Church Leadership Achieved Through Online Christian Education
My name is Yvonne Myers, and I am receiving an online Christian Education at the Christian Leaders Institute. I live in England. Currently, I work as a Chaplain for Methodist Homes for the Aged and NHS England (hospital). I felt called to ministry in 2007 when I became a Roman Catholic Prison Chaplain working in a multi-faith environment.
I have a BSc degree from the University of Hull and am fully committed to personal and professional development. At Hull University, I took extra night classes, which included coaching and mentoring (Level 4), Person-Centered Counselling (Level 4), Leadership and Management (Level 4).
Upon starting as a Prison Chaplain, I went to Ushaw College to take a course on Ecumenical Chaplaincy. Through MHA (Methodist Homes for the Aged), I took classes in Worship, Chaplaincy, Dementia Care, End of life, Aging, and Spirituality. In addition, I have studied independently to develop my ministry skills with courses in Autism, Learning Difficulties, Managing Behavior That Challenges, Mental Health, and Business and Admin. In 2015, I took a Catholic Bible Study Course, and in 2019, I took Canon Law and Church History with Maryvale Institute. More recently, I have taken some free courses with the Open University on Philosophy and Religion Today.
Discovering Christian Leaders Online
I am pleased to have stumbled across Christian Leaders Institute for and online Christian education because, as a Catholic woman, I didn’t feel called to be a nun. Therefore, I chose to pursue a university degree that would give me employment opportunities. I grew up in a Catholic family and attended Convent Schools in Wales. My faith has always been a huge part of my life. My relationship with God started at the age of six when I attended boarding school and had an excellent opportunity for contemplation and prayer. The call to serve was never far from my life. I have been a church reader since the age of 12. In my 20s, I became a Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Peter Chanel in Hull. After that, I accepted the calling to assist in teaching RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation Course) for adults.
Finding this opportunity to get further training will enhance my credentials and enable me to be in a position to accept whatever God would like me to do in the future. As an individual on a low income with a young family to support, tuition-free Bible training and the ability to study online at home are vital. I strive for church leadership achieved through online education.
Overcoming Obstacles
I grew up in a culture where a female serving the Lord was restricted. As a result, I never sought ministry because it was not a call I could accept. However, somehow, God has ‘called’ me, and I can accept. I do so daily by giving thanks, and I commit to my vocation by saying, “Here I am.” My spiritual dream is to continue to be in a position to say, “Yes, Lord, here I am, and please help me to minister effectively.”
I have already mentioned cultural obstacles to my opportunity to accept my vocation. Sadly, discrimination because I am a Catholic and a woman is an issue I occasionally face. However, I received much encouragement from those I serve to those in authority, such as the President of the Methodist Church in England and the Catholic Bishop of Lancaster.
I am a church reader and lead Sunday School at my local Catholic church. Occasionally, I lead a Service of the Word at the local Methodist Churches. In 2018, I won an award for Innovation in Worship by developing a style of worship I call Biblical Yoga. It uses kinesthetic movement to help individuals living with dementia to engage with the service. I also have used this Service of the Word style as an after-school activity at a local primary school. It is popular. Most recently, I wrote a dementia Bible to help older adults living with dementia. It enables them to access the Bible in a natural and personal way.
Hi! My name is Joseph Olanrewaju Micheal, and I am studying at Christian Leaders Institute to learn more about the Bible and ministry service(Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here). I am from Nigeria and live in the megacity of the country which is Lagos. Born on September 19, 1990, to the family of late Mr. and Mrs. Oguntoye, I am from four siblings. I am the first son of my parents. My parents divorced when I was two years of age. Then I stayed with my father, but my mum checked on me often.
My Spiritual Journey Began
When I was thirteen, I had a revelation. God opened my eyes through dreams even when I didn’t know Jesus Christ because my parents didn’t go to church. But God gave me grace and taught me how to pray and cancel evil dreams right from my teenage years. Then, when I was 15, my neighbor invited me to their church. After that, I always attended every service. To the glory of God, this family put me on the right track with God even when my parents never attended with me.
Challenges and New Direction
When I was 19, I left my parents’ house in my final year at higher school. They were unable to pay my examination fee, which deprived me of having my higher school results. So, I left and stayed with friends. This move brought another part to the story of my life. I joined the bad gangs and left the church I attended. I followed friends to a mosque, lots of parties, even different churches in search of ladies. Thankfully, in all these bad choices, my heart and love were still with the Lord God. I didn’t drink alcohol or smoke with those friends. But, something in me kept telling me I didn’t belong to them and that way of life.
Finally, I got my apartment. I returned to my first love, which is Jesus, and left those friends with this move. Then, I gave myself to learning. First, I learned computer graphic design and engineering even though there was no formal education. Then, after three years of training, I decided to further my education. I took my higher school examination and passed it. Next, I enrolled in Mountain Top Theological Seminary to further my study and to fulfill the call of God for my life.
Study at CLI to Learn About the Bible
Currently, I am single and continue giving myself to learning. When I found the Christian Leaders Institute, I enrolled to learn more about the Bible, my maker, and fulfill my divine purpose in life. I have served as a Youth Pastor, Leader, Teacher, and Small Group Leader in my local church for the glory of God. I thank God for His love and grace and will work for Him, so His name is glorified. Matthew 6:33 is my watchword. God bless, CLI!
My Path to God
My name is Lea Foresta, from West Virginia in the USA. I am 43 years old, and I have a call to preach and get a Bible education at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here).
Challenges
I grew up poor. My mom didn’t have an actual job. She was a “woman of the night.” The day I was born, they had to do an emergency c-section to get me out. My heart had stopped. It took them nearly six minutes to revive me. That day, they also told my mom I would never walk because I had short legs. By the grace of God, at 8.5 months old, I was running around my doctor’s office. I also died when I was four years old from pneumonia. When I was 16, the doctor told me that I would be in a wheelchair by 25. By the grace of God, I’m not.
My journey has not been a pleasant one but a necessary one. At the age of five, my mom’s boyfriend molested me. At 23, I married and had my first daughter. Then a few months later, my mom died, and I ended up very depressed. During that time, I became furious. Angry at myself, mad at the world, mad at my mom, and mad at God. I ended up cheating on my husband and getting pregnant with another man’s baby. Finally, my husband left me and took our daughter.
I ended up homeless and had to give my youngest daughter up for adoption (the best thing for her since I didn’t have a home). After that, I was homeless off and on for six years, in and out of bad relationships. Then, at around the age of 28, a man raped me. I do not see myself as a victim but as a survivor. It is only by the grace of God that I didn’t end up dead.
Call to Preach and Get a Bible Education at CLI
At the age of 38, I met my current husband. I told him all of the above, and he asked me to come to church with him. He said to go one time, and if I didn’t like it, that was okay. So, I went to church with him. While there, I start having a panic attack. In the middle of the attack, a calm feeling came over me. The panic attack stopped. I felt better. That’s when I knew it was God speaking to my heart to calm down – everything would be fine. That’s when I knew my anger at God was nonsense. So, we continued going to church.
We got married in the middle of the Covid pandemic. Oddly for most of my life, I knew I had a call to preach. At around 20, I had called different churches to find out how to become a preacher. The last one I called just laughed at me. So, I gave up after that. My husband helped bring me back to God. He also helped me realize that I can be a preacher. That’s when he discovered the Christian Leaders Institute. I did a google search. Now my husband and I are on a ministry path together. God is good!