From Broken to Beautiful Through God’s Grace
My name is Rika Mostert. I am called to life coach ministry and more! That is why I am a student at the Christian Leaders Institute.
My husband and I live in the scenic, small coastal village of Betty’s Bay in the Western Cape, South Africa. After living in the semi-desert for nine years, I now enjoy the mountains’ steadfastness and the ocean’s many faces!
My Story
I grew up with loving parents as the second of four children. I was the girly girl of the three sisters, thriving within the space of girly things – ballet, books, dancing, dresses, makeup, and modeling – what more could a girl want?
We grew up in a Christian home. My mom’s faith is something to behold. Our lives were filled with love and faith, which made all the traumas more bearable. My father was never healthy. However, he was a great sport with a fabulous sense of humor. He was declared medically unfit for work at the age of 40. However, with four kids, he kept working different jobs to support us. He died at 51. My sister battled the same disease but with much worse consequences. She died at the age of 41. We learned to appreciate time and relationships. We battled our doubts and loss but always found God’s grace.
Marriage Journey
After matriculating, I studied teaching and obtained a HED teacher’s diploma. During this time, I also married the man of my heart at age 21. Still happily married, we have two fabulous kids. Both were adopted since we could not have our own. Being married to an outdoorsy, practical guy also brought out a different side of this girly girl. I also love farm life, weird pets, and bugs!
We’ve had an eventful marriage. Our love is forged as we walk through the hot spots of life. We’ve had our joys, growths, do-overs, start-overs, hurts and healings.
Healing Women to Beauty & Joy through Grace
I am a grace coach, inspirational speaker, training facilitator, personal growth enthusiast, image consultant, and lover of bright and colorful things. I did not come quickly to this purpose. Furthermore, starting with a statement of who I am might seem like a sell. However, being confident in who I am and who God made me to be is the culmination of decades of growth.
Even though I grew up in a beautiful, loving home with awesome, God-loving, nurturing parents, I still struggled for years with excessive low self-esteem and low self-worth. Now, I know that this was a ploy of the enemy to steal my identity through trauma. Also, sometimes we are our own worst enemy, right?
I’m passionate about helping women discover, embrace, and love their unique, colorful designs. Further, I equip them to embrace the life God dreams for them. Since I have grown from a shy, insecure, and cautious young woman into the person I am now, I have experienced first-hand that living wholeheartedly, with courage and joy, is not only fabulously possible but also non-negotiable.
Following God’s Plan By Grace
I always knew that God had a plan for me to pay forward to other women what I had learned about my value and worth. I saw people hurting and felt ill-equipped to help. However, by His grace, God has equipped me through the years. My desire to make a difference in women’s lives led me to become an internationally qualified image consultant in 2001. For years, that was enough.
However, dreams grow as people grow. Therefore, after much personal growth and a big move to the Kalahari (my desert season), I wanted to do more. I found purpose in becoming an accredited mentor in 2018 and continued life coaching. Then God took me on a “purpose discovery journey” with the explicit task of healing women to beauty and joy through God’s grace and equipping. Wow!
By Grace and For Grace
We are designed BY grace and FOR grace as much as we are created for love and belonging. Each of us has an inherent God-given design. We are all gifted, and our gifting has its unique, beautiful, life-giving language that is our gift to the world. My greatest joy is supporting women in finding their voice and expressing their grace language – the language of their hearts.
I spent the last few years delving deeper into the revelation of God’s grace, combining that with design, neuroscience, growth science, and Biblical truths. I found my unique way of coaching and supporting women towards wholeness – my own “grace language,” so to speak. Hence, “Grace coach” is used for my not-so-ordinary coaching. I love coaching, workshops, conferences, and inspirational talks.
Live Brave
Out of my self-discovery journey and experiences, I developed an in-depth self-esteem course. It is called LIVE BRAVE. Through it, I seek to assist women to live with courage and joy.
