Called to Ministry – Servant Leader
My name is Thomas Amulunji Maululwa, a born-again Christian. Christ Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I am getting Christian Leaders training online at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about free online Biblical classes, Click Here).
I am a Kenyan citizen and currently reside in Eldoret, Kenya, but operate in Mumias, Nairobi, and Eldoret. By profession, I am an Electrical Technologist and Renewable Energy (Solar) expert. I am a Vocational and Technical Trainer and also an entrepreneur in the field of electrical and solar systems services. Jesus is my Lord and Savior. To be used of God as a Christian leader is a very high priority in a country like mine.
Here I am Lord Send Me
I am delighted to serve God in all dimensions of my life. Always grateful for every opportunity set before me and give service to God Almighty – market ministry. I am an Associate Pastor at our local church in Mumias (Spiritual Life Mission, Imanga Church) where I started ministry work before going to the city. After eight months of training in Biblical Studies, a program of FGCK – Upper Room Family, I was ordained as a Deacon at FGCK Ruaraka LCA.
My new engagement at a vocational college has also opened another opportunity for me to serve in the Kingdom. I have the mandate to oversee the Christian union for trainees and give moral support at the college. This is a great platform for my ministry and service to God.
The harvest is plenty but laborers are few. In Kenya, most people are yearning for the gospel. Unfortunately, some are misled by the wrong doctrine of the 21st century thus my people are suffering for lack of knowledge. It, therefore, makes no doubt that there is a need for training for ministers who have been called to serve and lead people right in this contemporary world. I have the responsibility to play a role in bringing the real transformation needed through Christ Jesus.
State of My Young Age
As a young boy and teenager, I grew up in the village of Eshianini in Kakamega county – I had a village life. At the age of six years, I become an entrepreneur that associated me with our local town, Mumias. This helped me gain public speaking skills and the courage to face people and challenges. At a tender age, I attended The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) where I grew up in it as a Christian until the day I made my personal commitment to God.
As an entrepreneur, I went to the market for business on Fridays and Sundays. This affected my studies and Sunday school services in case there is a delay. Christianity was not a lifestyle but was rather a Sunday thing. Building Godly character during Sundays and ensuring you don’t cross or wrong anybody in the course of the week. There was a need of accepting Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Personal Salvation Journey
I grew up as a committed and disciplined Christian member in the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK). Through some training on Children’s Ministry and attending a number of seminars I received the mandate to help the children as a Sunday School Teacher at the Parish level. Being a teenager, I joined the youth department where I became a youth leader at the Church level. One year later, I became the youth secretary at the Parish level. I call this Christian by default.
At the age of 17 when I completed secondary school, I become very sick and sought medical attention in vain. The doctor’s report showed that every part of my body was okay. The only option was to be bedridden at home without any hope. The sense that I was bewitched started hitting the minds of my family members and people around me. So there was no hope but to wait for time to die, it was so painful.
One night with usual agony, God graced me with sleep like that of a young child. At around 3:00 AM in the night, a voice kept coming to my ear: “You can serve me more than this, make your relationship true.” I woke up in the morning with a better appetite than before. However, I was disturbed in my mind. I did not share the message to anybody except my younger sister, who had taken the route of a Pentecostal with opposition. In response, she said, “Hallelujah!” She clapped her hands and took off. Although confused, that was the start of my personal salvation.
Personal Salvation and Ministry Ventures
Four hours later, my sister came back with her pastor and two others. They came straight to my room. With the respect I had with men of God, I struggled to get on my feet. The servant of God was a man of prayer. He helped me sit down and shared the message of John 3:16. Being in confusion about my current position, I felt like something was hitting my head, and I asked the servant of God if I can accept Jesus Christ again. There was a big yes, shouting and clapping and they helped me to kneel. There and then, I made a proclamation and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Three days later, God healed me miraculously, and I believed in the Lord more and more. I call this Christian by choice and with understanding.
