Good day, everyone. I am Amalia Agbulos Servando, a mother of four boys and a student at the Christian Leaders Institute. The opportunity to study Bible and ministry at CLI is a beautiful gift for me at this time in my life.
My husband is a seaman, and we live a good and peaceful life here in the Philippines. The Lord is very good to us. He allowed my children to finish school without any problem. Three of my children graduated with a bachelor’s in marine transportation at the Philippine Maritime Institute. The youngest graduated with a bachelor’s in air transportation/aeronautics at PATTS College of Aeronautics. That is a big thanks to our LORD and Savior, who tirelessly guides our family.
All my children have their own families now, and they have given us cute, intelligent grandchildren. I pray my children will have a personal relationship with our Father in Heaven and that the Father will guide and bless them in their married life. Also, I pray that He will keep everyone in my family from harm, especially my husband and children, who are often onboard international ships at sea.
My Journey with Our LORD
I met and found our Lord when I was in high school. I attended a Christian fellowship with a classmate, Jesus is Lord Fellowship. At a young age, I met Him and accepted him as my Savior and Lord. I became busy with many things when I finished college with a BS in accounting at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in 1988. I came to a point where I could no longer attend the fellowship due to lack of time. However, I never missed reading my Bible and praying at night before and after bed. My life was not easy when I got married and had children, especially with my husband at sea. It came to the point that I had to sacrifice my career to care for our children.
The Great Opportunity to Study Bible and Ministry at CLI
In October of 2023, someone called me. They knew my name and asked me to be an officer in our homeowner’s association. That someone became a friend. She believes in Jesus and is part of POM – Patotoo Online Ministry. Interested, I watched the daily devotion online and became part of it under the leadership of Pastor Erwin Noriega. It is through the POM ministry that I found the Christian Leaders Institute.
Being with CLI, I enjoy free Christian learning. Further, I am a student again, a scholar. A week of my free study program here also brings much joy to my heart. I finished my first course, the Christian Basics: Introduction to Christian Doctrine, and a short course in Multiplying Christian Leaders. I am working on my second 3 credit course, The Christian Leaders Connection, and a short course, Ministry Calling and Confidence.
CLI gives me the competence and confidence I need. I learned the importance of my walk with God, my marriage, and my family’s walk with Him. Furthermore, this learning makes me a better example for anyone: people I know in our community and the people looking at how our family is doing. Thanks to the Father and CLI for this excellent opportunity to study the Bible and Ministry!
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.
My name is Sebastian Franitza, and I’m from Kansas City, Missouri. I recently moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to follow God’s calling for my life’s career and ministry. Over the past few years, God completely changed my life and showed me things I never thought possible. I am also studying at the Christian Leaders Institute for the Field Minister training.
My Journey
Since I was a child, I was an avid shortwave listener and electronics hobbyist. I was fascinated with electronics as far back as I can recall. I began building basic circuits, radios, and transmitting equipment in the 3rd and 4th grades. The local Radio Shack became my favorite hangout spot. My passion for radio and electronics grew throughout my teenage years, and I got my first Amateur Radio license when I was 15.
I grew up in a Christian household and made a profession of faith at the age of 9. However, I did not fully dedicate my life to Christ until years later while attending college at DeVry. The idea of working in Christian Radio was a long-time passion of mine. However, my college and career choices did not initially reflect this calling.
Spiritual Growth
As a young and immature believer, I did things my way. Despite this, every job experience God placed in my path contributed to my current calling somehow. Things began to happen when I prayerfully surrendered to God’s calling for my life. After much prayer and meditation, I heard from God that this was my chosen direction. In obedience, I am stepping out in faith to accept God’s calling. A calling that He had laid on my heart long ago.
I currently work as an engineer for an extensive Christian radio network and oversee several Indiana/Ohio/Michigan stations. In my travels, I have gotten into many spiritual discussions with strangers who need encouragement. I also felt the calling to become an ordained minister for a while now. In a recent conversation with a gentleman in a hotel lobby, he asked if I was a minister. Shocked at first, I didn’t know what to say. So I shook my head and said, “No, just a follower of Christ.” It hit me right then! God wants me to be more and to “study to show myself approved.”
Field Minister Training at CLI
My three most vital spiritual gifts are exhortation, prophecy, and discernment. I am a willing student. However, I need to be sharpened before I can be effective. I see myself as becoming an official lay pastor. I am interested in the Field Minister training program here at the Christian Leaders Institute. Part of what interested me was that I could take classes for free online and earn credits towards a pastoral degree in my spare time. I already see that the resources here are invaluable in this endeavor, especially since my schedule does not allow me to attend a traditional seminary.
God has called me to preach and encourage believers and non-believers alike. He has called me to evangelize and share His good news.
I will likely write more about this later, but to do so would require me to write a book. Yes, God may be calling me to write a few books. I can’t wait to see where all of this is going. I must trust Him and the visions and dreams He has given me these past few years. They are from Him because the daily scripture I read constantly affirms that they are His messages and directions for my life. Other believers in my life also affirm them during our times of fellowship!
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.
Called to Teaching Ministry – God’s Plan is Best
My name is Sondra Michelle Feser, and I live in Joppa, Maryland. God called me to a teaching ministry early in my life. Now, I need a ministry certificate to serve. The Christian Leaders Institute will train and help me on my teaching ministry path.
Called to Teach
I am in my fifties, and looking back at how God has moved in my life, I could probably write a book. I heard the gospel as a child and accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior just before I turned nine. It seems no coincidence that two of the things I was attracted to most at the time God has developed in His way and for His purposes. I wanted to be a teacher, and I enjoyed crochet.
After graduating high school, I went to college and earned an Associate of Arts degree from a local community college. I intended to transfer to a university in the area and pursue a teaching degree. My husband and I married the same year I received my AA degree. My husband and I were working full-time, and the expense of pursuing a bachelor’s degree was not in our budget. Further, my workplace paid for classes only related to business. I planned to earn a business degree, move into a more well-paid position, and continue working toward a teaching degree.
When I became pregnant with our first child, my plans changed. It became less expensive for me to become a stay-at-home mom. This event set me on the path of being the teacher God wanted me to be. I became both a Sunday School teacher and a homeschool mom. My husband and I (now married for over 30 years) eventually had four children. I gained experience teaching Sunday School for all ages as my children grew and homeschooled for a total of twenty-two years.
God’s Plan is Best
My hobby of crocheting may seem insignificant, but God does tend to use small things. During my years at home, I increased my skills. I joined a crochet guild and became a Master of Advanced Stitches and Techniques. Mostly, I crochet for charity, making hats for children and the homeless, blankets for local pregnancy resource centers, prayer shawls, and other items for my church. I even taught crochet at my church to increase the number of hats and mittens to give to those in need.
I still teach Sunday School for adults. My passion is to disciple new believers and those young in the faith. I desire to help ground my students in Biblical principles, teach them how to study the scriptures for themselves, and see how God’s word applies to all areas of their lives. Sadly, the paper ceiling, not having a degree or credentials, affects the ability of those who feel called to advance in their service. I hope to obtain a certificate in ministry at the Christian Leaders Institute. It will help me pursue a path of educating others in my church and even using my crochet work to reach even more people outside the church in a novel way.
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.