I am Michelle Weatherspoon from Indiana, and I am studying at the Christian Leaders Institute for ordination and ministry training (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here). I served four years in the Army and got a Bachelor of Science degree and paralegal certification. At the age of seven, I received Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and baptism. As an orphan, I had a challenging childhood. But, the Lord was always in my heart, and he never left me or forsook me.
As a person with the experience of being an orphan, I was humbled when God blessed me with my four children. I was so excited because I could raise them to know our Savior and living Redeemer Jesus Christ. Jesus gave me a family.
Kingdom Building with Ordination and Ministry Training at CLI
God called me into the ministry in my early 20s. However, I wanted and needed to gain experience and build my relationship with Christ Jesus. In my journey to find and really know the Lord, I overcame many challenging and difficult obstacles. The obstacles only drove me closer to God and to seek closeness with Him.
I began to hunger and desire to be more proactive in God’s Kingdom Building on the grassroots level. So, I pursued the ordination path to make my calling and election sure by studying with CLI. The Lord made a way through CLI and blessed me to get a quality education. The sound teaching at CLI supports the work I did in years of studying His amazing and Holy Word. If it were not for the scholarship class that allows me free tuition, I would not have been able to do it. I praise the Lord for blessing me with this opportunity at CLI!
My name is Paul Roderick, from Cardiff, Wales in the UK. I shouldn’t need Christian Leaders Institute Bible-based ministry training (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here) because, firstly, I’m too old. Well, I’m 73 (nearly 74). Surely it doesn’t make sense to enroll as a student at my advanced age! Secondly, I’ve been a born-again Christian for nearly 60 years. Surely there’s no more to learn. Third, I’ve been a church planter, a pastor, a preacher, and a Bible teacher for nearly all of my adult life. Surely there are no more experiences out there for me to face.
How wrong can I be!!
My Ministry Journey
The LORD has led me for a lifetime. Not always seeing clearly what God wants me to do, but He’s been there before me, behind me, to the left, and the right. He’s been above me and (on many occasions) below me as He’s carried me through some dark times.
It was through His Holy Spirit that I’ve been led as a preacher and Bible teacher in recent years. I taught two congregations on the necessity of “change” in an individual’s life. I was led to the “Freedom in Christ” course and have successfully presented this course to those congregations to whom I regularly preach. I’ve seen great changes in people.
The Spirit then gave me the phrase “The Word of God.” So, I focused on preaching and teaching the “whole Word of God” to these two churches. People were moved and blessed by the Spirit’s hand.
Finding CLI for Bible-Based Ministry Training
Finally, last year the Spirit gave me the single word to preach and teach “Discipleship.” I have a burden to see the increasing maturity of folks in our local churches. I know that I also need this discipleship teaching for myself. Change, the Word of God, and Discipleship have led me to seek God for a closer walk and a clearer vision of personal mission – a spiritual dream if you like.
I looked for a teaching medium that would meet my needs. It needed to give me a fresh return to a disciplined lifestyle in my daily walk with the LORD. Then, I can have a greater appreciation of the opportunities opened to me in the many connections that I have at home, in church, and the world.
I want to thank the Christian Leaders Institute for being available for me and at no cost. The courses that I have completed to date, Connections and the Old and New Testament Survey courses, have been of great personal value. I would certainly recommend CLI to any who wants to receive honest, professional, Bible-based ministry training (irrespective of their age or life experience). Thanks, CLI!
Hello from sunny Southern California, USA. I am Jessica Mogensen, and I am taking free online Bible courses at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here). I have been married to my wonderful husband Robert since 2012. We have four children, three boys, and a girl. I am a stay-at-home mom to our children, who are the loves of my life. However, they also cause me to get new white hair every 5 seconds.
Early Years
I grew up in a Christian home and became a born-again Christian at a very young age. Then, I recommitted my life to Jesus at the age of 13. For some reason, I thought I was too young to fully understand what it meant to be saved when I was 4. That is when my desire to know everything about God started.
I always loved the stories I learned from Sunday School and the other Bible stories I heard from my parents. When I started to reread and relearn the stories, I noticed new things or saw them from a different light. No matter how many times I read it, I always saw something new. That created an understanding of how alive the Bible truly is and how it will never get old.
Since High school, I have been interested in ministry in some type or form. This led me to go on a mission trip to Brazil when I was 16. That is where I fell in love with youth ministries. After graduating High School, I volunteered to be a youth leader in the Junior high group at my home church and a small group leader to six 7th grade girls. I loved seeing the Bible come alive to the kids and see their personal relationships with God grow.
New Challenges
Once I married, my husband and I moved away and struggled to find a home church that fit us. It was the first time my husband and I were actually on our own when it came to our Christian walk. Previously, we stayed in the same church we grew up in and never decided on factors like that. Unfortunately, instead of seeking the right church, we ended up going to our home church online. Therefore, we lost the connection, and fellowship in-person church gives. This is when I truly realized how important attending church is for me. I desire to be part of a church family to plug in and not just be a seat warmer.
Also, having my first child made me understand that I need a church family not just for me but for my children. Then, they can grow up and understand the importance of fellowshipping with other believers. This put a fire in me to prayerfully seek a new home church to raise our family. We are very blessed to have found a loving and God-centered church that has helped us grow up in our faith and claim it as our own.
Bible Courses and Ministry Training at CLI
Recently, I realized that I still have the calling to go into ministry. It might be stronger now than ever. I long for the connection and the blessing I get during my time serving the local church. I prayed for God to open doors at our new home church, and boy did He ever. Currently, I am on the leadership team for our Women’s ministry and run the social media pages for our church. I have also been asked to start training under the Connections Pastor as she is planning on retiring. She may have me take over her role in the future.
Growing up in the faith was not enough for me to feel adequate to take over such a role. So, I started looking for a Bible college where I could get training and a possible degree. I found out that no matter what, schools and Biblical training will be costly to me. Then, I came upon the Christian Leaders Institute with free Bible courses. I thought it was too good to be true. However, after looking into it and taking some classes, I realize this is another door God has opened for me. CLI helps me understand my call into ministry and understand my Heavenly Father and what He wants for all of us.