A Calling to Serve
Hello, my name is Christopher Nicholson. However, I use the name, Finn Steinway. This developed over the years from a pen name to my walk with God. I am from upstate New York in the United States. After moving to New England, I have been in Florida for the last six years. My study at CLI began in February of 2024, and I have taken five classes toward being an Ordained Minister. The Christian Leaders Institute opened the world of sound Biblical doctrine to me. Further, the many other classes available rounded out the excellent minister training and ordination process. The classes have been challenging but with focus, they are fair in their testing.
My Story
My childhood included being part of a large family of eight. Baptized as a baby, I grew up in the Catholic denomination. In addition to weekly mass and catechism, I made my confirmation in eleventh grade. However, it was not until I moved to Florida in 2018, 55 years after my baptism, that I began a real relationship with Jesus.
I struggled after a life of broken relationships and losing control with alcohol. God finally said, “Chose alcohol or Me.” I chose Him. I had my plan, and God had His. So, I sold my golf clubs, and stopped fishing. I let the Holy Spirit start making changes, which included family and friend connections. Further, I told everyone I was available for one on one calls. However, I wanted no more text threads with my phone going off all day long with nonsense. There were no more social media accounts outside of a business connection, LinkedIn. Outside of my full-time work from home, my commitment is to the Lord and His Mission for me. It is a Ministry where I have served others for over three years.
My Spiritual Dream
My spiritual dream includes walking with the Lord in His Kingdom by walking with the Lord in this Kingdom. To live is Christ and to die is gain. That means I am not in my own world but aware of others who are struggling in this broken world. Offering something for today and something for life. My walk is to be reflective of His walk.
Obstacles faced during the time before I was born again include a fear of what life will be like if I let go and let God. I had my plan. What will God want of me? Once these fears calmed over the years, there are still the obstacles of changed relationships with family and friends. They liked the sarcastic, funny, drinking, golfing, fishing, travel to a gathering brother and friend, which all changed. It is quite a change but well worth it. I lean on my trust in the Lord and where He guides me. It is the key to moving through these times. I patiently explain my love for the Lord and help them if they wish to lead a Spirit led life. In essence, to get over their fear of letting go, and letting God.
New Life in Jesus
God humbled me when He no longer allowed me to continue with the sin of drinking. Failed relationships were not enough to get my attention. While having one or two drinks is fine in social occasions, drinking all day at the lake while fishing, or all afternoon and evening while playing golf and then next to a pool, is not fine. It clouds the mind. Then we act poorly in front of the Lord and each other.
Since all gatherings these last decades had alcohol available, the ‘glue’ was applied many times over the years. It needed to end, and I needed to end it. I did not want a tragedy to occur to make a change. I trusted the Lord to walk me through it. I am so thankful for the gift of not drinking these many years. My relationship with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit is strong and gaining strength with a daily walk with the Lord. I don’t just have religion, I have a relationship with Jesus that I will never walk away from or He from me.
God was always real to me since my baptism in the Catholic church and the teachings in Mass. However, it was April of 2019 when I truly surrendered to Jesus. That is when I was born again and proclaimed Jesus as my Lord and Savior.
Minister Training and Ordination Options at CLI
My minister training and ordination at the Christian Leaders Institute, through the Christian Leaders Alliance, to become an Ordained Minister, is for my current ministry in the Kingdom on my motorcycle and in the car. I search for and help lost souls that the Lord puts in my path to share His help. I also have a vision of performing baptisms after sunrise at the next Daytona Bike Week rally in 2025.
The minister training and ordination credential help me to explain my Ministry to others and let them know the level of my commitment to Jesus. The other aspect my training and ordination help is the next novel I write. The main character, Christian O’Donnell, finally, after years of brokenness, will find his walk with God. It will show how that changes everything, including the places that once brought evil for him and now bring joy and salvation.
The website BOSSyourGoal (Bible Objective Study Service your Global Objective Act Local) will share sound Christian Biblical Doctrine that highlights my training at CLI and other areas that give me credentials to be a Christian Leader.
Blessed by CLI and Ready to Serve
I looked into seminary over the last years, knowing I have a calling to ministry. However, the cost was prohibitive. Debt leads one to choices that rarely reflect God and lead one away from Him. I know from experience. This minister training and ordination credential, that I researched well and saw how effective and real it is, is the answer to my prayers. Even though, I have not completed the ordination yet, I already feel the confidence from the classes and use it in the Kingdom in my ministry.
Thank you each and everyone for this educational experience and opportunity! You made an incredible impact on my life and in turn, others. Blessing, peace, and the joy of God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, Finn.
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling you in the Getting Started Class at the Christian Leaders Learning Platform. The Getting Started class will take you less than an hour to complete.
When you log in to the Learning Platform, you will notice that the Getting Started Class automatically appears on your dashboard.
The Getting Started Class will orientate you to the Christian Leaders Learning Platform and the Programs offered, including:
- Ministry Awards, Certificates, Diplomas, and Degrees with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- Minister Credentialling (Ordination) with the Christian Leaders Alliance, including local Soul Center registration possibilities.
Note: You can enroll in tuition-free courses or mini-courses immediately without finishing the getting started class.
Find out more about women in ministry here.