Four months later, after much discussion, I left the ACK and joined the Spiritual Life Mission in 2006, where I am an Associate Pastor to date. Glory and honor go to the Most High God!
In 2009, I joined Kitale National Polytechnic for engineering. It was of great honor to serve as a Bible Study Coordinator. Making it a stepping stone for evangelism, in the second year of my studies, they elected me as the Secretary-General of the student council at the college. In 2013, I went to the city of Nairobi, and by God’s direction, I joined the Full Gospel Churches of Kenya, Ruaraka LCA – Upper Room Family, and three years later I was appointed and ordained as a Deacon.
My Spiritual Dream
My spiritual dream is to live in and for God’s will. “To love the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my strength …. Also to love my neighbor as myself” (Matthew 22:37-40). Having a clear understanding that there is no other most High God like our Father in heaven. There is no doubt doing God’s will makes me identify who I am and builds my faith on a daily basis which strengthens my relationship with the Creator.
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150. I praise the Lord as long as I have breath (as long as I live). As a child of God saved by grace, I also desire to share God in season and out of season.
Christian Leaders Training Online at CLI
I sincerely thank God for bringing up Christian Leaders Institute through his servant Prof. Rev. Henry Reyenga. CLI is adding value to my spiritual life and ministry work. So far I have completed three levels: Christian Getting Started, Christian Basics, and now Christian Leaders Connections. The amazing thing is that the Christian Leaders training online is free of charge making a way to train servant leaders of all races and statuses. The online learning model makes it easier for any person at his/her locality to access the training.
Christian Leaders Institute has made the impossible to be possible. Financial viability and physical mode of study have been the drawback of acquiring Christian training. Through CLI, my dream of being a called, competent, and effective Servant Leader will come to pass in due course.
“My people suffer for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6. I recommend those already called and those being called to ministry to enroll for free Christian Leaders Training online at Christian Leaders Institute. I promise from my experience there, you will notice a difference and holistic growth. Train on Christian Leadership at CLI’s Leadership Excellence School and get the ordination at Christian Leaders Alliance.
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.
The Journey Doesn’t Stop Here
Hello There. My name is Deanisha Roberts. I am studying at the Christian Leaders Institute for leadership and ministry training (Learn more about free online Biblical classes, Click Here).
Born in 1986, I grew up in the beautiful city that never sleeps, New York City. My parents are from New York and Virginia. I am the middle child out of three children. My mom passed away in October 2012. After her passing, I relocated to live with my dad in North Carolina. Here is where my journey started walking with Christ.
My Spiritual Journey
My spiritual walk with the Lord hasn’t always been as intimate as it is now. I grew up as one of the pastor’s grandchildren. My life back then was full of pressure. I had expectations put on me by church members as to how active and involved I was supposed to be. I had to join the choir and was pressured to be a lead singer. After Sunday school, I was told I had to stand before the congregation and summarize what we learned. All and all, I was a shy and timid kid. Dealing with this sort of pressure growing up deterred me from even thinking about church. Let alone attending.
Later on, into my adulthood, I found my husband. We met through dog training. Relocating to North Carolina two years after dating, we had no clue the life-changing events that were to come. After settling down and meeting my dad’s side of the family, I met my cousin Ty. She was such a peaceful person. There was something different about her that I gravitated toward. She introduced me to her home church. I was a little skeptical at first due to my past history of attending my grandparent’s Baptist church as a child. So one day, I went and the experience changed my life. Four days before our wedding, my husband and I decided to give our lives to Christ. We wanted to do things differently. We wanted to have God at the center of our marriage.
Challenges
Life seemed great until my first pregnancy. About two months after my wedding, I was faced with the unexpected. I had an ectopic pregnancy. I was in a life or death situation in which it was between me and my baby. The doctors had to make the call of terminating my pregnancy and removing one of my damaged fallopian tubes. A year later, I had another miscarriage. Leaving my body in quite a state.
