I am Freddy J. Orosco from Peralta, New Mexico, USA, and I am studying the free Bible education online at CLI. I grew up in a Catholic family. I learned that if I didn’t follow the rules and standards of the Catholic Church that God wouldn’t bless me. My dad was a great provider, and my mom a great homemaker. In my early childhood, I attended catechism, was an altar boy, and attended church every Sunday with my parents.
In school, I struggled. I was easily distracted and unable to focus on the task at hand. Failure became my close friend. My parents grew up in a time where failure was ridiculed. I frequently heard phrases such as, ” You’ll never amount to anything,” or “All you’ll ever become is a ditch digger.” Growing up with my nephews and nieces and being the oldest by five years, I frequently heard that I was the oldest and the dumbest.
During my teenage years, I discovered I liked the effects of alcohol. I barely scraped by through High School. After high school, I gave following in my father’s footsteps a try in an attempt to win his approval. Once again, I failed.
Feeling God’s Call and a Jonah Moment
Despite my failings, ever since I can remember, I felt a tugging at my heart that God wanted to use me. There was some purpose He had for me in my life. I just could not fathom such a calling. After all, I failed at everything. Why would God want with such a failure as I?
At nineteen, I had a Jonah moment (one of many). I joined the Navy in one more attempt to win my dad’s approval since my dad was a veteran. While serving, I was introduced to racism, growing up in a small rural community in New Mexico; the color of one’s skin was never an issue. Aboard the ship, I was given the name wetback. I was also frequently hazed in ways that I find it difficult to mention.
Challenges
I drank more and more to escape the emotional pain and anguish from the frequent hazing. I served three and a half years before reaching a breaking point. My military career abruptly ended. Once again, I failed. My dad told me that I deserved what I got by joining the service and abandoning him and my mom.
I experienced frequent nightmares and episodes of anger to the point of rage. I had difficulty holding jobs, keeping friends, and relationships. My parents were done with me. They felt all I had to do was to get what I was experiencing out of my head, and all would be better. It didn’t happen that way.
Although there was a respite from alcohol in my first marriage, there was still the untreated mental and emotional issues. After three years, the marriage ended bitterly.
Feeling God’s Call and Another Jonah Response
I continued to feel the tugging in my heart that God was calling me. Once again, I ran like Jonah. I ran to Arizona from New Mexico then back to New Mexico. I ran to witchcraft, to fortune-telling, to alcohol, to cocaine, to my second wife, and methamphetamine. My second marriage was a five-year meth party that ended up in another Jonah moment.
San Antonio, Texas, was my destination this time. It was 2004. The next eight years were like a roller coaster ride. There were passing attempts at getting my life straight, failed relationships, lost jobs, and addiction. I never had any real control over my situation.
Growth
In 2012, my dad had a heart attack. I had a major breakdown and a stay at the VA hospital in San Antonio. While there, I expressed my desire to better my relationship with God. A nurse at the VA suggested a local church. It had a great recovery ministry in addition to many opportunities to serve.
For the next three years, I went through two recovery programs the church had. I served at the church in audio and visual ministry, all while pursuing an associate’s degree in music. One thing was missing, not that it wasn’t available. I was not feeding my spiritual hunger with God’s Word. I still had the idea that just doing good would fix everything. However, it didn’t. It was nothing more than a temporary fix for a long term problem.
Rock Bottom Rescue
I found myself at the losing end of life’s playing field. I found a quick temporary fix that led me to crack cocaine. This run lasted about eight months before I hit rock bottom. One morning in mid-March of 2016, I was drug sick, hungry, and ashamed. I didn’t want to live the life I was living. Also, I didn’t want to face the daylight or anyone bringing any kind of hope.
A family member I hadn’t seen for some time knocked on my door. I ignored the knocking, but the more I ignored it, the louder it got. Finally, I answered. The first words out of my family member’s mouth, “I had a feeling that if I don’t get you out of here immediately that you won’t live another two weeks. Pack a few things; you are leaving on a bus to Raton, New Mexico in the morning.” I had a friend I went to school with that lived in Raton at the time.
I fumbled around the mess my apartment was and gathered a few clothes. My life was starting over. The bus ride was a nightmare. It was worse than any experience I had ever had before in my time doing drugs. I was physically sick from cocaine. I got to Raton. Where I stayed, I was isolated from the outside world.
