My name is Rena Marconi, and I am taking online Biblical classes at Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here). I grew up in a small country town in western Pennsylvania. I grew up in a loving, close-knit family. A large extended family was the core of our lives. My mother was Japanese, and my dad was an American soldier. I was not raised in a Christian home. However, my family had strong moral standards and love for one another. My mother dropped us off at church every Sunday when we were little. I enjoyed it a lot. In my teen years, I strayed and looked to find something to “fill the void” I experienced. I started partying and experimenting with drugs. However, none of these gave me any fulfillment.
Meeting My Husband and God
I met my husband when I was 22. We joined a church in our small town. The pastor taught the word of God to a level where it was so relatable. For the first time, I started to understand what God was saying. We both had a hunger for the Word and attended regularly. A year later, in 1984, the pastor married us. Then another church called our pastor to minister in another town. We searched for the same teaching in other churches and could not find it.
In 1988, my husband took a new job, and we moved to Florida. In 1990, we joined Amway – a multi-level marketing business started by Rich DeVos and Jay VanAndel. We became involved with a devoted “on fire” for the Lord up line. It was at an Amway weekend convention that I gave my life to the Lord. I finally had the “void” in my life filled! We found a great church that we plugged into.
Our Family
Years later, we adopted two beautiful children! The Lord placed it on our hearts to homeschool. Again, God was so faithful to provide us with an umbrella school. Over 100 other Christian home-schooled families, pastors, and missionaries helped us teach and raise our children. It was quite the journey. Both children graduated, our daughter is working as a carpenter with her dad, and our son earned a degree in multi-cultural studies and Biblical theology to serve in missionary work.
Online Biblical Classes at CLI
We have found a Bible-teaching church that continues to grow us in areas we never knew. I started a ladies’ Bible study several years back and have been blessed by the relationships that have come from it. Seeing how God is working in all our lives has encouraged me to dig deeper into the Word of God.
Since then, I started the online Biblical classes at Christian Leaders Institute, wanting to get a firmer foundation in truth and faith. I searched and prayed for solid Biblical yet affordable classes to continue my studies. CLI online is just that. I am excited to get deeper into the studies and continue to grow and learn. I desire to help others who have the “void” that only God’s love and a relationship with Jesus can fill.
My name is Tito Mukonda, from Zambia Lusaka, and I am thankful for free online Bible School study at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here). I am a pastor in my local church, Zambia National Assembly of God. I am married to my lovely wife, Brenda Zulu. We have three children.
Born in 1975, I am the firstborn of 9 children. My parents were Christians, so I grew up in a Christian home. At the age of 15, I gave my life to Jesus Christ and joined as a choir member in the church. In my teenage years, my faith was tested through worldly temptations. These happened after my father died, and we remained with our mum. Life became very hard.
I joined friends who were not believers. My life was sidetracked with beer drinking and “unlocked” hair. During the week, from Monday to Saturday, my hair was dreadlocked. But on Sunday morning, I used to unlock it to prepare myself for church. However, after church, I would go to meet my friend for a drink.
My Salvation
Then, one day on a Saturday night, I had a dream. I saw a man in white linen cloth whom I saw to be Jesus. He stretched His hand to me, so I raised my hand to hold His. But He went up a bit. When I brought my hand down, He stretched His hand to me again for the second time. I thought that Jesus wanted to greet me, so I stretched my hand to hold His hand. Again, He moved up. A third time, Jesus stretched His hand. When I stood up to hold His hand, He smiled while going up and disappearing.
So I started talking to myself in the dream, “I have seen Jesus, but why didn’t he hold my hand?” Then I looked around and saw a group of people. I said to myself, “Let me go and tell these people about and what has happened?” I went to them and explained everything about Jesus I saw. The people told me, “It is because of your hair and your double life that Jesus did not hold your hand. Now, go and have your hair cut nicely and then go and tell people about Jesus Christ.” Then, I woke up, and my hair was dreadlocked. I prayed for God’s mercy and said, “Lord, have mercy on me!”
In the morning, I went to the barbershop and had my hair cut nicely. Then, I went to church. On that very day, I prayed the prayer of repentance and accepted Jesus as my Savior. From that time, I stopped the double life I used to live.
My Calling and Bible School Study at CLI
I received a challenge in my life when I explained my dream to the late Bishop Samboko. He said, “You are called to preach the good news about Jesus!” He told me I needed to find money to go to a Bible School. But I told Bishop Samboko that I don’t have money to do Bible School study. However, he said again that I needed to go to school to manage my call better. Before he died, Bishop said to me, “I leave these people in your hands, feed them.”
So, the government and the church want me approved as a minister of God. By the grace of God, as I was scrolling on Facebook, I saw Christian Leaders Institute. CLI offers free Bible School study online. I said, “God, this is what I have been praying!” God has answered my prayer! I signed up at CLI and had a warm welcome. I took the Getting Started course, which I completed and got an award. Then, I took another course, the Christian Basics. Again, I completed it and got an award. i
It’s indeed a blessing to be at CLI. I am enjoying the journey here at Christian Leaders Institute. Thanks to the president and founder of CLI, Rev. Henry Reyenga, and CLI leadership! May our good Lord richly bless you all in Jesus’ name!
God is My Refuge and My Salvation
My name is Bea Ormsby, and I have a recovery ministry call from God. I am studying at the Christian Leaders Institute for ministry training (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here).
Struggles
I grew up in a small town in East Texas and had a great childhood, every day filled with love and family. At the age of 17, I married and had my first baby at 18. By the time I was 21, I was a mother of 3. I was in a terrible place in my marriage due to abuse like I had never before experienced. I divorced and got away from my abuser. With three little children and not knowing what to do, I went home to mom and dad.
My struggle began when I made “new” friends. They were also single moms and knew what I was going through. Sadly, that was the beginning of a life of drugs and alcohol to help me make it through the tough times. In 1998, I was with some of these new friends. Then, my troubles began. We went to pick up a few things that one of the ladies had left at her ex’s house, which didn’t belong to her. So, my trouble with law enforcement began. My choices and my friends also put me in the wrong circles. Therefore, my children ended up living with their dad as I couldn’t take care of them. I couldn’t take care of myself.
Saved by God’s Mercy and Grace
In 1998, I was arrested for burglary (remember the friend who needed her stuff). I was in a hotel and fell to my knees and asked God to help me get out of this mess I was making of my life. The next day, by God’s mercy and grace, I was arrested for drugs. It was not the answer I wanted. However, it saved my life! I was incarcerated in the Texas Department of Corrections for 11 months.
Since then, it has been 23 years, and I thank God every day for the officer who came to my rescue. It was an answered prayer. I have been clean of drugs for 23 years and 5 years sober from alcohol. I have the best relationship I could ever imagine with my children; another answered prayer. I have a husband who loves God and is the man I know I am to spend the rest of my earthly days with.
Recovery Ministry Call and Training at CLI
I have a jail/prison recovery ministry call. My home church, Bar None Cowboy Church, is an amazing church family. Our name says it all: Bar None. Everyone is welcome. No matter your past, you have a future in Christ. Our church will help you to find Christ and seek out what God has for you. By God’s grace and mercy, I am part of a Recovery Program. It is part of a small team’s ministry, and we are starting the process of bringing Christ to our local county jail.
I knew I needed recovery ministry training. I found the Christian Leaders Institute online. The free ministry training is exactly what I need. I am excited to grow and be better equipped for the recovery ministry I serve. Thank you, CLI!