My faith was tested early in our marriage. If it wasn’t for God, I don’t know how my marriage would have survived. Glory to God, He placed the right people to fellowship with and keep us lifted in prayer. These people became our spiritual family to this day. God did bless us with a beautiful baby girl who’s now 4 years old. He also placed it on our hearts to adopt, so we have a beautiful foster daughter now. In time, our blessing manifested. We are sad about our two heavenly babies, but we are grateful for the family God put together for us.
Marriage Mentors
As time went on, God placed on our Pastor to ask us about being marriage mentors for our home church. My husband and I didn’t feel we were worthy of such a thing. Having been married for such a short amount of time. However, our Pastor told us to pray on it. Months later, our Pastor approached us again after service and asked the same question. We didn’t pray or think too much into it but decided this time to do so. Lo and behold, we decided to step out and get training for marriage mentoring.
God planted the seed that day. Something awakened in me that felt right and fulfilling. Hearing the Holy Spirit talk to me about moving forward in this area time and time again. In the beginning, I dragged my feet a bit. This all seemed like uncharted territory. Until one day, I began receiving phone calls from family members venting and seeking spiritual counsel for their marriage. I guess God has a funny way of nudging us in the direction He needs us to go. From that day on, I began to look deeper into being a true leader and counselor.
Leadership and Ministry Training at Christian Leaders Institute
My dream is to eventually obtain a degree in Leadership and to receive my Clinical License to become a Christian Counselor. I would like to open a center with my husband to help those people in need of Christian counseling for their situation. Life is hard on many, but we don’t have to do it alone. We need to apply biblical principles in all dynamics of life. Sometimes we need help from time to time as I did with my two miscarriages. It is such a nice feeling to be able to lean on someone grounded in the faith that has been through similar situations that can go through the journey with us. Someone willing to jump down in that hole with you and help you out without judgment or condemnation.
The leadership and ministry training at the Christian Leaders Institute has been a true blessing for me. Having some financial troubles and seasons of struggling financially in the past, I feel confident in knowing that I can still move ahead with my dream and vision to become what I feel drawn to do in the Kingdom. I want to be about my Father’s business and in pursuit of that get the proper training. The education and meeting other people will help me get to where I need to in order to be well equipped for the role. Christian Leaders Institute shares that vision, and I’m proud to be a part of such an organization.
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 Annabelle. My story started about 100 years ago. God has been in my family for over 100 years. I am thankful to be part of a one hundred year ministry legacy. I am also studying at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about free online Biblical classes, Click Here).
GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER JOAQUIM CARDOSO
My great-great-grandfather Joaquim was born in Portugal in the late 1800s into a non-Christian family. His country was going through some political turmoil when their King Carlos the first and his eldest son Filipe were assassinated by revolutionaries when riding in an open carriage. So at the age of 33, my great-great-grandfather decided to move to another country with his young wife Rosaria hoping for a fresh start.
They arrived in Brazil in 1910. Little did he know that God really had the exact same plan for him: a fresh start. He was a Portuguese immigrant in Brazil, but God had a great plan for his life. He met Jesus for the first time in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and became an active Christian in his community. That was the start of our one hundred year ministry legacy. Also, he had a son who he named Alvaro. A few years later, my great-great-grandfather became one of the deacons at his church. His desire was to spread the gospel so his pastor asked him to lead a new group of Christians on a Brazilian island about one hour away from the main church. It was only accessible by boat at that time, and he became their new pastor in 1939.
Great-Great Grandfather’s Vision
Upon arrival, he was excited to see a few small groups of believers already meeting in different homes on a weekly basis. But they didn’t have a home church. So he started a fundraiser to purchase a large double lot to build an ambitiously large church. Even though this was a small group of Christians, he believed God would make it grow.
