In the quiet moments of my life, as I reflect on my journey to Christian ministry, I am reminded of the profound and transformative experience that has shaped the course of my existence. It was a calling that I could not ignore, a divine whisper that gradually grew into a thunderous roar in the depths of my soul. Therefore, called to Christian Ministry, I searched for ministry training and found the Christian Leaders Institute. The tuition-free ministry and Bible courses are equipping me for my calling.
My Journey to Christian Ministry
My journey to Christian ministry began in my thirties. It was when my husband and I, with our two children, took a month to travel the country. While staying near the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee, we drove up to Cade’s Cove. We saw a little white chapel in the valley surrounded by fields. At that moment, I felt this strong desire to teach the Word of God, to share the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to dedicate my life to ministry.
At this time, there was a significant hindrance to my entering ministry. It was that I grew up in a very strict, faith-centered family. We attended church regularly, and I developed a wonderful foundation of belief in Christ. Throughout most of my life, I was unaware that the religion I was raised in was not a traditional Christian religion. Many teachings were contrary to the Bible. Women could not participate in any position in the church except to lead music for children or teach women under the very strict guidance of male leadership. Therefore, my heart sank. This powerful desire would never be realized in my life since I wholeheartedly believed in the religion of my upbringing.
My Journey Continued
As I entered my forties, I had questions about my religion and branched out. My beliefs started shifting. Eventually, I had the most powerful desire to study the New Testament. My faith completely shifted. The teachings of Jesus Christ became woven into the very fabric of my soul. Furthermore, I attended a Bible church online due to living outside a tiny town of about 400. I finally began to embrace Christianity wholeheartedly. It has been such a beautiful unfolding of God’s truth in my life that has lit a passion in me! I began to sense a deep connection to God’s Word and a desire to share it with others.
Throughout my adult life, I have spoken at private religious schools, youth groups, and other church activities. I have spoken in religious Sunday services dozens of times. Furthermore, I discovered that I absolutely love public speaking. Friends, family, and fellow church members often remarked on my natural ability to powerfully speak the Word of God, connect with people, and inspire them.
Called to Christian Ministry
Over the years that followed, I sought guidance from mentors and spiritual leaders within my church community. Their affirmation of my gifts and calling served as confirmation from God. However, it was not until a moment of deep reflection and prayer that I experienced an unshakable inner conviction. It was an undeniable sense that God was calling me to dedicate my life to Christian ministry.
With my calling confirmed, I embarked on the arduous yet deeply fulfilling path of ministry preparation. I delved into the study of Scripture, theology, and pastoral care. There were countless moments of spiritual growth, introspection, and prayer. During this time, I encountered challenges that tested my faith and commitment. However, they were also opportunities for growth and refinement. The lessons learned from these trials became an essential part of my ministry journey. They equip me with the empathy and wisdom needed to guide others.
I do have a desire to become a Pastor, but I also feel a strong call to women’s ministry. My journey to Christian ministry has been a sacred and fulfilling adventure. It tested my faith, deepened my relationship with God, and allowed me to impact the lives of countless individuals. Through the confirmation of mentors, the affirmation of my own heart, and the guidance of God, I have found my purpose in serving others and spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is a calling that has enriched my life in immeasurable ways and one that I am humbled and grateful to answer every day.
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.
Humble servant
I am Vadim P. Borodulin, currently residing in Moses Lake, a small town (approx. 25K) in the middle of Washington State. I moved here in 2005 when my wife and I tied the knot and promised each other, “Until death will separate us…” Today, we enjoy each other’s company and have five beautiful kids. The tuition-free Christian Ministry Leadership education at the Christian Leaders Institute is equipping me for my ministry calling from God.
My Story
Born in 1979, I grew up in the southern part of Ukraine, then called the USSR. My grandfather (my mom’s dad) suffered persecution and imprisonment for five years because he was a Christian. Further, he never turned his back on Christ but passionately passed his faith to his kids and grandkids.
In 1980, my father passed away. My mother never remarried. She raised five kids on her own. It wasn’t easy in a country where Christians were considered a low-level population that qualified for no benefits. However, she relied on God. I was fourth in our family and graduated from Ukrainian high school in 1994. Then, I went to college but didn’t graduate because we moved to the USA in 1998 to seek better opportunities.
God Called Me
When we moved to the USA, I came to a point where I stood at the fork. Do I serve God, or do I serve myself? It was a battle. Today, I am thankful to God because His voice was louder. It still is! In 1999, I gave my heart to Christ and was baptized in a Slavic church in Federal Way, WA. In 2003, God called me to ministry. I was a member of the Slavic Gospel Church of Federal Way. I was an active servant in youth ministry, homeless outreach, and worship ministry.
In 2004, I was an administrator for “Good Samaritan” Practical Missionary Bible School (three-month courses), Federal Way, WA. After PMBS was over, I went on a short mission trip to Ukraine and Russia, where I met my wife, Lyudmila, on a mission trip as well. After returning to the USA, we dated and married in August of 2005. We decided to reside in Moses Lake, where my wife is from (she was also born in Ukraine).
