went to a youth group one night. It was shortly after my grandmother passed and my parents divorced. My grandmother was one of the only people who was constant and kind to me. Her passing was extremely hard on me, and right after that, my parents divorced. The divorce was very messy. I was in a lot of pain when I went there that night. However, I felt a longing in my heart while I was there. It was for that joy that I needed, and I knew only the Lord could provide it. I accepted Jesus as my Savior that night. I knew that someday I would help guide people to Him, help youth know they are not alone, and give them hope.
My Calling Journey
I have had this calling on my heart since I can remember. Unfortunately, with my upbringing, I lived my life in the background, shy, silent, and afraid. My dream is to help the youth and the homeless. I also, in more recent years, have had a calling to work with marriages. The Lord saved our marriage about six years ago. Therefore, I want to share my testimony with others and show them how God saved our marriage.
Our marriage struggles brought me back to Christ and showed me how much I needed Jesus in my life. The Lord showed me the power of surrender and prayer. With no control over my life and what happened to me when I was younger, as an adult, I needed to be in control of every aspect of my life. I needed it to be predictable, or I felt anxious and depressed. This season in my life showed me how surrendering and allowing the Lord full control over my life allows me to feel the joy and peace I have searched for my entire life.
God has always been real to me. I grew up in darkness, so God was the only light in my life. He gave me hope when everything else felt so hopeless. My dream is to use my Christian Leaders Training to gain more confidence in myself. Then, I can use my testimony and God-given gifts to help others find the peace and joy the Lord can bring to their life if they surrender and have faith.
Christian Ministry Courses at CLI
The tuition-free Christian ministry courses are so wonderful! They guide me on the right path and clarify the specific calling God has for me. Not growing up with a strong church environment or influence made it difficult to know where to start. I knew for a long time this was the direction God wanted me to go. However, I did not know where to start.
Having the opportunity to take Christian ministry courses is such a blessing as I find the right direction to go. There is no worry or commitment that a class I take might not be the right direction for me. It is also wonderful that it is online and on my time. Having a husband, two daughters, and a full-time job does not leave much wiggle room for classes. So, the option to do these at my own pace at any time of the day is a wonderful blessing!
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling 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.
GET ORDAINED AS A WEDDING OFFICIANT
Have you been asked to officiate a wedding ceremony and do not want to settle for instant online credentials?
Are you looking for a Christian wedding officiant training and credentialing program that can be completed in less than two weeks of study?
Are you looking for a Christian Wedding Officiant training and credentialing program that connects the training to the highly respected Christian Leaders Alliance, a minister credentialling organization that has licensed thousands of ministers?
UNITED STATES REQUIREMENTS
Each state in the United States have different requirement for Officiants. Click here to see the state by state requirements. Wedding Officiants in UK are also trained at Christian Leaders Institute.
STUDY WITH CHRISTIAN LEADERS
STUDY WITH CHRISTIAN LEADERS
The Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) offers a Wedding Officiant program that provides you with the training and credentials you need to officiate weddings. The program is designed for Christians who are called to serve as wedding officiants. It covers a wide range of topics, including:
- The Christian meaning of marriage
- Basic pre-marriage counseling and conversations
- The legal requirements for officiating weddings
- The officiant’s role in the wedding ceremony
- How to write a wedding ceremony
- How to prepare for a wedding ceremony
- How to assist at rehearsals
- How to conduct a wedding ceremony
After you complete the course, you are invited to get ordained as a licensed Christian wedding officiant with the Christian Leaders Alliance.
The Christian Leaders Alliance is a ministering credentialing organization that recognizes the CLI wedding skills training. Upon completing the program, students are eligible to receive a Christian Leaders Alliance Licensed Christian Wedding Officiant credential.
BECOME LICENSED IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS
The CLI Wedding Officiant program is an excellent option for Christians called to serve as wedding officiants. The comprehensive and well-rounded program provides students the training and credentials they need to officiate weddings professionally and effectively.
The Wedding Officiant Skills Course is a one-credit class that gives you the skills to officiate a wedding. This tuition-free course takes about 5 hours to complete.
After you complete this course, you will be allowed to join the Wedding Officiant Recognition course that will complete your credential program and register you with the Christian Leaders Alliance.
If you want to get ordained as a Wedding Officiant in less than one week, this Christian program will help.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is this an instant ordination? No. This ordination is a study and local-recommendation-based credential with the Christian Leaders Alliance that credentials ministers worldwide. See Directory.
What is the funding concept? Christian Leaders is a donation-based religious non-profit that seeks to multiply difference-makers. All the courses are free and supported by vision partners who believe that everyone should have access to free ministry training. Christian Leaders asks participants to donate if they desire. Small administration fees cover the cost of sent documents and materials. Click here to donate.
What does this credential mean? Getting the Licensed Christian wedding officiant recognizes you as ordained in the first core minister role with the Christian Leaders Alliance. Click here to see the entire Minister Credential Program.
Do you credential women ministers? Yes. This Christian leaders program welcomes men or women in this Biblically-based program. Click here for more.
How long has this organization been around? Rev. Henry Reyenga, an ordained minister with the Christian Reformed Church, and Rich DeVos founded Christian Leaders on September 20, 2001. Christian Leaders have been ordained ministers through the Christian Leaders Alliance since 2014. This program is for study-prepared and recommended ministers. Click here to read more.
My name is Gerald Moore. Studying the ministry and biblical knowledge courses at the Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) means a lot to me because God has called me to preach the good news to others. These classes will show me how the church works and how to maximize the resources in it to reach others. My calling from god is to reach others and to show them the love of Christ Jesus.
Learning to Follow the Lord
From a child to adulthood, I dealt with many trials of drugs, anger, and sexual addictions. The world needs to know of the freedom from these things and the happiness Jesus restores in life in Him. He restored my marriage of 15 years and saved my wife and my children.
These ministry classes at CLI will help me grow in knowledge and strength. Then I can find new ways to reach others. At one point in life, I struggled with suicide-hating life. Jesus said to love other people as you love yourself. However, when you hate yourself, it is hard to love others, even your family.
Surrender
Growing up, I lived in a foster home with a pastor and his wife, and 12 other children. There, I learned the Word of God and had a very good example of how to live life with prayer and helping others. I came to know the Lord at the age of 19 when I accepted that God was not to blame for my life without my birth parents and the heavy drugs I took. At this time, I struggled with suicide and went to Teen Challenge in Michigan. Although I went on to struggle with drugs for years, God has always been there, guiding me.
Furthermore, even after coming to know Jesus, I struggled with bipolar and its effect on my mind. I could not control my thoughts or my mood swings. These things caused big problems in my life and my marriage, to the point of almost getting divorced.
Things changed for me when I fell off a ladder at work. This event brought me to a place where I had to ask my wife for help. Having to ask caused me to set aside my pride in myself, which was what was causing the problems in my life. Having to admit I needed help brought me to a place where God could work in me. This was when God became real to me. I learned how to humble myself before Him. Before that, I was fighting against God and not listening to what He wanted me to do.
Courses in Ministry and Biblical Knowledge at CLI
My spiritual dream is to show others to let God fight the battle and have faith that He will win it for them. What joy to bring our troubles to God. He comes through for us by bringing peace, hope, joy, and triumph into our lives. Even though the outcome might look grim, Jesus will lighten the load and make it easier to handle in the end.
The ministry and biblical knowledge courses at CLI will help me develop the skills to witness to others. Getting a degree at CLI shows my willingness and dedication to what I believe. I hope you experience the goodness of God and the help He has for you! God bless!
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling 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.