From Knowing Christ to Living for Him
Hello all! I’m Shawndra Echols. I am a 40+-year-old, wife (for 11+ years), mother of one son (college freshman), business owner, nonprofit organization founder, youth ministry leader, certified life coach, and when I have a moment, also a friend to some incredible people! I am studying at the Christian Leaders Institute for ministry and Life Coach ministry courses (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here).
Born in Minneapolis, MN, I currently reside south of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. I have an insatiable love for studying and researching the Word of God. In addition, I love reading, writing, candy, baking, learning, family vacations, romantic getaways, eating great meals, and sharing and growing with like-minded individuals.
My Early Years
I was blessed to grow up in a Christian family. Baptized when I was eight, I genuinely don’t remember a time when I didn’t know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I remember around the age of 5 and being desperate to have my own Bible. My tears and petitions to my mother were so sincere that it prompted a godly family at my church to purchase a hardcover “big girl” Bible for me.
However, when my grandmother died when I was 13, I spiraled in rebellion against God. I still attended church and believed in Jesus. But, I spent the next ten years living and serving God on my terms while God was still working on me and dealing with me. But I wasn’t giving Him my whole heart or allowing Him to move in and through me. I wasn’t following the leading of the Holy Spirit in my everyday life.
My Journey
At the age of 25, a single mother desperate for the hand of God to move, I got serious about my walk with God. I made a decision that I wanted the life God created me to live. I was willing to lay down the life I created for myself. My journey wasn’t without pitfalls and detours as I learned to listen to the still small voice of the Spirit. While my journey has been arduous and blessed, the revelation of who God is and who I am in Him has been priceless. My journey led me from Minnesota to New Orleans, Louisiana, to Atlanta, Georgia. It led me to my best-est friend, my husband. He gave my son a strong role model and father figure. It prompted me to start my business, my nonprofit, and a million other endeavors.
Desire to Know God and His Word
Yet, as I write this, I have a burning desire to go deeper. I want to know God more! I want His Word imprinted on the tablet of my heart! This desire has led me to boldly go into the world loving others with the love Christ keeps pouring into me. For the last two years, I have struggled with knowing God was calling me into ministry. Initially, I took leadership classes within my local church and attended several conferences and ministry education programs. I was torn because I was in the process of continuing my education for my career. But there didn’t seem to be a way to afford to pursue my degrees in both areas (career and ministry) at this time.
Then I found Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here). CLI is the answer to my prayers. It makes way for me to go forward with my education in my career path AND pursue my ordination and higher learning in ministry. This type of quality education and training allows me to move forward as a Christian leader. It also offers me life coach ministry courses. It gives me the confidence and knowledge to reach lost souls for Christ. CLI is a real-life example of believers acting as a training ground to effect change in the earth. I am so blessed to have found CLI!
Update on My Journey
As I update my profile almost precisely a year after finding CLI, I am even more ecstatic about learning here! I currently have 62 credit hours, several awards, and most importantly, a more personal relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! As a lifelong Christian, CLI has filled in holes in my foundational understanding and approach to Christianity that I didn’t realize I had. As a result, I have suggested CLI to every Spirit-led individual I have come in contact with since completing ministry 101.
My deacon minister ordination has been the single greatest joy outside of my family. CLI has complemented my previous education, answered my questions, and helped me explore the areas the Holy Spirit has placed on my heart. This training has truly changed my life! It has opened doors to partner with God and the greater Christian community in ways I only dreamed of! As a result, I am pursuing licensed minister credentials. I want to further the gospel message in community ceremonies and outreach to connect individuals to the Kingdom of God.
Life Coach Ministry Courses at CLI
I have now completed the life coach minister certification and commission. I had a life coach certification already. However, as my ministry Included life coaching, I knew I wanted to complete life coach ministry courses. As a result, I feel more prepared to address the needs of clients and fulfill my purpose! Once again, CLI has provided me the opportunity to live out my purpose and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Ordination in life coach ministry gives me the training and practical tools. Then, I can walk alongside my clients as the Holy Spirit leads us. The life coach certification, ministry ordination, and badge specialization are manifestations of the dream God gave me for my ministry! The Restoring Relationship: Transforming Justice classes have changed how I live my life and are a foundation of how my ministry engages with others. These classes outline the community aspect of Christianity not often explored enough.
