My name is Jonas Alexandre, from the USA. I am an Accountant and work as a Finance Manager in Tampa, FL. Married for 33 years, my wife and I have two adult children and one grandson. I am excited to study at the Christian Leaders Institute for ministry training, credentials, and ordination (Learn more about online free Bible courses, Click Here).
Early Life, Conversion, and Growth
Born in Haiti, I grew up under solid Christian teaching. My mother, local Baptist church, and confessional secondary school taught me well. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord as a teenager. Sadly, I do not remember the exact date of my conversion. I remember it was at Vacation Bible School one summer upon the teacher’s prompting.
Therefore, my journey is like a “Nicodemus meeting Jesus at night” or as a “Road-to-Emmaus” type of experience. The resurrected Christ revealed himself to me through “what all the Scriptures said concerning himself!” I had already made a decision and was attending church. I have believed and served in the church in various capacities since my childhood. Further, I taught Sunday school to other young adults, etc.
Around 2000, I had a series of encounters with God through my daily early morning devotions. I started listening and yielding to the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to me through the Word of God, the Bible. God became real to me in that period. Previously, I was content to be a good and faithful church member and layman, a law-abiding citizen with few “external” vices. However, I neglected the “weightier matters of the Law- justice and mercy and faith.” The Lord challenged me to pay attention to the sins in my heart like covetousness, envy, hatred, hypocrisy, lust, lying, pride, unrighteous anger, etc. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”
Further Growth
I give credit to a few ministries and their tools for helping me along the way. First is the NLT version of the Life Application Study Bible and Notes. It opened up my understanding of many biblical concepts and doctrines and to apply them in my daily life. Next, the Experiencing God book and study by Blackaby and King challenged me to experience and – know – God through obedience. Then, the Bible Study Hour by the late James M. Boice was instrumental to my desire to study more and go to seminary. Finally, I also credit the Friends of Israel (FOI) ministry’s Institute of Jewish Studies, which I attended for a couple of years. It deepened my understanding of prophecy and eschatology. However, due to costs, I never finished the seminary programs.
I have been serving in the Church with a desire to grow for over three decades. It has been in various ministries with increasing responsibilities. I served in both French and English-speaking churches over the years. I served as a Church Trustee and Administrator, Sunday School Teacher and Superintendent, and Bible study teacher. Licensed to preach by my church in 2013, I also became an Associate Minister leading Sunday Worship and Bible Study.
After the Great Earthquake of 2010, the Lord put on my wife’s and my heart to organize annual missions trips to bring the gospel to remote areas in Haiti. In addition, the knowledge I gained in both previous seminary programs helped me to teach at church and work. I led a weekly Bible Study with co-workers for the past 13 years at work.
Ministry Training, Credentials, and Ordination
I thank the Lord for my wife’s support and encouragement to continue studying and growing. She encouraged me then to establish nightly family devotions in our home. She also encouraged me to go to school for training. Recently, she encouraged me to go back to school to obtain the necessary credentials and ordination to be more effective in ministry. My wife researched many seminaries online for me and found Christian Leaders Institute and CLI’s Leadership Excellence School!
I was incredulous at first when she told me it was entirely free! I could not believe it until I read the info on the site for myself. Then, I listened to Rev. Henry Reyenga and Rev. Steve Elzinga in the Getting Started class and saw Francis Chen’s video. Francis Chen had the same dream as me: a place online where one can study the Word of God via text, audio, or video and grow! Christian Leaders Institute and CLI’s Leadership Excellence School are simply visionary!
My ideal ministry is to teach and preach the gospel locally. I want to do this in churches in the USA and the countryside in Haiti. Unfortunately, many in Haiti are into animism or ritualistic traditional mass attendance without personal knowledge and relationship with Christ as their Lord and Savior.
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.
More of You and Less of Me, Lord!
My name is Judith Diakanyo from South Africa. I am excited to be part of the Christian Leaders Institute to learn more about God’s Word (Learn more about online free Bible courses, Click Here). Currently, I am serving in the kingdom of God as an intercessor. Also, my husband and I do outreach programs often sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ amongst the homeless in our neighborhood.
I am looking forward to connecting with fellow CLI students in my area. The course on connections has encouraged me to be part of the CLI networks in my area. I will update my experiences once I have made contact with the CLI network in South Africa.
My Journey
Let me share a bit of my upbringing with you. I grew up in a quiet neighborhood. My mother was a domestic worker, and I stayed with her and my dad at the servant’s quarters. Staying on my mother’s employer’s property was fun. So, I had lots of fun spending most of my time outdoors playing as a child.
