My name is Anthony Burgos, and I am called to minister training at the Christian Leaders Institute. Currently, I reside in one of the five boroughs of New York City called the Bronx. In 2014 due to unforeseen circumstances, I became homeless for about a year. During that time, I suffered like never before. I was hungry, confused, and realized that my faith in God had diminished. I wanted to end it all.
One day while thinking of a way to end my suffering, I sat under a tree in the pouring rain, waiting to re-enter the shelter for the night. I prayed urgently, letting God know how I felt, crying tears that would be hidden due to the rain. But God knew because He cares about us and our feelings. Realizing this, I stood with rain falling on me. I reached my hands up to God and asked him to give me a reason to live. I was praying for hope, and he heard me.
A few days later, I received a call on my state-provided cell phone. It was one of my cousins who had heard of my situation. She told me that somehow she knew something was wrong. We immediately started making plans to get me home to New York. I had been saved. That is why I know my life is to serve God and help others in the same situation that I was in. God wants me to let them know that they are not alone. God is there for them, and that from that moment, I would be there for them too.
Called to Minister Training at CLI
I became Ordained in September of 2020 from an online ministry that made it so easy that I knew it wasn’t legit. So, again I reached out to God to show me the right path to him. One day while searching for ministry training online, God led me to the Christian Leaders Institute website. I was skeptical at first because the courses were free. However, after taking the first class and listening to Pastor Henry Reyenga speak, I knew that God had brought me to the right place. He brought me home to him.
So far, all the readings and videos seem to be describing me and speaking to me. Especially when it comes to the trials and tribulations that one goes through as they journey to God. I am on the right track finally! Thank you, CLI, for the opportunity to study the Bible online for free (Learn more about Studying the Bible, Click Here). Remember, God blesses always, and he loves us dearly. If you are being called to minister, you’ve come to the right place.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
The Long and Winding Road to CLI
My name is Anne Campbell, and I am studying the Bible (Learn more about Studying the Bible, Click Here) and Life Coach ministry training at the Christian Leaders Institute. I am British. My journey has taken decades of many wrong turns. That is why I describe it as “The Long and Winding Road to CLI” with thanks to The Beatles for the title.
My Early Years
At the age of three, I was adopted by a wonderful older couple who introduced me to the countryside’s delights and peace. Mum was Church of England and Dad was a Methodist, although neither of them attended church regularly. My dad’s attitude to church was that he went for births, weddings, and funerals only. They were both veterans of World War II.
Looking back on it now, I think their memories of those dark days made them disillusioned with God and traditional church. They never discouraged me from investigating, though. So, for a while, I attended the local Methodist church and even taught Sunday school there. After a time, I grew bored with the same service style every week and began my roaming.
My next stop was a house church based above a little coffee bar. They introduced me to “The Cross and The Switchblade,” and I had the pleasure of seeing David Wilkinson, along with Nicky Cruz, when they toured Britain. The Holy Spirit really moved in that small town hall! That was my first introduction to the effect it could have. I stayed with their group for a while, but then we had to move on as the building was to be demolished. It left a void that Satan was quick to exploit.
In Roaming Mode
I discovered that the world had some exciting things like motorbikes, boys, and dope. I loved riding my bike, and the guys I rode with treated me like a mate. I was a rarity in that I was the only female to ride. The rest of the girls all rode pillion. Even though that first bike was only a 250cc, I could outrun all of them around the Matlock twists and bends. Of course, they got revenge on the motorway and could leave me standing. They always looked after me, though. Even when we were at rallies run by Hells Angels, I always felt safe with my club members. They saved me from me on more than one occasion.
Although I was now in full roaming mode and living a non-Christian lifestyle, I still went to different churches. I was looking for what I had lost but had no idea how to regain it. I looked at the different styles of religion. Some of them were more cult-like than others. However, nowhere really felt like home. So my wanderings continued for the next twenty years.
My Marriage and Loss
When I was forty, I met my husband online in a chat room. He was in Texas, and I was in England. Therefore, I felt safe that this friendship would remain online only. He, however, had other ideas and flew over to meet me. He was everything I would have ignored had I met him in person at the beginning. But, as we had developed a friendship that showed a loving heart and a deep love of animals, we clicked. In 2002, we married. Then, we spent the next three years in different countries while working our way through immigration issues.
In 2005, I finally moved to SE Texas to start our married life properly. We had our ups and downs. After all, we were two strong-willed people who had lived the single life for over forty years. We had to learn to compromise. Unexpectedly, Bruce passed away in September of 2018. This loss was the beginning of my renewed love and belief in the Lord and Jesus. Two weeks after he passed, I found myself at a little community church. They took me in and helped me through the dark days of grief and depression. I will always be grateful that God sent me there and that he then sent the Holy Spirit to fill the gaping hole in my heart.
