My name is Muriel Hendricks. I am from South Africa, living in Johannesburg which is called the City of Gold. Although I have not found my gold nugget yet, Wow! What a journey! It is really starting now. Studying at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about free Bible and ministry training online, Click Here) is truly going to be my “LIFT OFF.” I found CLI while searching the internet for free accredited Ministry Online Training. A single mother of four grown children and a grandmother to eight adorable grandchildren, I know that I am blessed.
My Story
Growing up in the apartheid era came with its own challenges. We moved around a lot because of government displacement with segregation and racial laws. I attended quite a number of different schools because of the moving around. My parents were Lutherans but not devout church members. So we children had the option of whether and when we wanted to go to church or not. I thank God for the plans He had for me.
My encounter with the LORD was a strange one. Already divorced and working in the Corporate Sector, on this particular day I walked into our offices with one goal in mind. It was to hand in my resignation. I had no alternative source of income, no fixed assets, or even a comfortable bank balance. However, I was going to resign from my job. Was it irresponsible? Maybe, but that was what I was going to do, and I did not understand at that time that God was in it. So, I resigned from my workplace!!!!
Former Unsaved Single Mom
Long story short, the following week, I had an appointment with the Pastor of the church where my children worshipped. Yes, you are reading correctly. My children are saved and their mom was not even attending church except for an occasional Sunday visit. To say the least, my life at that stage was like a roller coaster ride. I was not bitter but also not “ready” to have any fellowship with the LORD.
On that particular day, a Tuesday in 2000, I had my meeting with the Pastor. Hallelujah! I gave my heart to the LORD and never looked back. Our meeting went well. All of a sudden, I started crying. The Pastor was also crying. At the time, I did not understand that it was the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Pastor gave me The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren to read. Being an avid reader, I commented that I would complete the book the following day. To which the pastor replied,” No, please read it over 40 days. Each day a chapter.” That book changed my perspective and thinking. Furthermore, I also got offered a position as a School Teacher at the Church’s Primary School. That’s how my walk with God started.
The Journey
What a ride it was and still is. As a newborn Christian, the excitement and love for God were amazing. Every day was a new day, a new adventure with a hunger that needed to be fed. I also enjoyed being a Sunday School Teacher, or in today’s terms, a Children’s Church Leader. I also managed the monthly magazine for the church, which was exciting because that got me to interact with everyone in the church. Further, I attended once a week Bible School classes, which enhanced my spiritual walk.
My family and I then moved from the Maraisburg area. We then attended a church in Randburg which was closer to my new workplace. I served in this ministry for a while but was more involved now with ministry duties. I served in Children’s Church again and was part of the Women Fellowship, the Prayer Team, and the Counseling Division. Then, I enjoyed it so much that I quit my job and became a full-time minister with a stipend. It was fulfilling, and I could not ask for anything more. During this period, I also got ordained as a pastor.
Inner Peace and Joy
As a teenager and then as a young woman, I made a lot of wrong decisions. At one stage, that led me to think that there was something wrong with me. It was as if I could never find peace. I yearned for something deeper than what I was experiencing. I remember that I could be sitting with friends at some function or the other but would feel lonely in the midst of it. Then, the day I accepted the Lord Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior, I began to experience inner peace and joy. The things of the world no longer had the attraction or impact on me.
Still Thirsty: Free Ministry Online Training
But in all of it, I still felt as if something was missing. I needed more and to do more. However, because of financial constraints, I was unable to engage in any studies. Theology and Ministry studies didn’t come cheap, but I never lost hope that out there was a college or school which would make it possible for me to study further. With its free ministry online training, CLI is that place. I completed God’s Design for Sex Mini-Course and am currently busy with the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 and 2.
I am so excited because everything that I have ever wanted is now literally at my fingertips and within my reach. The Mini-Courses have been my starting point. However, I am a bit unsure at this stage as I want to study everything available to me. There is such a great need for qualified ministers in my society.
At the age of 66, the world is my oyster. My children, my eldest daughter being an ordained pastor, are very happy for me. They knew that I love the LORD and wanted to be more involved in our community. With CLI and the training I will receive, the possibilities are endless.
I am so grateful to Christian Leaders Ministries and the free ministry online training. Not only will I be a recipient of their gift of free ministry training, but I will also be giving back as a token of my gratitude.
Steps to Sign Up At Christian Leaders Institute
Step 1 – Register for a free study account that automatically enrolls you in the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2.
After you register, you will automatically be enrolled in the “getting started” course. You will locate the course at your “home” button when logged in. Scroll down to find the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2 Link. Click the link and open the course.
