My name is Anna Geer. I was born and raised in the state of Massachusetts.
I have always known and believed in God as I was raised Catholic, however, I did not have the personal relationship with Christ that I have now. In 2002 I felt led to attend a Baptist church where the pastor stressed the importance of daily reading of the word. I bought a new bible and I started reading it.
I highlighted things that moved me in some relevant way, even if that was to simply convict and or correct me. I also put an asterisk near parts I didn’t understand but had lingering questions. Through hearing the word spoken in church and reading the bible for myself, my eyes and heart were opened and I fell in love with Jesus. Knowing how much he loved me and the sacrifices he made for me brought me to tears.
This is when my relationship with Jesus began. I couldn’t get enough of him and wanted everyone to know how much he loved them too. The same year I gave my life to Christ. I cannot imagine a life without him. They say hindsight is 20/20. Looking back on my life I see clearly how Gods hand has always been on me. How he has protected me, provided for me and his sustaining grace has helped me get through many trials and tragedies.
I desire to continue to grow in my knowledge, in my relationship with Christ and to be used as He leads me.
I see myself as a vessel for Gods use, a servant, Leader and Evangelist.
I started serving God by working in the soup kitchen and food pantry in a local church. Feeding those in need was gratifying and I loved serving God in this way. Also I started teaching Sunday school to children in the 5th grade. A few years later while attending my current church, I again felt led and participated in a training session on Domestic Violence. As a result, I started volunteering and ministering to women and children in a shelter for domestic violence. Several years prior I was in a abusive relationship. The lord had healed and restored me from that horrible time.
I believe that God takes what was meant for our bad and destruction and turns it around to use for his good and his glory. I was able to share my story of salvation, healing and redemption with these women and let them know God could do the same for them. I started a bible class and Praise God several women gave their lives to Christ. Teaching that bible study increased my confidence to share the good news.
A few years ago I took a training class in evangelism and as part of the training we would go out in the community in groups of 3. I had never done anything like this. It wasn’t easy as many people rejected you as soon as you mentioned Jesus. We would go into a neighborhood and talk to different people. One night we were ministering in the community and I saw a man sitting on a big rock, he was big, full of muscles and covered in tattoos, I never would have even thought of approaching, however, something was pulling me towards him. I told my team that I thought we should talk to him. When they looked over at the person, they both asked if I was sure, I was. We walked over and greeted him and introduced ourselves. We asked how he was doing, and he told us he had just gotten out of jail 2 days ago and his girlfriend had taken his children and moved to Florida leaving him only a note. He said he didn’t know what he was going to do. You could see he was visibly upset. We asked if he knew Jesus. He said “kinda,” He went on to share with us that he didn’t pray very often but the night before he prayed to God and asked God if he was real and if he really loved him to show him a sign, I couldn’t believe it.I told him that God was real and how much he loved him I told him that we were his sign! This man was in tears and I held back mine. The leader talked about Jesus for about 5 or 10 minutes and asked him if he wanted to make Jesus his personal savior and he told us yes. We prayed together as he gave his life to Jesus. We exchanged numbers and connected him with a local church. That was the most beautiful encounter I had ever witnessed.
I have to say how truly blessed I am to live in a place where it is safe to go to worship Christ. I do not take that for granted. Many people think the north is spiritual dry. I however believe we are about to have a revival like nobody has ever seen.
I have attended my church for about 10 years. The Holy Spirit is actively working here. Our Bishop is a true man of God and lives his life as an example to us all. His wife is a true role model and inspiration to me. We have many Godly men and women who make up the body of Christ in my church. My church is actively involved in our community and missions work around the world.
I have been on several ministry teams in my church over the years. I have been a Stephen Minister for the past 6 years and currently am beginning my 2nd year as a Stephen Ministry Leader. My church supports me in my role and I believe supports whatever work God is using me for.
I have one grown daughter and three granddaughters. I want to be able to share the love of Christ and be able to minister to them as they grow in their relationship with Jesus. Additionally, I want to continue to work with women and lead them to Christ. I mostly want to grow and be a good role model and example of a person who loves God and want my life to reflect His grace and mercy.
Getting a scholarship at Christian Leaders Institute will help me to advance my knowledge of Christ and build my confidence in sharing his good news. It will give me the ability to take these courses that I wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise.
Please pray that the leaders will continue to unite and grow stronger together without ceasing. Pray for a renewal of commitment and a focus on that commitment will continue to grow. Pray that the hearts of others in my church will be drawn to THIS ministry to help us multiply, strengthen and thrive in the service to others through Christ.
Pray that we will be in one accord seeking the Will of our father and that our efforts will not return void. Pray that our words, thoughts and actions will continually bring honor and Glory to our God, our king and Heavenly Father. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray.
Casting Out Demons Training
Casting out demons training is not offered many places, yet this kind of training is critical. The name of Christ is stronger than demons. The word demon or demons appear over 70 times in the Bible. Demons are fallen angels who are aligned with Satan.
Christian Leaders may be asked to cast out demons. Jesus sent out his disciples to preach the Gospel. Part of their assignment may be to cast out demons.
Matthew 10:7-10 7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10 take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.
Jesus gave casting out demon training with good reason. Demons affected people in Jesus’s days and still do today.
This Christian Leaders Institute student experienced the exorcism of his wife by a Spirit filled pastors. This pastor received casting out demon training that prepared him for such a time as this.
