My name is Joni Stephenson. I’m from North Carolina and married with a son and stepdaughter. God led me to continue my education at the Christian Leaders Institute for ministry courses and credentials. I want to do the Lord’s work wherever He may lead. I teach Sunday school and lead the youth at my local church.
My Journey
I came to know the Lord in my small hometown Baptist Church. My parents raised me to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I always felt the pull of God on my heart throughout my life. Even in my teens and early 20s, I knew the Lord was keeping me in His grip to accomplish His will. I fought it and ignored the seriousness of the calling until now. The Lord needed me to mature spiritually before I could lead others.
Ministry Courses and Credentials at CLI and CLA
So, now I’m in my 40s, I want to take a serious dive into finding out what my true calling is. I always felt a strong urge to teach. Therefore, I am eager to keep studying and letting the Lord lead me where He will. By God’s grace and mercy, my training with the Christian Leaders Institute and credentialing with the Christian Leaders Alliance will show that I want to work for the Lord with all my heart.
As I write this, I want to mention that I was not as diligent as my parents in raising my son. They did not waiver in their faith or rules to keep my soul safe. However, I pray that my son has learned the importance of God in his life. Further, I want to continue to lead him in the right direction even though I was slack in reinforcing Godly principles in his younger years. God is merciful and gracious!
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.
God Makes The Plan
Praise God that I found my dream path and minister calling and training at the Christian Leaders Institute (CLI). Hello, I am Fiteau Jardinier. Here is my spiritual journey leading up to my minister calling and the opportunity to answer the call through training at CLI.
My Journey
I am from Haiti, where we have faced difficult situations for several years. I am from the Southeast part of the country, in the second section of the Jacmel Valley. Since 2020, I have been living in Port-au-Prince with my aunt. My job is as a worker in a church in the Delmas community.
My family is Protestant. I have six siblings, and I am the second youngest. My father is a gospel preacher involved in farming, and my mother is a merchant. I grew up in church and engaged in spiritual activities from a young age. However, it didn’t truly reflect in life or a close relationship with God. I went to church and prayed out of routine but had never been touched by the Holy Spirit. That experience happened when I decided not to go to church anymore. I met two brothers from my church who accompanied me and prayed with me. That’s when I tasted the presence of the Holy Spirit and started walking on the path of salvation.
In 2015, I received training from RUHi Institute and Blackwell Institute. Therefore, I had good training with children and the youth of my community. Soon, I became a regional leader with a mission to look after the activities in the region. I completed my primary education. Then, in 2019, my secondary schooling was completed in the province, and I returned to Port-au-Prince in 2020 for my university studies.
Moments of Pain and Sorrow
I lived with my parents in a luxurious life as I could afford the things I needed. Furthermore, I lived with a sense of tolerance as the youngest in my family. However, when I had to leave them, I experienced a taste of solitude and maturity. It’s a time in my life that I cherish because it allows me to understand my true worth and God’s perspective. Living with my aunt, I faced betrayal and went days without finding anything to eat. The doors that were once open for me to pursue university studies were now closed. That’s when I realized that I needed God’s favor through fasting and prayer.
One day, in August 2021, God spoke to me and told me that He needed me to serve His church. The next generation of Haitians needs me for spiritual guidance. The challenges I experienced catalyzed a profound change in my life. I started studying theology to attain more knowledge to fulfill my purpose. Finding the money to pay for tuition seemed challenging. Nevertheless, I began researching and preaching the gospel with grace and authority. Now, I am maturing in the path of ministry and thinking about stepping out and fulfilling God’s plan for my life.
The Fields of Ministry Through a Revelation
I knew that God had a plan for me as a servant of His kingdom. However, I hadn’t found my ministerial calling yet. I had received revelations but didn’t give them the importance they deserved. In a dream in October 2021, I found myself in front of children and pre-teens. I was training and teaching them to become eligible for the youth phase so that we can have a generation of significant impact in the country. Having previously created a study atmosphere for children and pre-teens, I continued doing so. Then, after that, I saw myself inside a huge church, raising the banner of God’s greatness. From then on, I sought the knowledge and qualifications needed to fulfill God’s work.
My Minister Calling and the Training Opportunity at CLI
I prayed and searched, knowing that the earth is the Lord’s and He makes all things possible to fulfill His will. I looked for organizations that could help me pay for my theological studies and pursue a ministry field of study. Then, one day, I came across the Christian Leaders Institute (CLI), the perfect work of God to fulfill His dream. I praise God for His greatness. and this opportunity for ministry training. I ask God to draw me close to Him as I serve His kingdom.
Engagement in God’s Fields
My spiritual dream is to be a container of God’s presence, a leader for the revival, renewal, and restoration of the kingdom of God. In gratitude for all His grace in my life, I want the command of Matthew 28:19 to be at work in my life so that this generation may benefit from God’s grace.
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 Story
My name is Shannon Hayes, and I am from the United States of America. Called to minister to marriages, I searched online and found the Christian Leaders Institute for marriage ministry training.
Married to a non-believer for 25 years, we have three children together. I kept Christ out of my life for a long time because my ex-husband didn’t believe in Him. Therefore, I followed his lead. During that time, I felt alone and lost. It became apparent that I needed Christ regardless of my husband’s beliefs. It turned out that our marriage ended.
Shortly after my marriage ended, I met a man who was a lover of Jesus. Praise God! We started a new journey and new life. We married and are part of a fantastic church. I am a youth group leader. Always looking for new ways to serve, my new vision is to help people in their marriages. Whether that be someone to talk to, marry couples, or lead couples to Christ. I also hope to conduct marriage Bible studies.
Training for Marriage Ministry at CLI
Therefore, I was so excited to see that Christian Leaders Insititute offered a Wedding Officiant course and other marriage-related courses. I know this will be pertinent to my goals. Stay tuned… I will be doing great things in people’s marriages with the help of Christ and the knowledge and training for marriage ministry that I gain from the Christian Leaders Institute.
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.