I am Lientjie Scheepers from South Africa. I am 46 years old, married with three beautiful children, three dogs and three cats. We live in Alberton, the south of Johannesburg in South Africa. I am also enjoying the free study of the Bible and ministry at the Christian Leaders Institute (CLI). It equips my husband and I for our ministry service.
My Youth
As a child, my family and I lived in the small town of Estcourt in the Natal Midlands. There was a Dutch Reformed Church there. My mom did not attend, but my older sister and I attended the church sometimes. I met Jesus in that same church when I was about 11 years old. However, I did not really realize at the time what was happening. I had this happy feeling and the urge to read the Bible more and learn more about Jesus. I went to church on Sunday for Sunday school, and no one really guided me on my path. In my way, I followed Jesus and searched for Him. In my final year of school, I attended a charismatic church, received baptism, and grew in my relationship with Jesus.
My Marriage Journey
I married at the age of 21 and had two beautiful daughters. Unfortunately, my marriage failed, and before my 30th birthday, we divorced. This caused my relationship with Jesus to decline. I did not feel that God had a hand in my failed marriage. However, I felt ashamed of not fighting harder for my marriage and thus felt ashamed to face God.
After awhile, I started dating my best friend and we married three years later and have a handsome son. Throughout all this, God never let me go. I felt the tugging at my heart. My husband and his family attended church, and we started to go to church with them. Slowly, God drew me back to Him.
My Work Story
I started a business with a family member. However, after a year of struggles and financial difficulties, I left the business. Currently I am an admin manager for a company that supports and supplies goods to the mining sector. I love working for my company and what I do.
A few years back, I started my BCom degree in Financial Management. However, due to Covid, I did not finish. I always wanted a degree, but realized I only wanted the degree for the sake of saying I have one.
Free Study of the Bible and Ministry at CLI
My husband and I had a small home group that we ministered to for a while, and we love helping people. I realized that my focus should be Jesus. We have a web page that we created and host with information to help someone in the search for Jesus. It is Jesus-life.co.za. We also have a Facebook page that we run for Jesus-Life. Thus, trying to reach more people.
This brings me to why my husband and I enrolled in the Christian Leaders Institute. We want to be equipped and to know that we are going in the right direction with the correct support. With my failed business, finances are strapped. However, CLI makes it possible for us to reach for our dream with free study of the Bible and Ministry. I am currently doing the Women in Ministry Course, and I am sure I will not stop there! I have already learned so much and really enjoy the professors and all that is offered. Soon, we hope to be in the position to pay it forward and help other people with free study by supporting CLI.
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling you in the Getting Started Class at the Christian Leaders Learning Platform. The Getting Started class will take you less than an hour to complete.
When you log in to the Learning Platform, you will notice that the Getting Started Class automatically appears on your dashboard.
The Getting Started Class will orientate you to the Christian Leaders Learning Platform and the Programs offered, including:
- Ministry Awards, Certificates, Diplomas, and Degrees with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- Minister Credentialling (Ordination) with the Christian Leaders Alliance, including local Soul Center registration possibilities.
Note: You can enroll in tuition-free courses or mini-courses immediately without finishing the getting started class.
Find out more about women in ministry here.
I am Isaac Quartey, a Ghanaian who resides in Kumasi, Ampatia. With a desire for knowing God and the Bible more thoroughly, I found the Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) online. The tuition-free Bible and ministry courses are what I need for my ministry calling from God.
My Growing Up and Faith Development
I grew up in a Christian home, although my parents usually did not observe a family devotion and quiet time with God. However, my parents always ensured that we never missed a Sunday service. Therefore, growing up a young child, I began to dislike Sundays.
Then, at the age of 10, during one of our Bible studies, I learned about the need of prayer and its spiritual impact in life. Sadly for me, a close relative of mine died after two days battling with a strange ailment. This incident took place on the very day that I learned more about prayer. The prayer lesson and the incident took me to my knees in prayer on that Monday night. Behold, two days later, I went to the hospital with the same illness that took my relative.
My grandmother was a praying woman who taught her grandchildren about God. She emphasized the need for us to accept Jesus as Lord. She wanted us to have divine protection and guidance while still young. By God’s grace and my grandmother’s faithfulness, I accepted Jesus as Lord and received baptism when I was 13 years old.
Knowing God and the Bible through Study at CLI
A search for a job relocated me to a new church in a new site. After getting there, I developed a strong interest in knowing God and the Bible well and serving Him well. However, even though I had this interest, I was unable financially to enroll myself in a seminary. Thank the Lord, I was searching for any avenue that could help me to study the scriptures daily and that led me to the Christian Leaders Institute.
With the opportunity for free training through CLI, those around me see something new in me as I serve God. Now, I know that I have also received through CLI the kind of help that Apollo had from Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18: 26).I grew up in a Christian home.
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling you in the Getting Started Class at the Christian Leaders Learning Platform. The Getting Started class will take you less than an hour to complete.
When you log in to the Learning Platform, you will notice that the Getting Started Class automatically appears on your dashboard.
The Getting Started Class will orientate you to the Christian Leaders Learning Platform and the Programs offered, including:
- Ministry Awards, Certificates, Diplomas, and Degrees with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- Minister Credentialing (Ordination) with the Christian Leaders Alliance, including local Soul Center registration possibilities.
Note: You can enroll in tuition-free courses or mini-courses immediately without finishing the getting started class.
Find out more about women in ministry here.