My name is Koshoedo Gbetogo. I am a native of Badagry, in Lagos State, Nigeria. I coordinate He Cares Ministries, a ministry I started in 2003 in Nigeria. Currently, I am studying at the Christian Leaders Institute because of its sound biblical doctrine (Learn more about online Bible courses, Click Here).
My testimony in life is not complete without the supportive role of my wife, Ireti, whom I married in 1997. We have three beautiful children and abundant grace to live with.
Early Life and Conversion
I was born in 1970 to a family that did their best to teach us Christian values. However, I did not personally decide for Christ as a boy. It was not until 1988 when I saw my need for a Saviour and became born again in a Pentecostal church.
Call to Ministry
The call into ministry came to me as a university student in 1991. It was while I had a protracted time of seeking God in fellowship. He placed on me the burden for souls, especially among rural dwellers. I also had a burden to see the church of Christ be all that God wants her to be. This call since then has been the driving force of my life.
Ministry Training
To fulfill the call of God in my life, after finishing my degree in Pharmacy, I enrolled in ministry training at Latter Rain Bible School. In 1994, I got a certificate from there. I also attended many other schools of ministry. One of which was the Dr. Morris Cerullo School of ministry.
However, recently, I strongly felt a need for more ministry training to sharpen my effectiveness. As a result, a protégé of mine introduced me to Christian Leaders Institute (CLI). I am happy studying at CLI because of the sound biblical doctrine foundation and the opportunity to study at my own pace. I also know that the training I receive at CLI will help me sharpen my effectiveness in the ministry God has given me.
Journey of Ministry
My journey of ministry began immediately after I was born again. I started a youth evangelistic ministry named Soulwinners Club. It began in 1991 and involved neighborhood and rural evangelism. After I graduated from the School of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, I went into full-time Ministry. I was a resident Pastor with a ministry in Lagos named Christ To The Nations Ministries. I served there from 1996 to 2003.
Then, I left for Jos, Plateau State, under God’s directive and started He Cares Ministries. It is a ministry involved in rural evangelism using Medical missions as a tool. We also started a non-denominational teaching ministry called Resurrection Life Teaching Centre. There many are groomed towards true Christian living. This is my present ministry work.
My name is Bonnie Geurkink. I live in Eau Claire, WI (USA). When turning 50, I decided it was time to change my life. So, I am taking Life Coach training at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible courses, Click Here).
My Early Years
I grew up in a Christian home. Church and its activities were part of our daily life. When I had my own family, my children called my parents “Grandma and Grandpa Church.” They still call them that. I had a personal relationship with Jesus and even attended Christian schools. However, I rebelled against my parents a lot because life only revolved around our church family and our nuclear family wasn’t as important.
Marriage and Challenges
My rebellion was odd. I became an overachiever. First, I went to a technical college after high school. I graduated with an associate degree in Chiropractic technician/radiology in one year. It was a two-year program. Then, I moved away, got a job at a Christian Chiropractor’s office, and met my husband. Unfortunately, we were not equally yoked. Our beliefs, values, and upbringing were nowhere near alike. We had a rough 13 years together, and then he let me know our marriage was over. All through this, my church family was so important to me.
I knew at the time of my divorce that God was in control. He spoke to me constantly. The first year, it was just the kids and me. I would wake up with a Praise and Worship song in my head. After that, my children attended a counseling group, and afterward, I would drop them off. Many nights, I literally ran to my Bible. I could not get God in fast enough. I had many trust and control issues after my marriage ended. But God was always faithful. I remember my son, at perhaps seven years old, telling me, “Isn’t it great, mom, that Jesus will never leave us like dad did?”
Miracles and More Challenges
My two children seemed to have a gift for finding friends in need. Therefore, we often had extra mouths to feed and sometimes clothe. But, as always, God kept pouring his blessings out. I remember one time our water heater went out. So, I went downstairs and laid hands on it. In the Spirit, I prayed that He would repair and restore the appliance in faith. God healed the water heater!
