I am Jan Boshoff, and I have a pastoral call to the marketplace. Currently, I live in the United States; however, I am originally from South Africa. When I first moved to the USA, I was a newlywed graduate engineering student. My wife and I attended a wonderful church in Delaware, where the pastors did an excellent job in discipleship, Bible training, and development of its laypeople.
During our stay in Delaware, several leaders in the church felt that I was called into ministry as a pastor. As I was praying and wrestling through this, and waiting on the Lord for confirmation of this calling, I met with a dear brother and spiritual mentor and talked it over with him. He pointed out that the Lord might be calling me into pastoral care in the marketplace in my career. This idea was a spark of lightning that lit up in my heart. I felt that it was what I was called to do.
New Direction and Study at CLI
Since that time, I have worked in the petrochemical industry in roles of increasing responsibility and management. Throughout my career, I have felt that the Lord called me to be a different manager. I am one that pastors while working to achieve the business objectives of the corporation. Now, I founded a clean energy technology company. I’m working toward creating a cleaner future, and the Lord’s calling is still playing out in unexpected ways.
I found the Christian Leaders Institute online. It offers free ministry training and clergy options for my pastoral call into the marketplace. At this time, I am pursuing to be a wedding officiant for some dear friends. I trust that I will be an effective instrument in the Lord’s hands. To glorify his name and further his kingdom as I walk in the deeds that he has for me is my desire.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
“Kia Ora!” (hello in Maori) My name is Deborah Russell, and I am studying at CLI for my women’s ministry calling from God. I live in Christchurch, New Zealand. Christchurch is known as the Garden City in the South Island of my country. We are known for beautiful scenery and friendly people. I was born in Timaru in October of 1968.
I gave my heart to the Lord as a child and loved Jesus at Christmas time when we sang those Christmas carols. One doesn’t know the story of Jesus unless one grows up in a Christian home. I was baptized at ten. My parents moved to Twizel, in the heart of Mackenzie country. Winters were hard, and summers were long and hot.
Challenges
I didn’t get my school certificate from Twizel High School as I had learning difficulties. Reading, writing, and mathematics were my downfall. So, I left school to work in a restaurant. I met my first husband at 17, had our first child at 18, and married at 19. We had three girls together. About six months after the birth of my youngest, I left my husband and my three girls in his care. I was in counseling for childhood abuse and tried to get marriage counseling too.
After a while, I went back to live with my parents to rebuild my relationship with them. I missed my girls and wanted to get closer to them. I tried to study travel and tourism, but because of an old sports injury, I finally got an operation on my right knee. Later on, in that year (94), I meet another man, and we got married in (99) in Christchurch. Sadly my husband died in 2007 to cancer. A friend of ours learned of my husband’s passing and wanted to meet for coffee. We did, and we haven’t been apart since.
In 2010, a series of earthquakes hit Christchurch. The first one was 7.1. Then in February 6.4. One hundred and eighty-seven people lost their lives. The city was rebuilding. I went to the local Salvation Army in Belfast and became an adherent soldier.
Study at CLI for My Women’s Ministry Calling
A friend of mine used to hold a small coffee group with ladies from church. Sadly she left, and I was missing our coffee catchup. So I got a few ladies together, and we would meet once a month. In my corp, they hadn’t had women’s ministry in many years. So I talked to my church leaders and offered my services for women’s ministry. We went from six people to 30, averaging about 14 at a meeting. We just celebrated our first year in March. Sadly after the COVID situation, we went into lockdown.
I want to use this time to study for women’s ministry. So, I came across the Christian Leaders Institute online and started in the admissions class. Now, I am about to complete the Christian Leaders Connections class. All of the courses are professionally done. The materials and test assignments are achievable. CLI allows me to learn and grow in my ministry. The classes will empower me to strengthen and equip me for my future. I love the Lord, and he keeps showing me answers to my prayers. I study for Jesus and building His kingdom. Thank you for this opportunity, CLI!
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
Each of us has a testimony and a calling. My name is Petrida E. Karch, and I am receiving free ministry training at CLI. Born in Afrika-Tanzania, I live in Germany with my husband and three children. Professionally, I studied Human Resource Management, Microcomputer Application, Graphic & Web Designing. We live in a small village called Waigolshausen, and we are a happy family.
My Youth
I grew up in the Roman Catholic Church. During my childhood, I spent my schooling in the Roman Catholic Msolwa St. Gaspare Bertoni Secondary School. I visited my family during the school holidays. At our school, we had a routine of praying in the morning and in the evening. I was learning a little bit about Jesus Christ there.
Marriage and Obstacles
Currently, we are a happy and peaceful family. Since I received Jesus Christ into my life, I started facing lots of obstacles in my marriage. One day, my husband changed his mind and started angrily talking to me. He said, “Why do I serve the God of heaven? Why do I pray, and why am I reading the Bible a lot?” At that time, I was already filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. The Spirit told me that it was not my husband but a demon speaking. I bound him with Luke 10:19, Matthew 16:19, Jeremiah 1:10. I said, “I command you in the name of Jesus to come out of this man and set him free.”
He spoke to me, “Why do you want to build a church of God? Why do you want to serve the God of heaven?” So, I kept saying leave this person and never come back. By God’s grace, my husband came back to normal again. Since then, I have been reading the Bible, and he has no problem with it.
I went through trials and many obstacles. However, the Holy Spirit told me not to be afraid and not to give up. The war is between the two kingdoms (kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of heaven), and we are always victorious. Holy Spirit also told me, “You will be cut off, you will be hated and persecuted for my name’s sake, but be thankful that you live in the Kingdom of Heaven.” From there, every battle that arises, I thank God and fight against it in the spirit world where our struggle is in 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5.
Walking with God
I have a relationship with God by reading the Bible, praying, and worshiping Him. Much learning occurs as I read the Bible. The purpose of God is before me. I do not need to be afraid of the war because the battle belongs to Jesus Christ.
My spiritual dream is to bring people to the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ. Let all people know that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Let people know that we cannot reach the kingdom of heaven without Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer. My biggest dream is to see many released from their spiritual bonds and come to the God of heaven through Jesus Christ. All this we can do through Jesus Christ, who gives us strength and tramples on our enemies.
Finding the Way to Free Ministry Training at CLI
God has a purpose for me. He wants me to do his work and has enabled me to perform miracles through his Holy Spirit. I was looking for an online college so that I could study more and get certificates that would help me to do God’s work without government interference. The Holy Spirit has shown me this as the devil puts many obstacles so that the kingdom of the world may not be saved and become the kingdom of the Lamb, the kingdom of Jesus Christ. That’s when I searched on the internet and found the Christian Leaders Institute. I applied and was accepted to start my studies.
I look forward to my free ministry training at CLI and the rest of my journey with God. Thank you, CLI, for this opportunity.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.