I am “Rick,” Richard D. Price, and I live in Purcell, Oklahoma, United States of America. My story covers many states and countries. Because of that, I will shorten it to fit what is going on now. There isn’t anything special about me, except that I am a disciple of Christ and love my Lord and Savior. I have a great desire to serve Him and others for His glory. Therefore, I am at the Christian Leaders Institute studying courses for ministry and ordination.
My History
I am sixty-four years old. Born in Reedley, California, I moved to Texas at the age of five or six months. I also lived in New Mexico and Australia while growing up. Then, I moved back to California a month before turning seventeen. I lived with my father for about a year before joining the US Army. I dropped out of high school to enlist in the service. After seven years and three months, I ended active duty. A year later, I joined the Army National Guard and then retired after sixteen years.
As I think more about this, I was baptized in the Catholic Church when I was seven years of age to pass first grade in a Catholic school. Then, I had to undergo their catechism curriculum to proceed to the next grade. I believe that Jesus died for my sins then and still do. I became a believer in Christ Jesus around the age of fourteen. Sadly, I did not walk the walk, nor did I try to make others believe in Christ during the following years. When I was eighteen, I wanted to experience all the world had to offer.
While growing up, I went to church on my own. That started when I was about eleven. I went to different churches and denominations. The non-denominational and Pentecostal churches resonated with me the most. Therefore, I am more apostolic in the way I minister.
My Marriage and Surrender
I met the girl I later married when I was fifteen. She was my best friend’s younger sister. I visited her on leave while on active duty and then married her. We were married for thirty-seven years before she passed away in our home. I remarried shortly afterward to a wonderful and smart woman. It has been over seven years and going strong in Christ Jesus. If it was not for our faith and Jesus, I would not be here.
My story is long and covers many years and states and countries. In March of 1995, I told the Lord in a prayer that if He would remove the addiction of tobacco from me, I would serve Him for the rest of my years. In March of 1996, I fully surrendered my life to the Lord. It is an awesome thing when the Lord delivers a person from anything. I have been serving Him since.
Courses for Ministry and Ordination
My dream is to grow deeper in God and share and lead others to Christ. I want to lead them to a deeper relationship with Christ Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. It is through the Christian Leaders Institute and Alliance that I have the programs and courses for ministry and ordination. Being able to take these free courses is a blessing as I am on a fixed income.
I am fully retired and on a fixed income. I never received any true college courses or a degree. However, the degree of hard knocks I have mastered in. I have taken some courses with CLI, and now I am taking courses for ministry, licensing, and ordination to continue with the burning in my heart to serve and minister overseas. I looked at other resources but the cost was out of my reach. CLI put things in reach for me! The free courses are not easy. I must pay attention and do a lot of good reading. However, I am thankful for this study opportunity!
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 Denise R. Jones, from Maryland, USA. I have a B.S. in Business Administration. Having a Chaplain ministry dream, I found a free education opportunity online at the Christian Leaders Institute.
My Story
I grew up in a Christian home, and my father was a minister. He was adamant about Christian education in the home, and formal schooling for his seven children. We learned early to participate in church and school programs by reciting Bible verses, singing, and sharing what we learned through Bible stories. Growing up, I have always served a role in the church including teaching youth and adult Bible study classes, assisting in youth programs, and serving as church secretary/clerk.
My parents separated and then divorced when I was 12 years old. I was the oldest of seven children. The family split and moved to my father’s hometown in Louisiana for a year, and then we moved to Texas. It was not easy. I did not have a pleasant childhood because I had to help raise four younger sisters. I returned to Maryland in my early twenties. My purpose was to reconnect with my mother with whom I had no contact for eight years. That also was a major challenge.
Marriage and Divorce
I married and had a son by the age of twenty-six. My husband was a Christian. However, we were both naïve about how to make the relationship work. We did not know how to get productive, practical marriage counseling, nor did we have any good role models to rely on. So, our marriage ended in divorce ten years later.
After the divorce, I prayed and leaned on God for support. Devastated, I felt like a failure because I could not succeed where my parents failed in keeping a family together. I also needed support to raise my son and move on with life.
Learning the True Character of God
In my early church experience, I learned about a God of discipline and judgment, not a God of love. However, I attended a Christian University in Texas where I studied in a class that taught the Gospels. The professor was so passionate about Jesus Christ – His wisdom, teachings, and empathy for the oppressed. I hung onto every text in my lessons and found myself drawn to Jesus. It was through the study of Jesus that I learned the true character of God.
Therefore, in my challenges with relationships, employment, financial difficulties, and depression, I called on the Lord. I learned that He was dependable and could give me peace in a way that no human could. He revealed in the Bible that He was with other people like me and provided me with resources and confirmations that He was indeed with me. My personal time with the Lord was amazing. I felt the Holy Spirit letting me know that it would be all right.
I desire to share my story and passion for the Word of God. The Bible is exciting to me. It can be a true means of freedom for the confused and downtrodden. People need to learn about Jesus and ask Him for wisdom and understanding.
Chaplain Ministry Dream
I have a Chaplain ministry dream. My desire is to use my training in organizations that need positive, ethical resources for employees. I have worked in institutions that seemed clueless about working out personal and cultural difficulties. God is calling me for such a purpose. My environment among personal and church peers encourages spiritual growth and personal development. They applaud my ambition to train for Chaplain ministry leadership according to God’s calling.
Paying for my college tuition was an uphill battle. Therefore, I left it in God’s hands. He rewarded my faith by forgiving the debt. Even while waiting for God’s answer, I boldly asked for a free education opportunity. John 16:24 says, “Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” The blessing was granted to find the Christian Leaders Institute because the free ministry training will be used to glorify God!
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.
From Confusion to Faith and Hope
Hi. My name is Ramon Everd. I am a student at the Christian Leaders Institute for free ministry and biblical study online. I live in the north of the Netherlands, in a small village called, De Rijp, with my wife and our three-year-old daughter. The village is well known for its beauty and authenticity with the small streets, monument houses, and little tourist shops. Especially in wintertime, it is truly a delight to the eye.
My Wrestlings
When I was little, my sister and I grew up with the Christian faith for some time. But after a while, the religion changed to a kind of Hinduïsm. And there were also occult happenings going on in the house. It was confusing, but as a child, I did not know any better than to follow along. Our mother died at a very young age. I was only nine years old then. Later my step-dad placed me out of the house. After that, it was not long until I lost my faith. Until my twenty-fourth year, I searched for meaning and wrestled with questions about life.
Life Changed
Then, I came to such a deep point in life that I really didn’t know what to do anymore. Then, I remembered the Christian faith of my youth after someone handed a little tract to me. That is when I asked Christ to help me, and He really turned my life around. From then on, I wanted to serve Him and please Him. Therefore, I sought to make a real difference in the lives of the people around me. I wanted to leave a holy spiritual fingerprint behind that would last forever.
However, my journey was not without obstacles. I had to learn to face some control issues that I had. Also, becoming a husband and a dad made me realize that there is more to life than just me. It made me come to the understanding that my journey of faith is not only for me. The things that I learn along the way are to be passed on to others, such as our little daughter.
My Hope Now: Ministry and Biblical Study at CLI
By learning as a student at the Christian Leaders Institute with its ministry training, I hope to fulfill my true purpose in Christian leadership by reaching many souls and teaching them to serve the Lord Jesus.
Christian Leaders Institute is a great blessing for me. Our income is not great. Therefore, being able to study at CLI for free is what I need. It is a great opportunity for me to get into some serious ministry and biblical study. It is really a blessing for me to have found such a ministry online as CLI. 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.