The house next door to us is owned by the city and is an emergency shelter house. All who live there are hurting. That has been our mission field for years. I firmly believe that when your heart is with God, Satan loves to attack you. At times I take that as a fabulous compliment. However, after continued issues with my ex-husband, my own insecurities, my daughter being sexually assaulted several times, court dates, and the trials with that, I really started to wonder about where God and I were going.
The Faithfulness of God and My Calling
God stayed faithful. He released me from a job that sucked the life out of me and opened the door to another job. It was what I needed in the long run. God brought a Christian man into my life, who was also a bit lost but missing a partner. He wanted to make God a part of a marriage. That was almost four years ago. We started helping more in our church and with various charity and mission areas.
The call to do more came very strong during COVID. At clothing giveaways, I spoke to many people. The people were lonely and wanted to be hugged, touched, and not be forgotten. My manager teased that they should put a couch in my area for all the “counseling” I do at work. I looked into going back to a traditional college for psychiatry and was accepted to their program. However, I realized that is not where my heart is. I understand the need for counselors, but I want to specialize in looking forward. I acknowledge that we all have a past. However, I want to help others look forward to their goals and how to achieve them.
Finding Life Coach Training at CLI
Free training is unusual for me because, being a single one-income mom for years, I had to “get the most for my buck” always. With the Christian Leaders Institute offering free Life Coach training, I am doing it and sharing with others about Jesus. I’m also proving to myself that I am not doing it to get my money’s worth. I am doing it because this is what God wants me to do! As with salvation, you can’t purchase it. It is a gift from God that you accept. This training is a gift, and I accept it and share it with others. Thank you, CLI, for this Life Coach ministry training opportunity!
My name is Dominic Garcia, and I am receiving formal training and education for ministry at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible courses, Click Here). I live in Utah in the USA. My wife Teresa and I have been married for 16 years, and we have 2 teenage boys. I work full-time as a barber and have my own Barbershop. God has blessed my business and my personal life. I’m so grateful to know Him.
My Spiritual Beginning
My journey so far has been filled with twists and turns, but I’m always doing my best to follow what God has for me and my family. I’m originally from Ventura County, California. I grew up as a part-time Catholic going only to weddings, funerals, Easter, and Christmas services. I also did have a foundation in God through Catechism. Schooling for when I did my first Holy Communion and for my Confirmation in High School. All along, I knew there had to be more about Jesus then what I was taught.
My Salvation in Christ
As I grew older in my early 20’s, I fell away, sinning and grinning. Thank God, He always had his hand on me because I survived. After I married my wife, I began feeling a calling on my life that brought me back to church. I went to a small church in Victorville, Ca. That’s when I made the commitment to Jesus as my Lord and Savior.
It was August 21, 2007. At church, I had a conversation with the Lord. I told Him I just wanted to be the best version of myself and do what He wanted me to. That’s when he told me to raise my hand and answer the altar call. I did. Life has never been the same since and all for the good.
Challenges and Growth
Thankfully, no one said life would be perfect from here on out because I immediately had challenges. We went through the worst financial times of our life and trusted God to get us through which He did. There have been challenges throughout this walk, but He has always made a way. At church, I started serving pretty quickly. I wanted to get all I could from the Word of God, and the Pastor was willing to help me grow. God had put it on my heart to develop men for the kingdom. This is where my heart and my calling are.
Deciding to come to Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) seemed like the best way to get further education in ministry. Then, I can mentor other men with their God-given abilities and callings to be the men God desires them to be. Up until now, my education was through my experience in serving and studying, and following my mentor’s lead. Working full-time and raising two teenagers was a challenge to finding the right school. CLI is the perfect fit with the way the classes are set up for my convenience.
Formal Training and Education at CLI
After attending our church in Victorville for 10 years, we felt God calling us to move. We were to help our friends who were on staff with us in California with the ministry God gave them in Utah. So in August 2017, we moved, and God has been involved in every step. He made a way for us to do it, and we simply trusted Him. Now, after the last 4 years in Utah, I believe there is so much more God wants to do through me at our church in Utah. I need formal training and education through CLI. Then I can pastor/minister to the men that come my way. God has shown me that Godly men in the right place, doing God’s work, make a major impact for the kingdom. I want to be a part of that.