Together with my sister, I co-create and co-present Warrior Women Camps. We go where God leads us and have had the privilege of reaching the hearts of more than 300 women in the last two years. I even had the privilege to do a few sermons in our church, which I loved. I know God has a bigger plan for me.
However, there is still more for me to learn to minister to women and to equip the church. Then, we can exponentially help more people become whole and find the kaleidoscope of their beautiful design out of their broken pieces. That is why I am part of the Christian Leaders Institute. Life Coach Ministry is just a start for me, and then I’ll see where God leads me.
WHY CLI? – For Life Coach Ministry and More Study
Life has a way to force growth and change with its unexpected curve balls. My husband was severely injured at work in 2021. They were patient with his recovery up to a point. However, after nine years, they let him go from his job. So, we had to move out of our desert season. It was a big new start for us, with only me working. He was still busy with his recovery process. Only last year did he start earning a part-time income again. We also had a son studying, and we’re paying off that loan.
Within this new season, I can not afford to study full-time or pay the fees for a course. However, I’m desperate to grow and learn. Therefore, the Christian Leaders Institute perfectly fits me, and I am so grateful! I need to be more equipped for the task at hand in our local church. So, the Life Coach Ministry courses and more ministry training courses are equipping me for this new season.
God is so great in His love and grace. After a long road, we are finding feet and purpose, not just for me but for my husband. We trust our Father to align our gifts and purposes beautifully to do what He plans for us to do collectively. God has also called my hubby to use his gifts in Zambia. So, very soon, our lives might change again, and together, we will fulfill that calling.
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling you in the Getting Started Class at the Christian Leaders Learning Platform. The Getting Started class will take you less than an hour to complete.
When you log in to the Learning Platform, you will notice that the Getting Started Class automatically appears on your dashboard.
The Getting Started Class will orientate you to the Christian Leaders Learning Platform and the Programs offered, including:
- Ministry Awards, Certificates, Diplomas, and Degrees with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- Minister Credentialling (Ordination) with the Christian Leaders Alliance, including local Soul Center registration possibilities.
Note: You can enroll in tuition-free courses or mini-courses immediately without finishing the getting started class.
Find out more about women in ministry here.
Becoming a wedding officiant is a noble pursuit that allows you to play a significant role in a couple’s special day. However, navigating the diverse officiant requirements states or nations impose can be pretty complex. Each jurisdiction has its own set of rules and regulations that dictate who is eligible to officiate weddings. In this chapter, we will emphasize the importance of comprehending these location-specific requirements, and we will also provide links to articles detailing the unique requirements for each state in the United States.
Understanding State Officiant Requirements
The initial step in your journey toward becoming a wedding officiant is understanding the distinct requirements established by your state or nation. Some regions have relatively lenient prerequisites, therefore making it reasonably uncomplicated to officiate weddings. In contrast, others may have stringent criteria, such as the necessity of obtaining a government-issued license, affiliating with a specific organization, or fulfilling particular educational or training mandates.
For example, in Nevada, officiating weddings is relatively straightforward, thanks to the “one-time marriage commissioner” designation available for specific ceremonies. Conversely, in New York, one must be a registered minister with a recognized religious organization or a judge to officiate weddings legally. These discrepancies between locations underscore the necessity of a reliable resource that can guide you through the intricacies of each jurisdiction’s requirements.
Christian Leaders Institute: Comprehensive Training and Support
Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) distinguishes itself from online ordination mills that merely grant instant credentials. CLI strongly emphasizes proper ministry training and provides a comprehensive educational approach. The program equips participants with the essential skills, knowledge, and confidence required to officiate wedding ceremonies with integrity and competence. CLI ensures that you serve the couples who entrust you with their special day well.
Navigating State-Specific Requirements
CLI recognizes the paramount importance of adhering to the specific requirements of individual states or nations and offers invaluable guidance to assist you in meeting them. The program educates participants about each location’s unique legalities and regulations. Through personalized support and an array of resources, CLI ensures that aspiring wedding officiants know and meet the distinctive requirements of their chosen jurisdiction.