Listen to this CLI student’s story…
I was raised as a Christian, but really never knew Jesus. I lived most of my life without really knowing Jesus. I got married to a Buddhist and she had a strong connection with her spirituality. Her family used black magic to trick her into channeling spirits, who she thought were family Amakua’s, but really turned out to demons. The demons took over, and it became so bad that she was no longer eating or sleeping. We were completely desperate, with no where to turn. Then she saw the sign of the cross – formed by clouds in the sky. We immediately went to the nearest church. The local pastor called a spirit-filled pastor, we accepted Christ as our Savior and were saved by the grace & power of our Lord Jesus Christ. We went through spiritual warfare, battling demons with the Holy Spirit night and day.
This experience has completely transformed our lives and turning us into sons and daughters. We are witnesses of the power of the Holy Spirit, seeing darkness defeated and God’s love overpowering all. We know in our hearts that Jesus is real and the Holy Spirit is alive and well today.
What does Casting out Demons Training consist of?
1. Explore your call into ministry. Are you called to be sent out to proclaim the gospel as a Christian Leader?
2. Get grounded in the Word of God and Ministry Training.
3. Develop your devotions and prayer life. Christian Leaders Institute has a class just on prayer.
4. Develop your understanding of Spiritual warfare. The CLI Ethics class studies a book on Spiritual Warfare.
5. Keep a strong connection to a local Spirit-filled body of believers.
6. Be sensitive to the giftings given to you. Some Christian Leaders have the gift of Exorcism. Get to know people who have that gift, especially if for difficult cases.
7. Learn how to cast out demons without becoming puffed up because demons submit to you. Jesus once warned his disciples about that in Luke 10:20.
When you sense the presence of demons, pray in the name of Jesus, that they leave you, the place you at or the person or persons you are with at the time. Be careful to do this quietly if you are with others. It is not ministry people smart or loving to randomly “cast out demons” publically. Pray quietly, unless invited to do so publically.
At Christian Leaders Institute you will be given casting out demons training because you need it and Jesus has given you authority over demons.
Luke 10:18-19 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
My name is Richard Queen. I am 33 years of age and live in the great state of Kentucky, in the USA. I am married to my high-school sweetheart and we have three wonderful and obnoxious children together. At the time of this writing, Chase is nine, Reagan is six, and Rylan is three. They keep us young and agile to say the least. But they are also the reason I write today.
Thankfully, I grew up in a Christian home, the oldest of four kids, and was saved at the ripe old age of seven. I took my Christian walk semi-seriously, having hot and cold times in my teen years, and never doing anything “that bad”. However, I was the typical Type A personality. Taking the verse completely out of context, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter” (Eccl 3:1). This was my life – everything planned. In fifth grade, I knew I wanted a college scholarship, so I made straight A’s for the rest of my education, and achieved that goal. I began college and laid out my roadmap, was married after my Sophomore year, Cum Laude upon graduation, immediately secured a job and began a career, we started our family and were on the way to the picture perfect life I had envisioned. By age 28, we had a boy and a girl and were building our dream home. The only problem was that I had done it all on my own, or at least gave myself the credit. I had forgotten how to have a daily walk with Jesus. And I had become so hardened and emotionless.
That’s when I heard words from my wife that were not in the plan and threw my life into a spiral, “I’m pregnant”. This was not in the plan – we were done at two – we hadn’t planned this in our home building – we were just beginning to get a little freedom back from our current toddler – we had sold or given away all baby items. Unfortunately, I did not see God’s sovereignty in the situation and I proceeded to make life miserable for the next nine months. Even when Rylan was born, I ashamedly still did not have room in my life for him.
To make a long story short, he became seriously ill at six weeks old and, while in intensive care, the doctors told us to prepare to lose him. I had a conversation with my earthly father that I will never forget where I admitted to my mistakes and acknowledged that I didn’t know I could love someone so much that I never even wanted. It was a low point. By the grace of God, 24 hours later, Rylan was smiling and recovering. I went to my pastor the next week and said my goal was to learn how to cry again. This is how hardened I had become.
Amazingly, God has done an incredible act of grace in my life over the last four years. I now cry at the drop of a hat. I am the CFO of an eighty physician, multi-specialty medical practice but this is not how I define myself. I am a follower of Jesus, a husband, a father, church member, a friend. I recognize the sovereignty of God in every area of my life and, while I so often fall short, I strive to reflect Jesus in the way I live (Mark 12:29-31).
I teach an adult Bible Fellowship class at church and I crave Bible study in my own life. At this time, I have no calling other than the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20). With the words of James in my mind as well, that those who teach are called to a higher standard (Jam 3:1), I constantly study so that I may rightly handle the Word of truth (2 Tim 2:15). The Rabbis of the Talmudic period believed that study was the highest form of worship. I have found in my own life that study has led to admiration, and admiration to obedience (Brad Young, Jesus the Jewish Theologian). I am Reformed in my theology with a great passion for the early Jewish roots of Christianity.
If offered a scholarship from CLI, I hope to continue furthering my knowledge in scripture as well as my admiration for my Savior. The more I learn, the more I crave and, as Jeremiah wrote, I have a fire in my chest that I cannot hold back (Jer 20:9). I have a passion for teaching and passing on what God is showing me. I no longer try to plan the future but enjoy what God has blessed me with in the present. I look forward to seeing where He will take me as He uses me for His Kingdom. And, of course, Rylan is now daddy’s little boy.