I am Debra Herzog from the USA, and I am studying Bible classes free online at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about Bible classes free online, Click Here).
My life has been full of challenges and rewards. I became a Christian when I was in High School. So, I was blessed to walk with God and be filled with the Holy Spirit since asking Jesus into my heart. The process of being conformed to His image makes an interesting and miraculous life. There have been plenty of tears, but I have come from the tunnel of tears into the meadow of joy! I am the happiest woman on earth! There may be some who are as happy as I am, but no one can be happier. God has truly delivered, healed, and blessed me.
My Journey to Joy in the Lord
Even though I have been a Christian for a long time, it has also taken a long time for me to rid myself of suspicions and doubts about God. This was the root of all my problems of the past, and probably the root of many people’s issues. Not knowing God is truly good in the depths of our souls can make for bad decisions and mindsets until we finally “get it.”
As I look back over my Christian walk, I think, “If I had only known.” If I had only known how Good He Is. If I had only known how Kind and Attentive He Is! If I had only known how Sensitive and Caring He is, I would not have made my life as rocky as it has been, while confessing I loved Him with all my heart.
Walking in the Joy of the Lord
Love requires trust. Coming from an abusive upbringing, I seemed to attract abusive people. It took a long time for God to get through to me and show me how obedience and trust would bring me joy. Now that I have been living this blessed life for years, I want to share the simple way to get there with others. I only wish I had embarked upon it earlier, but trust requires experience. Through experience, hope, and faith, I now believe in the goodness of God to the core of my being. Walking in that has changed my life and brought real miracles, consistent miracles which go from glory to glory.
Ministry and Bible Classes Free Online at CLI
After decades of being a Christian, I am living the life God wants me to have. It seems easy now. However, the process of getting here has been challenging and heartbreaking at times. I continue to grow in Jesus and face new challenges, but they are easier and easier to deal with now that I know the secret: God is good!
I want to share the joy of the Lord with others and help them know how much God truly loves them. So I wanted ministry training to prepare for this calling from God. The ministry and Bible classes free online at the Christian Leaders Institute are a blessing for me. They will equip me so I can serve the Lord confidently and competently. Thank you, CLI!
My name is Jules Winchester. I am studying at the Christian Leaders Institute to prepare for a men’s restoration ministry (Learn more about online Bible courses, Click Here). Currently, I live in Ocala, Florida, where it is mostly sunny and hot. We have over 600 miles of beaches within our state. Also, in the central Florida area, it serves as home to Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios, and Busch Gardens. We also have plenty of freshwater springs and a diverse wildlife population. Tourism is the biggest source of income for the state.
My Early Years
While growing up in the 1960s, I had a very typical childhood. I was one of six siblings and the oldest of three boys. We enjoyed playing Cowboys and Indians, Army, and other games as growing children. We were not wealthy, and our family struggled to make ends meet. But the Lord still made way for us to make it on the little we had. Once I was finishing high school, I wanted to go to college. However, there was no money for that, so I joined the Navy. While there, I spent nine years in the submarine service, where I received a great education and years of life experience.
Marriage, Salvation, and Struggles
Although my testimony is one where I spent time in prison with physical bars, I was in my own prison of guilt and fear of my sin. Once I married, my wife and I made a profession of faith in Christ as our Lord and Savior in 1984. Yet, although I was saved, I held onto some of the sins of my past. They held back my spiritual growth, and I knew that these sins needed to be addressed. Yes, I understood that God had forgiven me, yet my wife was unaware of who I really was. She deserved to know the real me and the struggles I had within. This became a huge obstacle for myself, my wife, and God.
This issue prevented me from having a joyful and purposeful life serving the Lord. I held on to these secret offenses which I had committed. My pride, fear, and shame had me in a place where I refused to give them up. The Holy Spirit relentlessly pursued me in this matter for many years. Soon I began to doubt my salvation. This doubt made me worse. Finally, I understood that God wanted me to have a prosperous Christian life, but I was a coward and stubborn man set in my own sinful ways.
My Full Surrender
Consequently, God allowed me to go on my own. Like the prodigal son, I fell to the point of brokenness. It was a terrible time in my life. I was struggling and ultimately suffered a near-death illness and the death of my close loved ones. Finally, I saw how I was lost without the help of my Lord. Eventually, I surrendered to God’s will, which I knew was years in the making.
In Matthew 5:24, it says, “leave your gift there before the altar and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” And Psalm 51:17 says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” It was then I realized that God had broken my pride and made me face my fear.
Restoration Ministry: Changed in the Lord
My wife and I finally came together one day and reconciled all of our problems. God’s grace was magnificent in the change that He made within my life. Our Lord answered my greatest prayer that I had been praying to make me the man he wanted me to be and restore His joy in my life. For the first time, God was the center of our marriage.
Originally, we ignored His rule and Lordship within our lives. All fear, guilt, and hopelessness went away and were replaced with real gratitude for what the Lord had done for us. To this day, I seek to love my wife as I know God loves me. I want God to see this by my actions and how much I am truly grateful for His grace. The changes in my life have led to changes in my wife and my relationship. I never asked her to change. However, because of my change, she responded to my love.
