Hello, my name is Rebecca Snel. I live in England, UK, with three sons, two of which I am homeschooling. Currently, I am taking Bible courses and ministry classes free online at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online free Bible courses and ministry classes, Click Here).
My Youth
I grew up in a Catholic family in the UK. I was christened and confirmed like everybody else in my church. My parents were pretty devout. My dad was an acolyte at the altar with the job of swinging the incense around. So, I grew up with a lot of religious paraphernalia around me.
At the age of 16 or so, I attended a youth conference. There I experienced the Holy Spirit falling on me. Back then, I didn’t understand what this amazing feeling was that had come over me. I had no one to ask. I started searching for answers and started at my local library (this was pre-internet times). The religious book section was right next to the New Age section.
One thing led to another, my mind was blown as I read about a whole new world outside the Catholic teachings. However, at that stage, I didn’t go deep and focused on trying to understand the calling I felt in my life. I fell in love with God. I even wanted to be a nun as I didn’t see any other options as a female in the Catholic Church to serve God.
New Age and Struggles
Unfortunately, I didn’t read the Bible in all my research – well not much of it. I did try once but got stuck somewhere around the book of Numbers. My parents insisted I go to University and get a degree rather than become a nun. I chose to study Archaeology. Then, as an Anthropology assignment, I was to write a report about the Wicca culture. Now able to access the Internet, I came across the New Age world again from my research. This time, I fell into it. I felt it had more to offer than what I experienced in church.
I still felt a strong love for God and the pull to know more. It was a desire to get closer. However, I looked in all the wrong places. In the “warm and welcoming” New Age community, I met a Swedish boy. Being rather headstrong, I moved to Sweden at the age of 25 to marry him. After our son was born, he got into the Free Masons. I was drawn into an Ascended Master cult, which created distance between us. We ended up divorcing after 10 years.
When my marriage failed, I prayed to God that now I was His. I wanted to dedicate my life to serving Him. However, I was still in the New Age cult! We believed in Jesus but that he was just one of the Ascended Masters who served as examples. We were trained to aim for our own ascension through good works and balancing karma. It was a terrible prison to be in, for we cannot save ourselves no matter the good intentions.
Changes and Salvation in Christ
During a conference, I met a Dutchman, and after several years I would marry him. After a rather cold first marriage, it felt like God was providing me with another chance. This time it was with someone who shared my heart for spiritual matters, although I still was in the New Age at this point. We moved back to the UK and had two more boys. Then after a couple of years, the leader of the group we were following decided to cut all her followers off. Later, the leader posted that the Ascended Masters were false and that we all should read the Bible and turn to Jesus.
Shocked at the suggestion that the last ten years of my life might have been a lie, I obeyed and read the New Testament. It was very quickly clear that the teachings I had followed were a big lie. The biggest lie was that I needed to save myself through work.
I repented and turned to the real Jesus, making Him my Lord and Saviour! My husband also followed me, and together we started off on a new journey as born-again Christians. What a relief it was to find that we wouldn’t have to struggle with complicated decrees and rituals. I became a lot more at peace and less prone to anger.
Finding My Way
Someone invited me to a chat with a pastor at a local Baptist church. The pastor further invited me to an Exploring Christianity course which led to me being fully baptized and becoming a member there. It wasn’t long before the old calling I had felt when I was a teen began to creep back up on me. I knew God wanted me to speak his Word in some way. My husband joined the Worship team, and I started in Sunday School ministry.
Unfortunately, my church does not accept female pastors or even deacons. So, I am at a bit of a loss about what to do with the calling as my family seems happy at the church and settled in.
I am in contact with a group of Christians who do street evangelism once a month. I started joining them although I feel quite inadequate now in the beginning. However, I have had a chance to share my testimony and felt the Holy Spirit speaking through me. It was one of the best experiences of my life. God is calling me to preach the Word even though I myself am shy and not a great talker. Passionate about wanting to show people who God and Jesus really are, I want them to have a close intimate relationship with the Lord.
Bible Courses and Ministry Classes at CLI
I hope to gain more understanding about the call on my life from studying at Christian Leaders Institute. The Bible courses and ministry classes are what I need. I hope to be able to dive deeper into my study of the Bible so that I know the Word deeply. I don’t want to be deceived again and want to be able to help others who are searching as I once was. Thank you, CLI, for this opportunity!
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, and then you are allowed to 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.
My name is Scott Grube, from the USA. I have a calling into Youth Ministry and am studying at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online free Youth ministry and Bible courses, Click Here).
Early Years
I first started attending church when I was very young. It was just something to do. I followed my brothers and sister. I learned of this man named Jesus but was very unsure and confused about who he was and what it meant to follow him. Yet, I continued going to this church well after my brothers and sister stopped. I was trying to understand who Jesus was and is.