My wife’s dad is a father of 13 kids! He is also a senior pastor of Reconciliation Church (non-denominational, leaning to Pentecostal) in Moses Lake. We became members there and are active in youth and worship ministry. After completing the construction of our church building in 2013, the leaders chose me to be a deacon to oversee Sunday school and youth ministry. In 2022, I was ordained as an associate pastor (volunteer) of the same church.
Christian Ministry Leadership Education at CLI
Now almost 45, I need just a little more training in ministry. That’s when I came across the Christian Leaders Institute! So far, I know it will help me to be firm in my faith. Then, I can help others even more and do it right so Christ’s name is glorified! These free courses are a blessing! Throughout my life, I wanted to have a Christian ministry leadership education. However, I couldn’t afford it.
My kids – Maksim (17), Anna (15), Veronica (13), Nathaniel (9), and Jeremiah (3) – are growing up and showing interest in music. My wife homeschools our kids through middle school. She and I decided to invest in them so that they glorify our Savior with music. Maksim plays piano and cello, Anna plays piano and violin, Veronica plays piano and clarinet, and Nathaniel plays piano. As you can imagine, to come across free Christian ministry leadership courses and education, I screamed, “Thank you, Jesus!”
A favorite verse in the Bible for me is John 3:30, “He must become greater; I must become less.”
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 Testimony: God Qualifies the Called
I am from the United States of America. Looking for a Christian college to get a degree, I found the Christian Leaders Institute with its tuition-free Bible classes and ministry training.
My Early Years
Growing up in Portland, Oregon, religion was not only missing in our family, it was missing in our community. The examples around me were of the world, not of God. We were taught that Christians were “religious fanatics” and that discussing religion was rude. Further, to do so would inevitably marginalize someone else, and we were to pretend to care about that. Our goals were to represent a merit-based lifestyle. It was: go to school, get good grades, get into a good college (University or Ivy, preferably, of course), get a degree, have a shiny career where you will work your way up the corporate ladder, and then maybe have kids and show them how to repeat the cycle.
However, I felt alone and empty for as long as I can remember. I looked at the dreams my parents had for me and knew there had to be more. I knew my heart was missing something that seemed to be searching for me, too. Yet, I had no idea what it was or how to obtain it.
We were a low-income family with two working parents, one a hairdresser and the other a construction worker. Both had no college education. My parents’ good intentions landed me in an out-of-district school surrounded by the privileged families they desperately wanted me to conform to. I was like a fish out of water. So, I kept my head down and graduated high school with honors.
Changes and Challenges
Thankfully, Southern Oregon University accepted my application. It was the farthest college from home I could go to while still paying “in-state” tuition. For the first time in my life, I was no longer under the oppressive influence of my parents. It only took two semesters to realize I didn’t want to be there. But I also had no idea what I wanted. Furthermore, that emptiness still permeated my life.
Therefore, I dropped out of college, moved back to Portland, and got qualified to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Shortly afterward, I moved to California. I quickly married my boyfriend before he deployed with the United States Marine Corps. It was a common practice as the benefits were overwhelmingly favorable for married couples. As a young wife living in a new state with no community support and no life experience, I fell into a pattern of anxiety and depression. Our marriage never developed a strong connection as the effects of the deployments and wars took their toll. Just one year after our wedding, we filed for divorce.
Finding God
So, I moved back to my parents’ house and into my brother’s old bedroom (mine was a catch-all). I remember lying in bed and crying hysterically, believing this was all a result of my failures. Then, even though I had never prayed before, something called me to pray. I prayed for hours for help, love, forgiveness, and hope. Eventually, this calm came over me. I suddenly realized that having nothing left to lose would be so freeing! I needed to release myself from feeling obligated to live by anyone else’s will other than God’s. All of my actions going forward were to be a testament to Him. I would walk in atonement and never go a day without prayer and thanksgiving again.
Shortly after this revelation, I moved out and away from the toxic lifestyle I knew. I got a fantastic job where I met my future husband. We moved to a place more closely aligned with our values and started a family. We built a life of spiritual substance and raised our children in a relationship with God. I was a stay-at-home mom for years and was completely fulfilled in my role. But God was still pushing me to do more. To tell my story and give others the gift I had found through Him.
Bible Classes and Ministry Training at CLI
I always wanted to finish my degree. However, it wasn’t until the Christian Leaders Institute that I felt the connection between my goal and God’s will. Being a Christian Leader will enable me to make a small impact on repaying a debt I could never afford. The Bible classes and ministry training equip me for wherever God leads me.
At first, I felt utterly unqualified and ashamed of my past to pursue this life. However, when I feel this way, I remember 1 Corinthians 2:1-5: “When I came to you, brothers and sisters, announcing the mystery of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom. I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.” It’s simple: God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called!
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.