Hello, my name is Rodney Coffey, and this is the story of my spiritual journey. It is also how I discovered the Christian Leaders Institute and Christian Leaders Alliance for ministry training and ordination credentials. I’m from the state of Kentucky in the USA. I have two beautiful daughters, six wonderful grandchildren, and one awesome wife.
My Youth
I grew up in Osceola County, Florida. My Christian mother and father ensured that living for the Lord was essential. Our family attended a small country church in St Cloud, Florida. As a teenager, I was active in our youth group at our church. At 14, I gave my heart and life to the Lord. However, I sadly returned to my old life and walked away from the will of God and the church.
My Marriage
After being away from the church for a few years, my mother invited me to attend a fall festival at the church. Out of respect for my mother, I went to the event. It was one of the best decisions that I ever made. That night, I ran into an old girlfriend from Middle School. She also attended the same church and was no longer the little girl I once knew. She was the most beautiful woman that I’d ever seen. We started talking after that night, later dating, and married a year later.
After we married, we moved to Kentucky to start a new life together. One Easter Sunday, we went to church with my parents. We both found ourselves at the altar, giving our hearts and lives to Jesus Christ. We were baptized a few weeks later.
Shortly after, I went to the police academy to start a law enforcement career, and my wife returned to college. A few years later, we moved to another church and became the youth leaders. There, we served for ten years. Then we returned to our old church. My mother and father and the rest of the family still attended there.
My Calling Journey
For many years, I felt God was calling me into the ministry. At a youth concert, the Lord showed me that I would someday preach the gospel. Quite frankly, it scared me. Therefore, I continued to put the Lord off. I said, “Lord, if you let me finish this, I’ll do it then; if you let me get my retirement in, I’ll do it then.” I always made excuses.
After retiring from law enforcement, I had an excellent opportunity to visit India with my pastor for a 10-day mission trip. Shortly after I returned, I was offered a job with the new governor as the state’s law enforcement director for Fish and Wildlife and Boating. Again, I used this to put off my calling.
During my time with this job, I spent much time traveling and talking to the Lord. He started to give me messages in my heart, and I began studying in a different direction. I was uncertain why God was giving me these messages. One day, I finally told the Lord, “Okay, Lord, I will give this message if I’m ever asked to give it.” I believed no one would ever ask me to preach because I’m not a preacher.
My Calling Realized
However, my youngest daughter was planning our youth campout two weeks later. Kidding around, she said, “Who will give the word at the campfire service this year? Hey, Dad, why don’t you give the word?” When I said okay, she almost fell over. So, I gave my first message at that campfire service that weekend. It was the message that I had been preaching to myself for months.
Shortly after that, our pastor took a church in Western Kentucky, which left us without a pastor. The board asked if I would manage the church until they could replace the pastor. So I was filling in preaching some and having visitor preachers come in. The Lord showed me that I was to be the next pastor of our church. A few months later, the church voted me in as the pastor of Dayspring A Church Alive. It is the same church where my wife and I were saved and baptized together.
Ministry Training and Ordination Credentials from CLI and CLA
However, coming from a law enforcement background and not a ministry background, I needed to further my education in ministry. I also wanted to be ordained and get ordination credentials from the local board of my church and the Christian Leaders Institute and Christian Leaders Alliance.
My wife and I have been leading the church for six years now. It’s a calling that I could never do without her by my side. The Lord brought us together many years ago and prepared us through life to get where we are now. She has also recently taken the position of our food pantry director. Two years ago, we built a 2400-square-foot food pantry, and we’re now feeding over 300 families a month. We also started the Dayspring Christian Academy homeschool program, where we currently have 40 students.
I don’t know what the future holds for our ministry. However, I believe that the ordination credentials I received from the Christian Leaders Institute and Alliance increase confidence and open new doors and ministry opportunities in the future. Thank you, CLI and CLA!
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.
Hello and God bless!! My name is Sean A. Allen. I am an ordained elder seeking a ministry degree education at the Christian Leaders Institute.
My Journey of Faith
I was born and raised and currently reside in Pontiac, MI, just 30 minutes outside of the great city of Detroit. I am a proud veteran of the United States Army Military Police Corps, where I served for eight years. Although God told my mother while I was in the womb that I would be called to ministry, it was during my term as a soldier serving in Korea that I answered The Lord’s call of salvation for my life.