Called to Life Coach Ministry Training at CLI
I moved back to England in October of 2019 because it felt right. In Texas, I had no family and lived so far out that people rarely came to visit. It also felt wrong to live there without my husband. Once home, I quickly found the church I am with now. I continue to grow through the Lord’s grace. Looking back on my life, I see that God never deserted me even though I deserted him. He sent guardian angels to protect me through everything, and I find that amazing!
This scholarship is important to me because, otherwise, I could not afford to take the Life Coach ministry training that CLI offers. I feel called to help others through grief and rebellion. God is calling me to become a Life Coach for those who feel they will never be acceptable. I know from experience that there is nothing our God cannot deal with and will.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
My name is Dr. Carol Matthews, and I am seeking restorative justice ministry training at the Christian Leaders Institute (CLI). I live in Southern California, in the USA. I have been educated in different areas, where I previously worked in my professional life. As an adult and single parent, I returned to college when my daughter was in elementary school. I earned an Associate’s degree at age 30, a Bachelor of Science at 36, an MBA at 45, an MA at 59 in ministry (my passion). Finally, after seven LONG years, I earned a doctorate in Public Administration at age 63. I am a bi-vocational ministry leader.
My Early Years
I was born to an immigrant Jamaican father and Caucasian mother in the 1950s when being bi-racial was not well accepted. My father mainly raised me in a Seventh Day Adventist home, where we read the Bible daily and had family worship regularly. Going to the church was not a personal choice but rather a requirement.
Because of difficulties in my family life, I ended up in foster care in high school. There all of the basic Christian training went out of the window. Later, I returned to live with a close friend of our family, where I started attending church again. They strongly encouraged me to get baptized when I was 16, and so I did. I began serving by teaching youth, ushering, singing in the choir, and singing with a female quartet. I was doing all the Christian work expected of me, but I had not yet found God for myself.
Struggles and New Direction
Many years later, I was told that I would be “put out” of the church for divorcing. However, the powers that be did not know I had a biblical rationale for doing so. I did not feel compelled to share the painful details. At that point in my life, I was in survival mode and placed my church life aside. The only exception was taking my young daughter to sabbath school each week. That too soon died out, and I was back in the world. I lived how I chose, which, unfortunately, did not include a godly life.
In the early 80s, I woke up and realized that God and His word are not the same as “religion” and the earthly authorities with their human-made rules. I found a Bible-teaching non-denominational church and began my walk with Jesus as an adult. As my personal walk began, including Bible Studies and personal studies, I asked questions and understood what God wanted and expected from me. It was at this point, I accepted Him into my life and began my faith journey.
Speak, Lord, for thy Servant is Listening.
One day, I was alone at work. I stood and began worshiping Him and felt the presence of God in the room with me. I felt so close to God. So, I chose to serve in the prayer-room after weekly alter calls. I also taught young adults the Bible and helped guide new believers for one year. I increased studying to the point I felt lead to begin seminary. Unfortunately, later, I had a misstep and became discouraged, once again, and began to backslide.
Thereafter, my life changed because of two near-death experiences that occurred close together because of my poor life choices. I prayed as I had never prayed before, “God, please get me out of this mess that I got myself into, and I will serve you forever!” In fact, God did answer that fervent prayer, and I served him faithfully since that period of my life. I felt compelled to get re-baptized, and my walk has been consistent ever since. As Samuel said, I, too, said, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10, NIV).
Called to Ministry
In 2011, I began serving the Lord through outreach ministries. I finally formerly began ministry studies in 2014 and graduated in October 2016 with a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry and Leadership. In 2017, I formalized my ministry to seek donations to do a greater work for the Lord. I founded Bestowing Hope Ministries as an outreach ministry. Our focus is on prison ministry, serving the local homeless population, and helping senior citizens in need. As the Lord provides the resources needed to do more work in the areas of need, we are planning to expand, such as college scholarships for at-risk youth.
In the USA, we have the freedom to serve the Lord and worship how we see fit without persecution. I believe that is why we sometimes take it for granted, unlike other places in the world where people have to worship in secret. My spiritual dream would be that everyone, anywhere, could worship the Lord freely and get to know Him so that all could be saved. Personally, my deepest desire is to be able to die without fear or regret. I hope to achieve this with God’s help and by living my life for him.
Restorative Justice Ministry Training at CLI
I am seeking more ministry training from CLI (Learn more about Studying the Bible, Click Here) to become more knowledgeable in the area of restorative justice. Prison ministry is my passion. If it was not for God’s grace, I could have been a “lifer,” so I am called to help those incarcerated seek God’s face. For those who do not yet realize their need for Jesus, I am there to help them get to know Him as their Lord and personal Savior. My Christian Leaders Institute dream and my mission are Matthew 28:19-20. Because of Jesus’ words: “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few”(Matthew 9:37, NIV). I am called to as His disciple among those who are least likely to know Him.
In conclusion, the reason this type of no cost formal education is helpful to me is that I want to learn more. However, I cannot afford the cost of state education at this time, which may not even teach the primary area of my interest, restorative justice. My prayer is that I learn what can benefit those I come in contact with and make them want what I have, Jesus!
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.