Step 2 – Complete Part 1 of this course. Then you can enroll in mini-courses or regular courses.
The Christian Leaders Getting Started Class Part 1 shows you how to enroll in courses and mini-courses. Part 2 of the course connects your calling into ministry with programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute. Part 2 will offer some ministry training and introduce you to the other programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
Hi, I’m Ryan Caulson from the Unites States of America. I live in Florida. I’m 39 years old and married. My wife and I have no children. I’m trying to be the best disciple of Jesus I can be. Part of that is taking classes at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about free Bible and ministry training online, Click Here).
My Journey
I grew up in Pennsylvania in a loving home with my mother and step-father. They brought me to church regularly. We attended a Catholic church. Baptized as a child, I received my first communion, heard readings from the Bible in church services, and completed the Catholic confirmation sacrament. However, I never had a personal relationship with God. I knew about God: Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, but never understood the importance of trusting in God for my salvation.
In my youth, I went through times of questioning my faith. The little I understood of sound Christian doctrine was so incomplete that I quickly rejected it all. I rebelled against the instructions of God for proper living, and I was my own god. As a young man with no conviction, I lived with no direction or purpose other than to do whatever felt good. I did not flourish. Failures stacked up and small problems grew into large ones.
Then, my nihilistic perspective manifested into depression and self-loathing. Only through God’s mercy did I not cause more harm to myself or others during this time. Then, one evening, I cried out to God that if He were there I needed Him. Slowly, God revealed Himself to me. I did not go back to church or read the Bible. I also still lived a destructive lifestyle as before, but God was working.
Changes
Then, I met a girl who I fell in love with. Her story was similar to mine in that she was raised going to a Christian church, with a loving family and even gave her life to Christ as a teen. But, as she herself confessed, she was living in the world and of the world more than following Christ. She had recently started attending church again, so I joined her.
We dated for a while. Then, before I left for a deployment to Iraq in 2009, she wrote a letter to me. She expressed her love for me and her desire that we might make a life together. However, more important than that to her was that I might know Jesus and trust in Him for my salvation. Her boldness, courage, and self-sacrificial love for me was an eye-opening moment. I began to see what a life of trusting in Jesus looked like.
I left for my deployment reading The Purpose Driven Life and talking to God. During that time, He bestowed His grace on me. I accepted Jesus as my Savior and was baptized. Through His mercy and patience, I have slowly accepted Him as my Lord as well.
Free Bible and Ministry Training at CLI
I got home from my deployment and married that girl! We serve, learn, and grow in our local church. As we sought God for what was next in our lives, it seemed right to get some education about the scriptures and ministry. Then, I will be better equipped to witness and disciple others.
I’m so grateful for the free Bible and ministry training at the Christian Leaders Institute. They are helping me grow in my understanding of the Scriptures. My story is a testimony to the importance of sound biblical doctrine and discipleship. Then, I can share salvation in Jesus with the lost and for the Glory of God. Thank you, Jesus!
Steps to Sign Up At Christian Leaders Institute
Step 1 – Register for a free study account that automatically enrolls you in the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2.
After you register, you will automatically be enrolled in the “getting started” course. You will locate the course at your “home” button when logged in. Scroll down to find the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2 Link. Click the link and open the course.
Step 2 – Complete Part 1 of this course. Then you can enroll in mini-courses or regular courses.
The Christian Leaders Getting Started Class Part 1 shows you how to enroll in courses and mini-courses. Part 2 of the course connects your calling into ministry with programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute. Part 2 will offer some ministry training and introduce you to the other programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
A Journey with the Lord
Hello, I’m Mimi! I am taking classes at the Christian Leaders Institute for continued theological and biblical education (Learn more about free theology and Bible courses online, Click Here).
My Youth
I grew up in Guatemala City in a Christian family. It is debatable how Christian my family was; however, everyone believed there was a God and heard about Christ. Latin America is a very religious region, and Christianity is mainly in the form of Catholicism. However, it does not mean that the people know Jesus Christ. I grew up in this context.
My great grandparents were Mennonite pastors. Due to this fact, I got to study in a private Mennonite school. There I was educated with high moral standards, discipline, and biblical instruction. However, at my home, things were different. My parents, brother, and I lived at my grandparents’ house. Even though we attended church, it took us a long time to live a God-honoring life. So, there was confusion in my mind.