When a friend asked me to visit his church, I attended an actual youth group. Finally, I knew I needed to know more. The church was very active. I was able to go on a “Chrysalis” walk followed by going to “Ichthus” and “Acquire the Fire” events. These events strengthened my faith. Finally, I knew Jesus. I knew what it meant to follow Him. I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart fully in 2005 at Ichthus. It was a three-day Christian concert event, which shaped the following years.
The Calling into Youth Ministry
The weekend lay director asked me to serve as a team member for a “Chrysalis” weekend. It would be my first taste of ministry. The director asked me to give the last talk of the weekend titled: Next Steps. It was my job to wrap up the weekend and explain to the newly completed “butterflies” as we call them that it does not stop here. I was to equip them with tools to go out into their homes, churches, and schools to be Christian leaders. After the talk, my youth director approached me and asked if I would give the same message to the youth group the following Sunday. These events are where I felt the calling and fell in love with Youth Ministries.
The Passion
I went on to be an assistant Youth Pastor for the next few years. I helped lead the youth group, plan trips, and minister to the younger kids. This lit a fire that wouldn’t falter. My heart desires to help future generations. I can be a listening ear to the hurting youth, lead them, show them, and lovingly guide them through our darkened world. These kids are our future, and they need God’s love now more than ever. The youth of today are being attacked by many forces.
I knew I needed youth ministry training and am thankful I found the Christian Leaders Institute. The free online youth ministry training will prepare me for my calling.
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, and then you are allowed to 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.
My name is Jessi, and I am from a small town in Alabama. I am thankful to be getting a Christian college education free online at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online free Bible courses, Click Here).
Growing up, I always knew who God was. My parents took me to my small town Southern Baptist church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. I was blessed to have parents and grandparents who loved me and trained me in the way of Christ. However, I did not realize as a child that I was just walking the walk my parents showed me. There was never a time in my life growing up that I remember truly having the relationship with God that I have now.
My Journey
My new walk began when my 18-year-old daughter started attending a new church in our area. As an adult, I drew as far away from God as possible. When I turned 18 myself, I found a path that would lead me down a very dark road. It led to emotional and physical abuse, drug and alcohol addiction, pain, and separation from the family and friends who loved me for so long.
At 21 years old, I was a single mother. By the power and grace of God, I managed to beat addiction and leave my abusive relationship. Then, I reconnected with my family. They supported me and helped to heal me in the best and only way they knew how. Even though I was much better than I was before, healthier, safer, sturdier, and a devoted mother, I still had not set foot in a church in many years.
God Spoke and My Walk with God Began
Unfortunately, I never took my daughter to church growing up. I was not the same example for her that my parents had been for me. I always told her about God and His love for us and taught her right from wrong. Taught her to believe in Him and to love him. Looking back now, I could never show her a true walk because I had never had one myself.
At 18 years old, my daughter tried a church that was new to our area. It was not the Southern Baptist church I grew up in. The non-denominational and modern worship service excited her. To be supportive of her newfound love for this church, I agreed to go with her one Sunday. It was an answer to a prayer that she had been praying for many months without my knowledge. The moment I stepped foot in those doors, I knew I would never be the same. God spoke to me that day in a way I had never experienced.
Within four months, I joined the church and started joining teams to help within the church. I served God for the first time in my life. At 38 years old, I finally found my purpose. The more I served others and the more I learned and became involved in our church, small groups, and Bible studies, the hungrier I became. I led small groups and joined the prayer team and greeter team. The more I asked God to use me, the more opportunities he presented for me to grow and become closer to Him.
Christian College Education at CLI
I started taking classes at Christian Leaders Institute. The Christian college education fed my hunger to learn more, grow more, and understand more about this new walk and life I have been given. I was saved and baptized at 15 years old. However, for the first time in my life, I understood that there was so much more to that relationship with God that I had been missing for so long. The more I learn and the more I strive to find ways to be a better servant, the more God blesses me. I ask God daily to search me and show me areas where I need to grow. I want the Holy Spirit to fill me.
These classes I have the opportunity to take through CLI have helped me. They helped grow my faith and increase my knowledge and understanding of the Word of God. Therefore, I am better prepared to witness and minister to others in whatever way God decides to use me.
I do not know yet where my journey is taking me. However, I do know one thing for certain. “Father, not my will, but yours be done! Where You lead me I will go, knowing that you will equip me along the way. I am your servant and eager to do your will here on earth. I am your hands and feet and enjoy every day knowing that You are using me to advance the Kingdom! Amen!”
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, and then you are allowed to 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.