My name is Solwazi Mabena, and I am thankful to have found a ministry training school online called the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here). I live in Gauteng, South Africa. I grew up in a Christian home with an older brother and sister. My mom took us to Sunday school, which is planted the Word of God in my life. My sister and I also attended a Christian school. Growing up, we did a lot of church activities as my mother was very dedicated there. Therefore, I spent most of my time there as well. I participated in youth activities and went to church camps as I was saved at a young age.
Wandering Years of Struggle
After completing High School, I left home and went to a tertiary institution to study Information Technology. Things turned around completely. I started drinking and smoking with some friends I had from High School. I also made a lot of new friends. Life was different, and I drifted away from the Lord. This lifestyle continued well into my career. I couldn’t stop it even when I wanted to. I met my ex-wife in this state, and we married and lived together for only a month. Then, we separated. It was two years later that we officially divorced. During the separation, the chains of alcoholism and partying tightened their grip on me more than ever. My life was even threatened at one point. It was by God’s grace and mercy that I didn’t lose my job because it also started being affected.
God Made a Way
I tried to quit on my own to sort out my life, but there was no success. During this time, I met my wife, Fakazile. She didn’t know the Lord then but took me to a local church. I hadn’t been in church for a very long time. She gave her life to Jesus and started attending every Sunday. Not long after that, the planted Word of God came back to me (Proverbs 9:10). I surrendered my life to Christ and asked for forgiveness. By God’s grace, I found my way back home. As we dedicated our time to serving at the church and being part of a small group, the chains of bondage broke off completely! Today, I’m going for 6 years sober and without a smoke – Praise God!
Discovering CLI: A Ministry Training School Online
I’ve always had a passion for understanding the Word of God at a much deeper level. Then, I can teach others and realize the spiritual growth in them and myself. I’ve always known that I have to go to school for this but didn’t know how it could happen. After discovering the Christian Leaders Institute on the internet, I got the answer. I’m so grateful and appreciate how the Lord is using CLI to bring free ministry training worldwide! God bless CLI! This ministry training is really going to help me get to where the Lord wants to use me. I’m currently leading a small homegroup with my wife’s assistance, and this training couldn’t have come at a better time.
My dream is to build a Christian School for underprivileged children. They need to be taught the Word of God from an early age. I’ve seen in my own life how important it is for the Word of God to be planted in a child. I also want to reach out to the many young adults trapped in a life of entertainment, deceived by the enemy, and lost.
Please pray for God’s purpose to be fulfilled in my life. Thank you!
My Journey with Christ
My name is Phaedra (Fay-dra) Hunt, and I live in the great state of Texas! For many years, I have been blessed to know the Lord Jesus as my Savior. He has a calling on my life. So I searched to learn the Bible online. I found the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here)!
Despite my parent’s beliefs, I continuously tried to keep myself connected to God and His people. One of my passions throughout my childhood and even now as a young adult has been journaling. It has shaped me to be a better woman of God. During middle school and my earlier high school years, I served in an afternoon program known as DOLLS (Daughters of our Living Lord and Savior) that allowed me to take on roles such as secretary, chaplain, worship leader, and ambassador. These roles were my first steps into the ministry that really connected with me.
Called by God
As a freshman through my senior year in High School, I enrolled in a high school internship program. It took up a couple of months of my summer. During my first year, I attended a Sunday service. It ultimately changed my mindset on my calling and the way God speaks. During the sermon, I wrote my notes as usual and found myself writing without thought. Looking back on my notes, I found a single line that didn’t quite fit in my previous or following notes. It said, “You are called to preach!”
From that moment on, I knew God called me into youth ministry. Today, I am a 19-year-old living on my own with a purpose that is just out of my reach. Currently, I serve as a preschool Sunday school teacher to 4 and 5-year-olds in my church. However, I also come from a music-oriented family and always loved worshiping.
By taking these courses at the Christian Leaders Institute, I can discover my purpose by digging into the Bible, God’s Word. What a blessing to learn the Bible online! I also love learning from other like-minded people who share some of the same spiritual gifts. It also gives me insight into God’s direction and purpose for my life. Thank you, CLI!
I am Wally H. Marks Jr, and I plan to study for ordination online at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible classes, Click Here). I am married to a wonderful, beautiful wife named Michelle. We are both excited about the journey God has called us to travel through ministry and continual growth in Christ Jesus. We live in Mobile, AL.
In total, we have five children from different marriages. I have two daughters from a previous marriage. Michelle has two daughters and a son from previous marriages. We also have four grandchildren from her two daughters and one other on which we are excited about. God has blessed us so much through His wonderful mercy and grace. Our journey together is truly an amazing story, so much so that we could write a book about God’s love, restoration, and forgiveness for a family.