Then, my parents moved out of my grandparents’ house responding to the calling they had for a long time. They studied theology and became pastors in the south of Guatemala. At that time, I moved to the city alone to study at University. During my university studies, I was stumbling in my Christian life. But, I never stopped going to church and serving. I knew I was called to serve the Lord. However, I lived what I learned from my childhood. I also didn’t want to do something because of my family. I wanted to make my own decisions.
God’s Calling
God’s calling continued to sound in my heart. Finally, I answered and knew I needed a theological and biblical education. So, I registered in the Central American Theology Seminary. There, I studied and graduated as a Theology Professor. I was studying Literature at the University San Carlos of Guatemala, Theology at the Seminary, and had a full-time job. It was a very busy time, but the Lord got me through.
I desired to be a Bible Translator, so I started the process with Wycliffe in Guatemala. However, things never got anywhere. Then, after surgery, I realized that the Lord had other plans for me. Even when you want to do things for the Kingdom that God has not approved, they are just “your good ideas” not the Lord’s plans. I needed to submit to Him.
This was my second attempt to reach the missionary calling and another failure. You see, I graduated from high school when I was 15 and studied medicine. I wanted to bring physical and spiritual healing in Christ to many. However, my three years in Medical School were very rough, and I never got anything from them, just the lesson it was not for me.
Feeling Lost
For a time, I felt lost and didn’t know exactly what I was supposed to do. I am goal-oriented, and since my goal was unreachable, I felt very disappointed and frustrated. The world, however, was always there and I started spending time with non-Christian people, which led to a separation from the Lord. I didn’t stop attending church or serving, but I was not in the presence of the Lord with the right heart and mind. I cannot say that my non-Christian friends were bad or forced me to do bad things. Yet, their conversation and interests were not aligned with the calling I had. Many times, I felt out of place while we “had fun” together.
After a very hard personal experience and spending time out of Guatemala, I realized that I wanted to serve my people. The Lord had trained me for that purpose. So, I returned to Guatemala to serve full-time in ministry with my parents and enjoyed every moment.
New Direction
Four months later, the Lord opened the door for me to serve as a local missionary in the mountains of eastern Guatemala. There I did the translation and served many children and women. That year, I met the man that is now my husband. Together we serve the Lord as missionaries in Guatemala and the United States. I serve women that are striving to break cycles of sin, abuse, and poverty through the ministry the Lord has granted us.
Using all the resources that God gave me through my theology studies, and experiences in the mission field, the Lord allowed me to write a book. It reflects my journey of growing in purpose as a woman for Him. It also is to help women refocus on the femininity that the Lord has given us.
Finding CLI for Theological and Biblical Education
Seeking excellence to serve the Lord, my husband enrolled in Christian Leaders Institute. He has learned so much there and strengthened his walk with the Lord. He can access the classes from anywhere the Lord has led us to serve and learn. Now, I am enrolled to learn new tools for my ministry. I know that having a Theology degree does not mean I know enough of my glorious God. So, I want to continue my theological and biblical education because I see how important is to learn. I also see how important a title and credentials are in the secular world. Therefore, I want to present myself equipped to honor my Lord before the people He calls me to serve.
My desire is to graduate from the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School. I pray that the Lord to provides for me to do it if this pleases Him. As a full-time missionary, I have no income or resources to pay for anything. The Lord faithfully provides for my needs through many generous servants for Him, so I know my help will come from Him.
God is a Good Father and God
In my life, I have learned that the Lord is a sovereign King. He is also a good Father and a wise Lord. If we truly trust God, we submit to Him. That submission to the Lord is the safest thing to do, but even more when we want to live to glorify His name. We can trust the Lord to always take us into spacious places where we can rejoice in His good and perfect will even in the middle of struggles and spiritual growing pains.
One of my favorite Bible verses is Ephesians 2:10 because have seen it a reality in my life. Even when I drifted from Him the fact that I am created in Christ never left my heart and mind and I knew who I belong to and what I live for. Working on all the good work that He has entrusted me with has brought out the best of me for His glory.
Steps to Sign Up At Christian Leaders Institute
Step 1 – Register for a free study account that automatically enrolls you in the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2.
After you register, you will automatically be enrolled in the “getting started” course. You will locate the course at your “home” button when logged in. Scroll down to find the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2 Link. Click the link and open the course.
Step 2 – Complete Part 1 of this course. Then you can enroll in mini-courses or regular courses.
The Christian Leaders Getting Started Class Part 1 shows you how to enroll in courses and mini-courses. Part 2 of the course connects your calling into ministry with programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute. Part 2 will offer some ministry training and introduce you to the other programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.