New Direction
For a week, I slept. Then, in an instant, I woke up and felt that tugging in my heart once again. It was even stronger than before. It felt like God was telling me that the time is now for me to start serving His purpose. I had to quit running and face my demons with God’s help. It became apparent surrender was imminent. My knees hit the floor and gave my life to God. Life became real, and something was different. I relied on the comfort of God’s Word more and more.
Back in 2012, I was finally diagnosed with significant PTSD. My dad survived his heart attack but had the onset of dementia. My mom, my dad, and I came to the point of forgiveness for the years of hurt we caused each other. It happened before my dad’s dementia took him completely. My mom had to take care of him alone. God provided the resources for me to fly from San Antonio to Albuquerque for summer, spring, and winter breaks from college.
New Life and Free Bible Education Online at CLI
Ending up in Raton was the beginning of a fantastic walk with the Lord through the help the Lord provided. Being spiritually fed by His word, I am fully restored. Through God’s grace and mercy, I have a beautiful family, a wonderful Godly wife, two special daughters, two sons-in-law, and a beautiful grandson. Sometimes, where we think our testimony ends, it begins.
Now I am studying the free Bible education online at the Christian Leaders Institute to strengthen my walk with God and prepare for the ministry God calls me to do. Wherever God leads and whatever God wants me to do, I will be equipped with the online Bible education at CLI.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
The Lord led Kyle Parcher on a new journey that he did not expect: one that was filled with pain and confusion, but also beauty and true freedom in Christ. Read his story to hear more about his journey and the ways in which God continues to lead him.
Getting My Attention
The past four years here at Christian Leaders Institute and College have been amazing. I started this journey in 2017 while lying on my back in bed due to an injury. The Lord was attempting to get my attention. I had spent my life wrapped around money and how much I could personally create. There were times that I would let God in, but in most cases I spent a fair amount of time marveling at what I had accomplished. The Lord had other plans for me. The day I fell off of my roof was day one of a new journey.
Change of Plans and a New Journey
When I was eighteen, I attended college at Philadelphia College of Bible. My dad called and asked me to come home, just as I was starting my sophomore year. He was battling stage four cancer. So I packed my things and started home, not knowing what to expect. I told God then that if he really wanted me to go to college, then He would have to make it free. My life has been amazing. I met my now wife of 26 years, settled down, and started my own business. Once we had our four boys, life sped up to 120 miles an hour. I dove into money: finding it under rocks and hanging in trees. I found it extremely easy to make. This gave me a sense of accomplishment, and the older I got it became more of game really than anything.
In November of 2016, we were redoing our roof. Before we had time to get the shingles on, snow and rain started to fall. I watched the rain that was now forming in my uber expensive home. Drywall started to cave, and it was time to fix the problem. As I stepped out onto the roof, I swear I heard God tell me not to, but bold Kyle went out anyways. That was day one of a new journey.
Serving Elsewhere
Around 2018, I could not understand why I was studying at CLI/ CLI. My then current church was pushing hard against the schooling. The pastor refused mentorship, and this led to frustration. He does not have a degree and feels that it is unnecessary. He said that, “The Spirit will lead you to all knowledge”. My wife and I started praying to see if the Lord was leading us to serve elsewhere. Sure enough, one year after I started praying, he led me to the little Christian Reformed Church (CRC) across the street. In July of 2019, I was installed as their paid youth pastor. Not only was the pastor ecstatic with my schooling, he has also become my best friend.
God knew exactly where he needed me to serve, and the classes at CLI and CLI were a crash course. Everything I needed to know was right here. My pastor is a Calvin Seminary graduate, and he knows almost everyone who teaches here as well. However, I did not grow up CRC. I went to a Christian Reformed high school, but everything they did was foreign to me. My church when I was a child until now has been non-denominational. My studies here opened my eyes to a whole new line of thinking. I was not converted on every topic. I still believe in dunk baptisms and the sinner’s prayer, but I am not opposed to sprinkling baptisms or professions of faith.
Removing the Veil
My favorite class here was Hermeneutics and Exegesis with professors Dr. Jeff Weima and Dr. David Feddes. This class helped me to better understand how to read God’s word for all it’s worth. I was listening to one of the lectures while driving one day and it was like a veil fell from my eyes. In fact, I was so amazed by what I learned that I emailed professor Weima right away.