My childhood plays a critical role in my walk with God. I met a friend who came from a God-fearing family. She invited me to attend the home cell at her house every Tuesday. This amazing family would fetch me every Sunday, and I went to Little Falls Christian Centre with them. At 14, I gave my life to Jesus.
I came to know the Lord and feel His love amid my flaws as a human being. Peer pressure influenced me in my late teen years, and I made some hectic hiccups. I had a few near-death experiences due to my negligence, but GOD always came through to save me.
Jesus saw me through it all and remained good to me even though I did not deserve it. As a result, I love Christ with everything that is within me! I have learned to shift my focus from being a people pleaser to being a Jesus Lover because HE first loved me.
My Ministry Dream
I dream to share the Love of God with those that the world has rejected and with those that are seeking love in the wrong places. I want people to know how deeply God loves them and longs to have an intimate relationship with them. God has created a desire in my heart to minister to refugees. I always imagine myself sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ at harbors as refugees enter a new country. My prayer is to introduce them to the only refuge, Jesus Christ.
Therefore, I have come to CLI to have an even greater relationship with God through intense study of His Word. I want to know God more. I also want to learn more about the Bible and the Kingdom of God free online at CLI. Then, I can be a good steward in my Father’s Kingdom. If I can achieve the above, it will be a good start to being equipped to walk well in God’s purpose for my life.
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 Aaron Villanueva from the United States of America. I claimed to be a Christian for a lot of my life but lived a life of sin! Then, God opened my eyes and saved me! Now, I am studying Bible classes and ministry courses at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online free Bible courses, Click Here).
My Youth: Challenges
Growing up in San Antonio, Texas, I was the eldest sibling of seven. I grew up in a good home, but when I was 10, my father went to prison. He did not get out until I was 30. After that, my single mother did her best to raise us in the church. At home, I took on many duties of “father,'” and an adolescent with that much power was not good for my siblings or me. If they did something to anger me, I was sure to get even with them when mom went to work.
I became a tyrant at a very young age. Although we went to church every Sunday and Wednesday, nothing resembled Christ in my life or conduct. I knew all the correct answers about salvation, could quote Scriptures, even claimed that I was a child of the King. I took many friends to church, went to church camps, and had some pretty powerful experiences, but no change occurred in my social life. If you had asked people outside of church if I was a Christian, most likely they’d have said, “No way!” I was honoring God with my lips, but my heart was far from Him. I lived every day for the enemy. Eventually, sin overtook my life and became my lifestyle.
Eye Opening Consequences: Full Surrender to Christ
At 36, I faced three felony charges and 5-99 years in prison. I had been in and out of jail several times. A age 22, they sent me to jail for six months, but nothing of this magnitude. The drug lifestyle was now “sitting me down” for real! By God’s mercy, my sentence was only eight years. Yet, I was angry and bitter. I was mad because that lifestyle took everything from me: my wife, my children, my home, my business, vehicles, and my freedom. However, little did I know at the time God had a plan, and He was working it!
While incarcerated, I began to sober up and think clearly. I realized how blessed I was. God granted me a spirit of willingness which led me to be broken. I was broken down to be rebuilt in Christ. Finally, I had remorse for all of the hurt I caused, especially to those who loved me the most. I FULLY surrendered and said yes to Jesus. I could no longer do it on my own and admitted I needed a Savior.
Study Bible Classes and Ministry Courses at CLI
I investigated what exactly that meant. The Bible was my guide as “absolute truth.” The Bible is the Word of God, so “if it says it, I believe it, and that settles it!” The Lord got a hold of my heart, and I fell in love with His Word. Not only did I read it, but I dissected it, studied it, practiced it, took it literally, and used many versions. I put aside all my religious rituals and traditions that entangled and confused me. I stood on the Word of God. Then, on March 9, 2019, “ALL THINGS BECAME NEW!” Thank you, Lord!
After almost four years, they released me on parole. The Lord continues to work His plan in my life as I walk in obedience. I realize today that obedience reflects our faith. So, I try to live that out every day. He has blessed me with a God-fearing wife that loves Him as much as I do. We live a life with Christ in the center. We committed our marriage to serve others in the sobriety community and the lost.
I wanted to learn more and found the Christian Leaders Institute. The free online Bible classes and ministry courses are a blessing! Thank you, CLI!
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 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.