After completing my term of military service in 1999, I returned to Michigan. Soon after, the leaders installed me as a minister within the “True Church House of Prayer” denomination. There I served as a Sunday School Superintendent for six years. In 2005, I joined the prestigious “Church Of God In Christ ” organization. They ordained me as an elder. I also continued my ministry as a Sunday School teacher/Superintendent. In 2009, my journey brought me to the “Church of God Sanctified.” I served there as a Sunday School Teacher, an associate minister, and an interim pastor.
Finding CLI for a Ministry Degree Education
Teaching the Bible and Christian apologetics has always been my passion. I studied these fields for many years. However, I never attended a seminary or a Bible College. So imagine my surprise when I discovered the Christian Leaders Institute with its ministry and apologetics courses. Furthermore, it is literally a few cities over from where I live in Michigan.
So far, the courses are an added blessing to what I’ve already learned on my faith journey. I look forward to the day when I can say that I have my ministry degree after further education at CLI! Please be in prayer for me as I continue on this journey. Thank you!
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.
Ministry Calling Is Not To Be Denied
Hello, my name is Bill Lloyd. I reside in Colorado with my wonderful wife of 31 years, Janna. We have four incredible children. Recently, my daughter and her fiance asked me to officiate their wedding. Therefore, I am becoming a licensed wedding officiant through training at the Christian Leaders Institute.
My Calling Journey
I grew up in NE Pennsylvania. Baptized as an infant in the Catholic church, I attended 12 years of Catholic grade school and high school. I knew who Jesus was, His birth, life, miracles, death, and resurrection. However, I never spent my time in the Word, nor did I have a personal relationship with Jesus. I went on to obtain my engineering degree and quit attending church, though I know now that God wasn’t through with me.
Fast forward to 1992, I am 33 years old, recently married, and my wife is pregnant with our first child. At 26 weeks, she suddenly went into preterm labor. It became so severe they admitted her to the hospital on complete bed rest and constant injections of terbutaline to stop the contractions. Blood work confirmed our baby’s lung development was not sufficient.
God at Work
After six weeks of battling contractions, injections, and our baby’s insistence on making an early entrance, I found myself at the door of the hospital chapel. I knew we needed divine intervention. So, on my knees, I made a promise to God. I said, “Lord, if you let us have this baby, I promise to return him as an angel to you.” That might seem like a somewhat silly prayer. However, God heard my sincere plea for His gracious intervention. Our healthy son, Conner, entered the world two days later, but God wasn’t done.
Six months later, I took a job for a friend of mine in Montana. I didn’t know he and his family were Christians at the time. Since my family and home were still in Colorado, he invited me to stay with them while we looked for our new house. With that came prayer at meals and attending church. Most importantly, there were late-night talks about God and Jesus and Bible readings. These ultimately led me to accept Christ as my Lord and Savior and have a new life in Him. Janna grew up in a Christian home. Therefore, we began our “newness” in Christ with our family.
God’s Calling
Fast forward to 2023. Now retired, and several things recently made me realize that God is calling me to glorify Him in other ways. I had been asked to read scripture in church temporarily at first. However, recently, they asked me to take over that ministry.
Then, after church one Sunday, a sister in Christ asked if I would officiate her father-in-law’s funeral. My spontaneous response was, “Oh, no, Sally. I’ve never done that before and don’t feel remotely qualified to do that.” She was disappointed. Then, as she continued to talk with Janna, I heard clearly from God, “Yes, you will, Bill. You will use this to bring glory to my name and tell others about Me.” She burst into tears when I abruptly told Sally I would do it. It was exciting and honoring to bring glory to Jesus and hope to a large group of hurting people.
Becoming a Licensed Wedding Officiant
Shortly after that, my daughter and her fiancé said they wanted to be married in Mexico. I had spent 27 years dreading how much I would lose my composure when my daughter married. However, at that point, God once again spoke to me. He told me I was to officiate her wedding to bring Him glory and to ensure they were married in His sight. What a blessing! We are all so excited for this. I’m pretty sure He’ll help me hold it together!
We often hear that God works in mysterious ways. However, if we are obedient and join Him in the work He calls us to, it may be mysterious, but it sure is exciting! For this reason, I am studying at the Christian Leaders Institute. I am becoming a Licensed Christian wedding officiant through the ministry training course at CLI. Who knows where else God will lead this obedient servant?!
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.