You won’t be navigating these requirements in isolation when you embark on this journey with CLI. Their dedicated team is readily available to assist you in comprehending and complying with state or national laws, streamlining the process and making it less intimidating.
Christian Leaders Alliance: Recognized Credibility
One of the standout features of CLI’s program is its affiliation with the Christian Leaders Alliance (CLA). CLA offers recognition and credibility within the Christian community, setting you apart from the online-only approach commonly associated with ordination mills. Membership in CLA is tangible evidence of your commitment to comprehensive training and local endorsement, adding legitimacy to your ordination process.
By choosing CLI and CLA, you are not merely another online-ordained officiant but a member of a broader Christian community dedicated to the sanctity and significance of marriage ceremonies.
The Importance of Legitimacy
While the allure of online-only ordination mills may be tempting, it is imperative to consider the significance of legitimacy. Wedding ceremonies are cherished and deeply personal moments in people’s lives, and couples deserve assurance that their chosen officiant possesses the necessary training, knowledge, and credibility.
By selecting CLI and CLA, aspiring wedding officiants can offer a professional and reputable service that upholds the sanctity and significance of marriage ceremonies. This steadfast commitment to legitimacy ensures that you provide couples with an unforgettable and profoundly meaningful experience on their special day.
To assist you further in your journey, we have provided links to articles detailing the specific requirements for each state in the United States.
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Become a Wedding Officiant in California
How to Get Ordained in California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Become a Wedding Officiant in Florida
Georgia
Become a Wedding Officiant in Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Get Ordained in North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Get Ordained in South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Becoming a Tennessee Wedding Officiant
Officiate a Wedding in Tennessee
Texas
Become a Wedding Officiant in Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
God bless you, in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! My name is Fred R. Wilson, III. Born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina, I currently reside in Chesapeake, Virginia. Further, I am thankful for the tuition-free biblical ministry courses at the Christian Leaders Institute.
Early Encounters with God
Born into sin, I experienced God in my life at the early age of ten. As a young boy, God revealed himself to me in many ways. Around the age of eleven, there was a school bus driver who parked his bus not far from my bedroom window. I used to hear the bus as it departed and arrived back. One cold morning, the driver had difficulty starting the bus. As it was still early in the morning, the more he attempted to get the bus started, the more irritated I got. I then said in my head, “God, if you are real, make that bus start.” On the bus driver’s next attempt, the bus started, and I have believed in God since!
Generational Legacy
I come from a family of ministers and deacons. My grandfather was a deacon, and my father now serves as a minister. I officially received Christ into my life in 1988 at my place of employment. I asked Christ into my life after living in sin and seeing family members and friends die at an early age.
Tuition-Free Biblical Ministry Courses at CLI
In 1989, I joined the Navy. While serving on active duty, I assisted chaplains as a volunteer leader. During my many deployments, I taught Bible study classes and sang in the choir and men’s choir. After the required training, I served as a deacon at my local church. As a deacon, I serve communion, teach, and learn the Word of God, to name a few. I’ve volunteered to help raise money for many fund-raising events, including feeding the homeless.
The Christian Leaders Institute has opened my spiritual eyes. Thank you for these ministry and biblical courses. I have new goals and new horizons as I continue to walk with God and carry out His plan for my life!
Faithfulness Amid Imperfection
By no means am I perfect, but even when I am faithless, God remains faithful. I am still growing in Christ and patiently awaiting His next assignment. God bless!
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling you in the Getting Started Class at the Christian Leaders Learning Platform. The Getting Started class will take you less than an hour to complete.
When you log in to the Learning Platform, you will notice that the Getting Started Class automatically appears on your dashboard.
The Getting Started Class will orientate you to the Christian Leaders Learning Platform and the Programs offered, including:
- Ministry Awards, Certificates, Diplomas, and Degrees with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- Minister Credentialling (Ordination) with the Christian Leaders Alliance, including local Soul Center registration possibilities.
Note: You can enroll in tuition-free courses or mini-courses immediately without finishing the getting started class.
Find out more about women in ministry here.