Hi, I’m Tara Gamble, and I’m receiving Bible-based education at the Christian Leaders Institute. I’m 44 and from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is just across the river from Detroit, Michigan. Raised the majority of my life in this area, I’m a country girl at heart. I have two wonderful parents and one younger brother. I grew up in the Catholic School system, but never felt more than an obligation to learn the “rules.”
When I was a teenager, Mom and I started attending different churches, after my aunt, Mom’s sister, found the Lord. My mom loved seeing the transformation in her sister and her family and wanted the same for us. Unfortunately, my Dad disapproved. So after going to a Nazarene church for several years and learning much, we stopped going. Although now I had more knowledge, I did not have a personal relationship with Jesus.
My Further Education and Marriages
Then I went on to study for one year in Interior Design at college. However, I quickly realized this was not for me. In my early 20s, I attended a community college to receive my certificate as an Esthetician.
I met my first husband at age 16. We married when I was 19. It was a very immature love, and unfortunately, it didn’t last long. I was young, reckless, sinning, just living however I wanted to live. We were divorced by the time I was 21.
I met my second husband, and after a long courtship, we married. We had two beautiful girls (now aged 15 and 17). I went into post-partum depression after my first daughter. Nobody understood what was wrong, including me (it wasn’t talked about much back then). When I became pregnant with my second daughter, the depression became all-consuming. I realized I needed help. I went on proper medication. For the first time since my teens, I realized how wonderful the world could be without that looming dark cloud above me every day.
Challenges
However, something was still missing. I was still searching for something to answer that question that was always lurking at the back of my mind, “Is this it??” My second husband did not understand depression, and he didn’t want to either. I felt alone and misunderstood. I left that marriage defeated, sad, and lonely. Several years passed, and I met Ed. He’s handsome, fun, always willing to go on an adventure, always wanting to push the envelope, and wonderful with my kids! We married nine months later! At this time, I started my own Esthetics business.
After a few wonderful years, the fact that Ed was an atheist started to wear on me. I tried my best to make things work. However, after ten years, we were so far apart. Ed had turned into a cynical, negative person, and it was affecting my kids and me. My girls and I sadly left in November of 2019.
New Beginnings
After six lonely months, I was shocked to hear that Ed had found the Lord. Remember, he was a TOTAL atheist! We began cautiously dating, and I realized the MIRACLE that the Lord had worked in Ed. I fell head over heels in love with Jesus and with my husband all over again! The Lord is so good! We have new life breathed into us and our marriage! We are moving back in together at the end of November 2020. Praise the Lord!
We both feel the Lord calling us to ministry. Although exactly what path and in which way He will use us is unclear yet. My husband and I have very different personalities. Recently, when we both were saved, we realized how much we complement each other and work well in ministry together!
After a car accident in 2015 left me with back injuries, I retired as an esthetician. The injuries caused pain and made it impossible to enjoy my job anymore. Therefore, I closed my esthetic studio after ten years and almost 20 years as an esthetician. I grieved over the loss of my business and the loss of clients, who had become like family. I felt adrift and purposeless and not sure where to go in life next.
Bible-Based Education at CLI
I looked for organized Christian and Bible-based education at an affordable price and found CLI! I’m so excited about what I’ve seen so far at the Christian Leaders Institute! We had looked into several other seminaries or Bible-based education colleges and knew we could not afford them. CLI provides us with the precious training we need for FREE! What a blessing! Thank you, CLI!
My spiritual dream is to help people and guide them through life and difficult times by applying the Word of God to their situations. I want to help people find a loving, and comforting connection like I have with God. To bring peace and joy and help others realize it through the Bible’s teachings is my desire.
Thank you for this incredible opportunity, CLI! May God bless you all for all you do!
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
Big Dreams for Small Groups
My name is Tony Hull, and I am excited to receive free education in ministry online at CLI. I was born and raised in the USA in a small rural town in Indiana. I grew up in the church. However, I did not truly come to know the Lord until my sophomore year of college. It wasn’t long after I began walking with the Lord that I started getting heavily involved with my local church. It was during this time I met my wife, and we began serving together.
A couple of years after we married, our pastor asked us if we would start a small group for younger couples in our home. Our church is predominantly older, so there were only two other couples at that time. The past couple of years leading our small group has been a bit of trial by fire with many challenges and equally as many beautiful moments as we have slowly grown.
Ministry Call and Free Education in Ministry
During this time, my passion for in-home small groups and coming alongside others to serve them and encourage their walk with the Lord continued to grow. I soon realized that this ministry was what the Lord was calling me to do. Therefore, if I were to take this calling seriously, I would need to further my Christian education. Then I could better serve those within the church. I looked at an online seminary, but it did not seem to be where the Lord was leading as I prayed.
Soon, I came across the Christian Leaders Institute. I was very excited as it seems to be a perfect fit for me at this stage of life. Ultimately, my dream is to be a better servant leader of others and to one day, help train other men to be servant leaders as well. Thank you, CLI, for this opportunity for free online education in ministry.
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 Susan Mapuranga, and I am excited to receive ministry education for free at the Christian Leaders Institute. I live in Harare, Zimbabwe. My husband and I are blessed with four beautiful children. I graduated in 2014 when I completed my BSc Management and Entrepreneurial Development in General Management and Marketing.
Currently, my husband and I are running a college and a small private primary school where we give education. We also are trying to fulfill the scripture that instructs us to train up a child in the way they should go so when they are old they will not depart from it. We believe that it is better to build a child than to repair a man or woman.
Ministry Dreams and Goals
My ministry goal is to help the young ones to grow in God’s kingdom. I also want to give counseling to men and women in our community. Zimbabwe is one of the poorest countries in the world. So our ministry, by God’s grace, will be able to run orphanages and offer free Bible education at our schools eventually.
Ministry Education for Free at CLI
I hope to further my studies with the Christian Leaders Institute and increase my knowledge. Then, l will be able to share the word of God with others. My passion for the things of God will finally be fulfilled by obtaining this ministry education for free at CLI. The courses will expose me to deeper revelation, build a strong biblical foundation, and become a fountain of knowledge. Therefore, I can spread the word of God with confidence while being recognized as a well trained Christian leader.
Additionally, my prayer is that the desire God placed in my heart will be accomplished. I want to be able to minister and do the will of God as I walk with God all the days of my life. I intend to fulfill the purpose God created me for and fulfill my divine destiny.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.