Learn more about online ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
God Can Save Anyone
Hello, my name is Damon Akers, and I am at the Christian Leaders Institute for their online ordination opportunity (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here). From the United States of America, I grew up in a small rural town called Pulaski, Virginia. I graduated from Concord University located in Athens, West Virginia, in May of 2019. My degree is in Sports Management with a minor in Business Administration. I currently live in Atlanta, Georgia, and work for Fellowship of Christian Athletes. My story is one of God’s goodness and faithfulness, and it’s unique to a lot of people.
Early Struggles
I did not grow up in church and honestly was against God for an extended period. I knew of God and thought He created the universe. But I was not interested in any sort of relationship with Him. Going into middle school and high school, I struggled with depression and not knowing who I was. I could fit into any group of people but had no idea who I was. I got involved in pornography very early in middle school. My addiction was to the point I would lie to others when anyone caught me looking at it.
In high school, the identity search and addictions only got worse. In my junior year of high school, a teammate’s ex-girlfriend sexually assaulted me in my grandmother’s house. This event heightened my depression and made me suicidal. I thought daily, “Who will miss me? Nobody is going to notice if I’m gone. What good God allows this stuff to happen to decent people?” Every time I attempted suicide, something would always come up and stop me. Examples of this are phone calls from parents, text messages from coaches, severe storms that prevented anyone from traveling. I never knew what was going on or who was stopping me until I found Jesus.
Finding Jesus
In my freshman year of college, I was immediately surrounded by three extraordinary individuals. They showed me the true love of Christ, but I didn’t know it. Then, one day in November, my cross country teammate, Cimmarron, asked me to attend a revival session. It was being held at Maranatha Baptist Church in Princeton, West Virginia that night. I had no idea what he was talking about, but I said yes.
That night changed my life forever! That night, November 5, 2015, that Jesus made it clear to me that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life in this crazy world. For the first time, I truly encountered God and couldn’t ignore Him. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior that night and have been walking with Him ever since.
It has not always been easy, but it has always been worth it. The Lord has indeed turned me around from the person I was when I started college. I can’t praise Him enough for who He is and all He has done in my life! He saved me even when I hated Him. Talk about a good, good Father!
Online Ordination Opportunity at CLI
My ministry desire is to share the Gospel with any and everyone who will listen. I believe I have the gift of teaching and want to use this gift for God’s glory. Christian Leaders Institute has given me an excellent opportunity to become ordained as a minister, and I can’t thank God enough! I found CLI because my father is getting married, and he has asked me to perform his ceremony. I’m so thankful that he trusts me to have this honor and that the Holy Spirit has moved in my dad’s life ever since I became a follower of Jesus.
Christian Leaders Institute has been a tremendous blessing in this process. I highly recommend that anyone who wants to become a minister sign up and take advantage of this fantastic resource. Thank you, CLI!
Learn more about online ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
To God Be The Glory!
My name is Lori Wise. I live in the United States just outside of Charleston, South Carolina, in the small town of Summerville since 2013. I am thankful for the online free Bible classes at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here).
I was born in the bay area of Northern California, where I lived with my family until we moved to Las Vegas in 1981. Vegas was still a small town then, and it was a wonderful place to grow up. In general, people that live there don’t go to the casinos. Life was simple. Friends were plentiful. And diversity was everywhere.
I was just six years old when I heard my calling. My parents didn’t allow us to get declared and baptized until we were thirteen. The Holy Spirit said otherwise. One Sunday morning, I slipped my hand from my mother’s hand as the Holy Spirit guided me to the front to declare my love of and dedication to Christ.
Victorious
It’s been somewhat of a twisty road, and I strayed from it more than once. There was a lot of sexual and physical violence in my past, and my dream is to minister to survivors and victors. However, my spiritual journey through all of it brought me closer to God. My love for Jesus grew even more significant. He never left my side and wept with me during the challenging times. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
In 2017, I became seriously ill and was in the hospital for 2-1/2 months. I lost the ability to walk, my kidneys shut down, I was in sepsis, and I had a massive saddle pulmonary embolism. According to the doctors, I wasn’t supposed to live. Some of my blood values were past the point of survivability. But God had other plans! It took a year, but I learned how to walk again. The grace of God was upon me, and I promised to work for the kingdom for whatever days I had left.
Online Free Bible Classes at CLI
I now live with my amazing husband and two fur kids. My walk has continued to strengthen. I’m in the Bible daily, I research, and I mentor. I’m involved in a women’s small group. Jesus is my world, my rock, and my salvation. Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here) makes it possible to study and learn even more about our Beautiful Savior. For that, I will be eternally grateful. Without their generosity, none of this would be possible. It’s through them that I’ll be able to follow my dream.
Learn more about online ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.