Here is part of the letter I wrote to him: “Today, I was listening to your video on “The Necessity of Hermeneutics” and started weeping at the end. The Lord removed a veil of darkness from my spiritual eyes. A veil that I have carried most of my life and one that Satan has poked at for years. The fear of inadequacy to preach and teach was removed. I am confident to move forward in growing and learning coupled with teaching, and I am not afraid anymore. I sent up a thanks of praise to God for you today.”
Moving On
I am not sure what the Lord has next for me, but I am going to push hard to finish my studies here at CLI and CLI. With only eight classes standing between me and my Bachelor of Divinity degree, I hope to have that completed by January. I do want to move on. I am looking forward to a master’s program, but I am not sure whom I can take that with yet. The field of study is counseling and it needs to be a program that helps me obtain my state license. I am praying that CLI earns their accreditation, as this will open many doors for students to go into the master’s programs of our choice.
A Twisting Path in Faith
My name is Stephanie Light. I am excited about the free Bible training curriculum at CLI. Residing in Western Montana, I raise my son as a single mother. I spent most of my life in the dance and entertainment industry as a professional choreographer, adjudicator, and instructor.
I grew up in San Diego during the late ’70s and ’80s by two loving midwestern parents amid a post hippy into yuppie era. Alas, they were spiritually defunct. Around kindergarten, I asked my mom to take me to different churches all over San Diego, and she obliged. Anytime I made a new friend that went to a church I had not yet discovered, I would invite myself along. I loved to sing, so the Pentecostal churches were often my favorite!
Challenges and Coming to Know the Lord
Unbeknownst to my family, I grew up in an area where toxins were dumped. I faced depression with constant suicidal ideation at a very early age. I cried out daily, “WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?” My heart hurt so badly, and I didn’t know who I was crying out to at that time. Yet, every time, I felt peace sweep through me. I felt safe.
By eleven years old, I asked Jesus into my heart at my best friend’s dining room table. I requested her mom to help me and asked if there was dancing in heaven. She said yes. I prayed to Jesus, and Jesus has never forsaken me. Through many scary experiences, divorces, health issues, spiritual attacks, JESUS IS THERE!
In 1991, my family and I moved to Montana, and I immediately felt at home. Youth groups and churches were abundant. On a typical Sunday, my 16-year-old self would drive on her own to Sunday School at a Baptist Church. I followed with regular service at the Wesleyan Church and finished with a visit to the Young Women’s studies at the Mormon church. Being fascinated with theology, I took seminary at the LDS church before school for two hours my entire Junior year. I wanted to understand my friend’s beliefs.
Into the Darkness
My family has unusual talents in both athletics and what some call ESP. Some people called me a “psychic.” At one point, I gave in to the term and turned away from Christ. I was so angry, and I allowed pressure to push me into publishing books based in the metaphysical field with an emphasis on witchcraft.
I gave into being so tired of not fitting in, without a teammate, and constant bullying. However, the gifts were confusing, and the world consisted of two camps: those who loved me and those who called me evil.
Cancer
In 2017, l hit the deck while choreographing a show. After marrying AGAIN, I received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. My new husband handed me his ring after my second round of chemo treatment. He said, “I’m sorry. I just can’t do this.” Another failure, I thought he was the one.
Unable to teach dance anymore after my diagnosis, I needed to find a new source of income. I already had an English Literature degree. However, there wasn’t much I could do with that in my immediate circumstances. I earned my Realtor license and have seen the sad state people are in spiritually.
Free Bible Training Curriculum at CLI: Into the Light
I faced challenges of chronic health issues, failed marriages, and a confused mind with contradictory statements from the world. My illness put me back in the Christ lane. I don’t want to leave it again! Jesus is saving me in body and soul.
I found the Christian Leaders Institute online. When I heard Professor Reyenga talk about spiritual gifting, my heart lifted. I desire to minister full time. I don’t know where I belong yet, but through this training, I know Christ’s plans for me will unveil. This Bible training curriculum is speaking to my soul in a way that I never knew ministry or seminary training could.
I recognize I have been called on many times, and I am in my contentment whenever I answer the call. I want to live my life for God. Witnessing unnecessary suffering affects me intensely. Jesus is always there!
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.