My name is Arlene Douglas. I am from St. Mary, Jamaica. The online Bible study opportunity blesses me at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about studying the Bible online, Click Here).
My Spiritual Journey
I am a retired Early Childhood educator from St. Mary, Jamaica. I have over 20 years of teaching experience. However, my passion for serving the Lord has always been a constant in my life. A committed Christian for over 45 years, it was a seed planted from an early age. I grew up in Portland, Jamaica, with my parents and 17 siblings. Attending church and participating in family devotions was a must. My mom was baptized while she was pregnant with me. Her faith helped shape my own, and this also made me feel like a special child.
While attending a crusade at the New Testament Assembly in Hope Bay, Portland, I felt called to serve the Lord. I made the decision to follow Him. Since then, I have served in various ministries. I started as a member of the NTA. Later, I became secretary of the youth department, a member of the youth choir, and a member of the Heaven Bound Singers praise and worship team. After moving to St Mary, I became a member of the NTA Hamilton Mountain. I served as secretary for the youth group and later served as Children’s Director at the local and national levels.
In August 1985, I met my husband at a convocation in St Mary. We married in August 1987. We have three adult children and two grandchildren.
Online Bible Study Opportunity at CLI
My passion for souls led me to continue working in ministry, ministering to people on the streets and in their homes. The leaders appointed me as a minister in the office of a missionary and later ordained me as a minister.
My vision now is to broaden my knowledge of the Word of God. That is why I chose to study at the Christian Leaders Institute after my associate pastor encouraged me to check out CLI. I have more time to share the Word of God with others and focus on self-improvement. The hands of God are on my life. I share the Word of God with others so that they can also be a part of the Kingdom of God. It is my desire to fulfill the great commission given to us by Jesus Christ.
I thank CLI for this online Bible study opportunity and its mission to prepare competent servants of God. I pray that God continues to bless this noble institution.
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
Welcome, my name is Mathieu ten Dam from the Netherlands. I am called to ministry to children with athletic desires, dreams, and goals. Children from homes with the financial means and especially children without the financial means to participate in sports or another active lifestyle. IAM Ministries to Children is my ministry where we learn, evolve, and adapt. To further my education, IAM currently studying at the Christian Leaders Institute to earn the Life Coach Minister certification (Learn more about studying the Bible online, Click Here).
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT IAM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel. IAM hath sent me unto you. (Exodus 3:14 KJV)
My Story
As an only child, I grew up in a loving Christian home in the Netherlands. My father was a Judo instructor, and my mother was a full-time Mom. I accepted Christ when I was around six years old. My parents guided me well in this exciting process. While growing up, I served as an altar boy in our local St. George basilica in Almelo.
I went to high school in the United States to pursue my dream of becoming a professional athlete. Further, I received a full athletic scholarship at Purdue University, which made me a young adult. I learned about life and cultural differences at a young age: Dedication and resilience, serving, leadership, sacrifice, raising support, helping and loving others, community welfare, team building, life skills, becoming a role model, making mistakes, and so much more.
After receiving my Bachelor of Arts, I moved back to Europe as a professional athlete and played for the Dutch national team. Playing for transactional and transformational coaches has formed me into the person who IAM today.
Called to Minister to Children
Victory and failure, championships and injuries, happiness and disappointment, faith and fear shaped me along the way. My ministry passion is attending to children with (athletic) desires, dreams, and goals. They are a blessing to be around. My spiritual growth came from working with them as a trainer/coach. The future is within them. They are eager to learn and look for a leader to follow.
The book of 1 Corinthians is a letter Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth, a city in Greece. He told them, “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!” (1 Corinthians 9:24 NLT) Paul set a destination and knew precisely where he was going. He had a goal. That goal gave him direction. Paul defined his path, but not everyone can do so. It is easy to run and get lost if one does not know the finish line.