God was so faithful. He sent several of his servants to restore my relationship with Him and others. First, there was Andy, who had his own little church in a barn. And then, there was Mike, who was a light in the darkness of my place of employment. These two men were a blessing to me because they prayed for me, their churches prayed for me, and they never gave up on God making the changes in my life. I have great love and respect for these two men because they never looked down on me. Instead, they showed me godly love and grace and were lovers of souls whom I will always remember in my prayers.
Called to Serve in Restoration Ministry and Study at CLI
Today my vision is to serve God by being available to others in need of restoration ministry as these men were for me. This course at the Christian Leaders Institute has given me a better understanding of the people needing restoration. It has shown me in what ways I have been called to serve my Lord and his people. These lessons identified the basic principles in God’s Word that give us instructions on how to come to terms with our own offenses to Him, as well as to our brothers and sisters in Christ. I understand the importance of forgiveness and restoration with those we have offended.
It is more challenging to gain access to various facilities during this time. As time passes, we are isolated more and more due to the “Pandemic.” But, we must not give up and should continue to find ways to use technology and other means to reach the lost and help God’s people in need. Thank you for reading my story. May God continue to bless the ministry of Christian Leaders Institute as you train others to present the gospel message.
Hello! My name is Shannon Torres. I am excited to find the free Biblical study opportunity online at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible courses, Click Here).
My Early Years
Named Shannon Lynn Richmond, I was born on November 3, 1985, in Amherst, Ohio. Even though I was born into a Southern Baptist family, I was not born into a household that practiced Christianity or went to church. However, when I was a young girl, my grandmother brought my family to church on several occasions. I remember not liking Sunday school very much. So, I begged my grandmother to let me be in the congregation because I loved listening to the pastor preach. I also loved singing and being surrounded by all the people.
At six years old, my grandmother had me baptized in a Southern Baptist church. I still remember the day I was baptized wearing a white gown too big in size for me because I was so small. I was a bit scared because I didn’t fully understand what was happening. But my grandmother told me that I was doing this to be saved, and Jesus will forever be by my side. Although I didn’t fully understand exactly who Jesus is, I remember feeling excited and as if I knew Him already.
Saved by Grace
At age 13, I got saved. This time, it is the most incredible and emotional memory I have. By this time, my grandmother had passed away. I had not been to church for quite some time. My parents had moved us from a city atmosphere to a country atmosphere. Where we had lived was really corrupted with drugs and crime.
After we moved to the country, a girl I befriended invited me to come to her United Methodist Church and the youth group meetings. I was so excited to be back in a church and part of something new and exciting within a church.
In my first year at that church, we took a trip to a place called Ichthus. It was a Christian gathering for people from all around the world. We came for 3 to 4 days and listened to motivational speakers, pastor’s sermons, and contemporary Christian artists. They lifted us all through music and devotionals. My experience there led me to the Holy Spirit. I had always felt the Lord, but it was different now. I had recommitted my faith and was old enough to grasp even deeper into faith. This experience led me to feel fearless and complete.
When I was nearing the end of high school, I had wanted to attend Ursuline College. However, given my family’s financial situation, I got discouraged from applying. Instead, I attended a vocational school the last two years of my high school education and received a certificate and diploma for law enforcement. A few years after finishing high school, I went back to the same vocational school for adult career education. I acquired a certificate in medical assisting.
My Ministry Journey
Since 13, I had wanted to be a devotional and motivational Christian leader and speaker. The thought of becoming a pastor had also been on my mind. God was calling me to do great things for Him. But at the time, I wasn’t exactly sure what it was. So, I unintentionally pushed the idea away. Looking back on getting into nursing and law enforcement, I wanted to help people and be inspirational. However, God wanted me to do that differently.
Now at the age of 35, I am married to a wonderful man named Jose. We have three boys: Russell, Johnny, and Charlie. We also have a dog named Hammy. I want to be educated and empowered for the ministry. I want to grow even further in my faith with what God has planned for me. My goal is to get started as a devotional and motivational speaker and change today’s society and the world on how Christians and their leaders are perceived. Most of the time people don’t understand what something truly means and furthermore how to truly listen to what someone is saying. I believe people need to be educated on how to determine truth from misleading untruths. My growth and learning with faith are never-ending.
Finding CLI’s Biblical Study Opportunity
I am ecstatic to have found the Christian Leaders Institute (CLI). Before finding CLI’s wonderful biblical study opportunity, I had no idea how I would afford to do what I know the Lord had been calling me to do. I have a few inspirational leaders who have empowered me to begin this path. I do not know where this path will lead me, but that is solely up to God. Wherever He sends me and whichever mentor He sends my way, I know that I will come out of my journey more than ready to dive straight into the next chapter of my story. I am so excited to begin my study journey and see where it leads! Please pray for my dreams and for my ministry goals to come alive!