God Stepped In
We met when we were both on a steady course, headed away from our relationship with God. We were living in sin and a spiraling downward place of darkness. Our families were broken beyond repair. At least, that was our perception at the time. We eventually married but continued down a road apart from Christ. Both of us previously had a wonderful relationship with Jesus.
Eventually, we came to what appeared to be a tragic ending of our marriage. However, God stepped in. He accomplished this through the restoration of Michelle’s relationship with Jesus. The Holy Spirit led her to battle for our marriage and me. God graciously restored my relationship with Jesus and powerfully redeemed our marriage. We are not perfect, but God has marked us with his blessing of restoration.
We now see every area of our lives as opportunities for ministry. Therefore, we are doing all that we can to follow the leading of God’s voice. Jesus is a wonderful Lord, Savior, and awesome Redeemer of all things! He makes all things new!
My Ministry Calling And Salvation Testimony
In 1986, I was born again as a teenager. I received Jesus while I was drunk and high on alcohol and marijuana. It was late one night while I was at home. I came across a preacher on TV and was tired of trying to find anything else to watch. So I decided to watch the preacher.
I was born and raised Southern Baptist but was not born again. This preacher was preaching with lots of energy, but that’s not what caught my attention. The thing that got me on the edge of the couch was the excitement displayed by the congregation listening to him. By the way, the preacher was Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart. The people’s excitement level caused me to want to hear what he had to say.
By the end of the message, I was on the floor on my knees, weeping as I had never done. I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior that night. That is when I was born again of the Spirit of God. It was one of the most amazing things I had ever experienced in my life.
Within approximately three months, I realized that God was calling me to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. I started pursuing that call. However, gradually I placed it on the back burner as pursuing wife and children became my top priority. This shift was my fault because I lost the vision of the call. I fell back into alcohol, which eventually led to a terrible divorce that plunged me deeper into a dark pit.
Study for Ordination at CLI
So, here I am. God brought me back to the call to preach and minister His love to others. Isn’t God so good?
He could have left Michelle and me right there in the dark pit we were in, but He didn’t. It brings me to tears when I think about where we were and where we are now! Romans 11:29 says – “for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” I am so thankful for this!
So what am I doing here at Christian Leaders Institute? I am here, at the moment, to pursue the Licensed Ministry Chaplain credential. After I receive that credential, I plan to continue to study for ordination. I plan to get the Chaplain Minister Ordination. I am excited about CLI and what they offer! They are truly a source that God has provided in the times we live in for people to receive an education.
What God has Done and Is Doing
I worked for Aaron Oil Company for 19 years, driving a bobtail tanker truck and picking up used petroleum oil. This was oil from automobiles or certain types of machinery that had to be disposed of by the companies who utilized our services. Aaron Oil Company is considered a recycling company because they process the oil to fuel oil used as energy. I enjoyed my years there. It was a place that helped mold my personality and allowed me to grow in many areas.
In 2017, God powerfully pursued Michelle and me. We were close to submitting to that pursuit of His Holy Spirit, but I chose to run deeper into the darkness dragging Michelle with me. Running from Jesus brought us to the edge of the destruction of our marriage and family all the way into 2018. It was then and there at that cliff that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit caught us both. God reached out and grabbed Michelle and me as we were going over the edge of that terrible cliff. God pulled us both back to solid, safe ground and raised us up out of that dark pit.
After the awesome returning prodigal celebration God the Father threw for us, He poured His word and love into us. In 2019, the Holy Spirit spoke to both of us and asked if we would be willing for me to quit my job at Aaron Oil Co. The commission was to provide lawn care services to those in need as a ministry to the community. We both said yes, and the journey began. Things were beginning to get off the ground when Covid shut things down in 2020. The shutdowns brought delays to the ministry.
Called to Ministry and Study for Ordination Online at CLI
During this time, God led us to begin volunteering at a local Hospice facility. We became associated with the Hospice through Healing Rooms Ministries. We joined the Healing Rooms just before Covid shut everything down. The Hospice asked the Healing Room to come in to pray and minister to patients and family members. I fell in love with this type of ministry. We all had to join their volunteer program so that we could minister. As a volunteer, I can go anytime and visit with, minister to, and pray for those who want it.
This has stirred in me a great desire to pursue the credentials of becoming a Chaplain. I never dreamed that the Holy Spirit would lead me in this direction, but it is such an amazing journey. I have already learned things from CLI that have helped me as I minister at the local Hospice. It has been such a blessing to me. I look forward to furthering my education and training to achieve my certifications and eventually study for ordination here at CLI.
Thank you, CLI and all the staff and leadership, for allowing students like myself a place to come and receive a quality education.