Guidance on Their Journey
That tends to happen to children who haven’t defined a clear path for themselves or do not get the proper guidance from home. So IAM asking God to guide me to positively impact the development process of these children and young adults and serve from the inside out through transformational coaching while including spiritual development in an open and transparent culture. In an environment where it is safe to make mistakes or be different.
While developing their athletic abilities, they can connect with God deeply and meaningfully to find their path to success while having fun. My community has many children with athletic dreams, desires, and goals. The mission field is enormous. I pray that with guidance from our Lord and Savior, IAM can make a difference in the life of these children. “But with God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26 KJV).
My Beloved Wife and Children
During my travels, I met my beloved wife, Olga. Together we have six children. Three children, Darnell, Caitlin, and Brandon, from my previous marriage, in which I had many shortcomings as a father and a husband. We have two children, Matfey and Aleksandra, from my wife’s first marriage. Today, I praise God that Olga and I found each other and that He is giving us a clear direction to move forward. We look back and learn from our mistakes to strengthen our family while building our future.
Our son Marcus passed away in 2012, which gave us much grief. However, we understand that he is smiling down on us from heaven while blessing our efforts to guide and teach our own and others’ children through our inside-out and transformational teaching and experience.
We embrace Christ in our everyday life, marriage, and family. We learn and try to lead by example. Together, we attend Redemption Church Netherlands in Almelo, where we found a great community of Christians from which we learn. We are blessed to be connected and look forward to creating and helping grow our church community in the name of Jesus. Where this will lead us, we don’t know. However, we will enjoy the journey.
My Vision and Study at CLI for Life Coach Minister Certification
Through the IAM method (Inspiration, Activation, Motivation) that I developed, IAM becoming a mixture of a teacher, life coach, pastor, evangelist, small group leader, and athletic skills specialist. Therefore, IAM currently attending CLI to earn my Life Coach Minister certification while continuing my work as a teacher/coach, loving father, and caring husband.
Thank you for reading my profile, and let’s connect. May God guide us on our journey to become fruitful Christian Leaders. May He bless you and keep you safe.
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
My name is Dennis R. Sumner, Jr., and I live in Union, South Carolina, USA. The tuition-free online minister and Bible training at the Christian Leaders Institute are preparing me for ministry (Learn more about studying the Bible online, Click Here).
My Beginnings
I was born into a low-income family situation. The way that many very close members of my family chose to deal with that was to become criminals and drug addicts. Some of the closest members of my family spent many years in prison. Therefore, I spent most of my childhood being transported from one detention facility to another to visit my relatives.
I had a good experience with school and did very well with academics as well as extra-curricular activities. I spent a lot of time with my friends. So, I filled my days from the time the sun rose until sunset busying myself with many of these things. However, I always knew that something was missing.
My Spiritual Journey
I did not grow up in a church setting, but I knew of the principles and teachings. I knew who Christ was, but I didn’t know Christ. One day, two ladies came to my door and told me that their church was beginning a bus ministry. So, they were going door-to-door along the route to find people interested in a ride to church in case they did not have transportation. I took these saints up on their offer and prepared myself for what I thought would simply be a new experience.
However, God opened my eyes to a family that I needed. They introduced me to a Savior that I quickly learned I needed even more. At 17, I gave my life to the Lord and vowed to be committed to Him with my life and my love.
He has been with me through those early family struggles, six difficult years in the United States Navy, a divorce, a long period of loneliness, a new love, a loving marriage, children, and grandchildren. There have been many struggles along the way. I’ve fallen many times. Many of those times, I was doubtful that I could rise up again. However, God was always faithful in lifting me up, encouraging me to move forward, and giving me peace.
Minister and Bible Training at CLI
God has given me a heart of love and compassion for my neighbor. My earnest desire is to please Him and to encourage others to come to know the love that I have found in surrendering to and serving Him. I want to move forward in a ministerial mode and learn how to help others in their walk with God. So I looked online and found the Christian Leaders Institute for ministry and Bible training. What a blessed opportunity!
I pray to use my knowledge and skill as a minister to glorify Him and lift up His Holy name.
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