A few years later, after the fundraiser started, this small group of Christians was finally able to purchase the two lots they had been faithfully praying about. Eager to start on the building project, all the churchmen gathered to clear off the land, which was full of debris and trees. My great-great-grandfather, at the age of 73, and his son Alvaro were also there helping out at every step of the way and working way too hard. Unfortunately, this job was too heavy for a man his age. He passed away only three days after the lot was purchased while preaching a message to his church members. That was the last message he preached, but the message of the Gospel in that town had just begun to spread.
GREAT-GRANDFATHER ALVARO CARDOSO
His son Alvaro was then nominated the pastor of this young church. They faced many financial challenges. Some people believed they should dream of a big church, while others thought my great-grandfather was out of his mind. It was hard to see their vision. There was no access to the island, except by boat. No large businesses were there, only small homes and lots of undeveloped land.
Five years later, God confirmed their great vision because the city authorized the construction of a road that would allow easier access to the island. The island population increased little by little after the road was inaugurated. With easier access, more people moved to the island and became believers. More people donated to the church building. Around 1950, they built an airport on the island, and the church attendance exploded. God confirmed the vision.
Great-Grandfather’s Dream
During the construction phase, my great-grandfather was overwhelmed with the number of attendees. So, he had to start new church campuses and several church ministries around the island to accommodate the large number of people who were converting to Jesus while the main church was still being built. He also made sure that enough rooms were built into the building. He dreamed of having a Christian school on the main church campus one day, where children could learn the Truth.
On November 22, 1964, 14 years after the lot was purchased, the church finally started to meet on the 1st floor of the new building. When the second floor was built, the church sign was installed, and the inauguration date was set. Unfortunately, my great-grandfather passed away at the age of 59, from a stroke. It was just a few days before the main building’s inauguration day. His children were still teenagers, so they hired a new pastor to lead this church. Under the new leadership of Pastor Gomes, thousands of people came to know the Lord. His first message was based on 1 Corinthians 3:6 “I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.”
Fast-forwarding to today, this church is a megachurch in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It has a weekly attendance of 15,000 people on many campuses throughout the city, with mission churches around Brazil, and in other countries. There is also a Christian K-6 school operating daily in the building, which was another one of my great-grandfather’s dreams.
GRANDMOTHER IVONE CARDOSO
My grandmother Ivone inherited her father’s leadership skills. Throughout her life, she led many ministries in their church, including the Women’s Ministry, the Couples’ Ministry, Benevolence Ministry, Church Retreats, Youth and Marriage Conferences, and too many more to list. She also made sure all her children learned the Lord’s commands by attending church regularly and serving the church with their talents. She just passed away in 2020. I had the honor of being by her side in her last weeks.
MOM JOYCE CARDOSO
My mom Joyce grew up in a Christian home. She was very active in the youth ministry in her megachurch in Brazil. At the age of 13, she decided to have a personal relationship with Jesus. It was not because her parents were Christians, but because she realized she loved Him with all her heart. Later on, she moved to Florida and started a Christian family of her own. My mom has led some church ministries, such as a dance ministry and a youth ministry with my dad, and small groups. She has also supported many ministries in our church, such as the children’s ministry, outreach, women’s ministry, and many others. She also worked at Calvary Christian Academy for four years when I was younger. Her passion is to share the love of Christ, encourage brothers and sisters in the faith, and pray for the salvation of many.
ME: Taking Biblical Classes at CLI
I feel extremely blessed to have met the Lord at a young age. Although I’m still 15 years old, I know God has a special plan for my life. I love volunteering at my local church in Florida. I read my Bible daily, and we do devotions as a family after dinner. Also, I have a fun job and enjoy hanging out with my church friends.
Last year, Florida International University accepted me as a dual-enrolled student. Even though this is definitely a good school with challenging courses, it lacks the biblical classes that CLI offers, which is why God led me here. I would like to be better equipped for the work of the Lord as I carry on our one hundred year ministry legacy.
In conclusion, I’m the 5th generation of Christians in my family. Jesus has been present with each generation in a very remarkable way. I pray I’ll also leave a legacy of faith for my children, their children, and their children’s children 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, 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.