Become a Licensed Wedding Officiant
My name is Melanie, and I’m married to a wonderful man. We live in West Michigan, USA. I’m a mother to two incredible young adults and pug mama to Gracie and Gus. The youngest of four children, I grew up in northern Michigan. My mom was an excellent homemaker, and I’m actually “the mailman’s daughter.” My dad was a mail carrier for over 30 years until he retired. He was also a Navy veteran. Unfortunately, both of my parents have left for Heaven. I want to share what led me to become a licensed wedding officiant through the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here).
My Journey
My parents raised me to know and love Jesus. Every Sunday, we were in church, something I’ve continued to do and instill in my own family. Unfortunately, I was married for nearly 16 years to a man who became my abuser. On the final day of our marriage, he attacked me at gunpoint in our home and took his own life in front of me. That was, of course, terribly traumatic for my children and me, even though they weren’t home at the time. They were at school, and for that, I am thankful. Although this has greatly affected them, they didn’t witness any of it firsthand.
We forged ahead after that. We had no choice. In the months after, we had to move from our beloved home and find the proverbial “new normal.” At ages 9 and 13, they struggled to make sense of any part of what happened. I was 40 and had the same struggle. There were no answers, and we had so many questions. However, our family and church family were the hands and feet of Jesus. They supported us, helped us move, showed up to my children’s games and activities, and loved us through this.
“Only God”
Through those most challenging times, my children and I clung tightly to Jesus. He was our refuge, our father, provider, supporter, and shield. Friends would ask me how I didn’t just collapse. My answer consisted of only two words: “Only God.” Only God can get us through the hard things. Though I had to walk through some very dark days and nights, He was with me. When I begged Him to stop the pain, God comforted me with the knowledge that it wouldn’t last forever. After a while, I knew that He was molding me. He was forming the broken pieces of my heart and life back together in a beautiful new shape that would be stronger than ever before. He was creating something new in me, and there was purpose in that pain.
Jesus brought new people, new opportunities, biblical therapists, friends, hope, and laughter. Gradually, we started to heal. And, eventually, God brought a new man into our lives, a man who loved the Lord, me, and my children as his own. This fall, 2021, we will be married for nine happy years. Although my children are now adults, they asked my husband to adopt them. As of this June, the adoption was finalized, and he is their father.
Beauty From Ashes
Through all of those years of pain and healing and new things, I started writing again. God used that as a tool of catharsis and healing for me. Eventually, I started a blog and attended a writers conference, which opened many new doors. I’ve contributed to many blogs, a print newspaper, was an editor and writer for an online Christian women’s magazine, and am writing my first book.
Beauty from ashes came true for me. God took a challenging story that spanned the years and brought beauty, healing, and writing endeavors. I aim to encourage others through my blog and social media. I share about Jesus, abuse survival, and chronic illness (because I have several). God is good. I am so grateful for His mercy and enveloping love, both for myself and my sweet children. They are both fantastic, responsible adults who love the Lord, and I am so grateful.
Finding CLI to Become a Licensed Wedding Officiant
My daughter is getting married this year, and she and her fiance asked me to officiate their wedding. I immediately set about researching how I could achieve this credential. I knew I could go online and probably pay some money and be ordained with little effort. But I wanted more. I wanted to have some Christian education behind my licensure and guidance on making my daughter’s wedding biblical and as meaningful as possible.
I found Christian Leaders Institute online, and I knew it was a God thing. Their physical office was just a few miles from my home! I was so excited and started my education right away. It wasn’t difficult, but it was highly informative and mapped out a path for biblical marriage and a biblical marriage ceremony. I am so thankful I found CLI and can’t wait to share more about the wedding.
I’m Allan Tendekai Marimanzi, from Harare the capital city of Zimbabwe. I study theology and the Bible at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here). Growing up in a Christian family as well as going to Christian schools are things I am forever grateful for.
My Spiritual Journey
Born in 1998, I grew up in the rural area of Mutare. I felt my calling before my teen years. I had a strong desire to share the good news with others. Sometimes, as we were herding cattle, words to compose gospel songs would come into my mind. I composed more than one gospel song, but because there was no mentorship these all perished.
Yet, the desire to serve God did not die. In 2010, in my grade seven class, I wrote some verses on a love-shaped paper and stuck them near the class chats. It drew the attention of many students as well as the teachers. In high school, I was given some slots to present my devotions. It helped me grow into a good preacher. Still, I knew I needed to know more about God. So, I made a decision to study theology as soon as I finished high school. Then, I could become a pastor.
Finding CLI and CLI
When I finished high school, I applied to study theology in 2020 and was accepted. There, I met a lecturer who told me about CLI’s Leadership Excellence School as a way I could further my studies and acquire more knowledge about the scriptures and become a competent preacher. So, I grabbed the opportunity. Thanks to Christian Leaders Institute and CLI’s Leadership Excellence School, I’m furthering my study of theology and the Bible. Better still, I’m being trained to be a leader and minister.
There is nothing that satisfies me more than serving the Lord and working in His vineyard. In high school, I co-founded a Christian club called Pilgrims. There, we could help other students understand the scriptures. We also went to the nearby communities and would evangelize. We went to another high school where we launched our club as well.
Like David, I still crave for more. I will be satisfied one day when I wake up with God.
I am a single mother of four beautiful girls and have an extra special addition to our family – my nephew, whom I took in after his mom died five years ago. We live in a little corner of Vermont. So I am excited to learn the Bible and ministry train at the Christian Leaders Institute.
I have training in the medical field. However, after my third child, when I was 31, I decided to be a stay-at-home mom. I knew it was not gonna be easy, and it has not been. BUT, it has been the most wonderful, painful, joyful journey.
My Calling
As a child, I was always drawn to helping people through charities, donations, etc. As I got older, I was drawn to a more spiritual path. I knew I was a healer of some kind, hence the medical training. But it was more than that. I couldn’t put my finger on it. I did know that my life experiences and hardships were my credentials to help others who have gone through the same thing, especially as a single mom.
Recently, I was in my bedroom crying and praying to Jesus for help with my two youngest kids, with whom I am going through some tough trials. I was feeling like a failure as a parent and just lost beyond lost. Then I heard “Ordained Minister.” So I went to the computer, and I got ordained… Well, then I heard a voice loud and clear say to me, “Amy Lynne, that is not what I meant.” So then, God led me to learn the Bible and ministry training at the Christian Leaders Institute.
I am not sure what exact path the Lord will send me down, but He wants me to do this now. So I trust the Lord will show me what He wants me to do with this training and education. I will update this as I am shown all the wonderful plans the Lord lays out for me.