Power of Forgiveness
Ruth Veltkamp visited the CLI headquarters this week. Shared about her ministry and the power of forgiveness.
We must forgive others, just as our Father has forgiven us.
Hello, my name is Vaughn Tucker, I was born in St Ann Jamaica in 1973. I remember clearly telling my Mother that when I grow up, “I am going to ride on a bicycle and preach”’ When I was seven years old my Mother decided to take me to kingston to live with my Father’s family.
My Grandmother was a committed christian and would take me to church with her, it was at this time that I began to experience the sense that I was lost and needed to be saved. Youth fellowship was where I would meet other young people who who was in my age group. Duhaney Park Gospel Assembly had a vibrant Youth Fellowship and also the Sunday School department, along with Pastor Clark preaching help me to make a decision to accept Jesus Christ at one of our annual church camp.
Though I had made the decision to accept the Lord as my Savior, I was still unsure of my salvation, I was struggling to understand, “how God accept me, and on what basis” After struggling with this for some time, sometimes losing sleep and low appetite for food, I was awaken one morning very early by this verse spoken in my Spirit.
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy Romans 9:16-23
I was involved in Jamaica Youth For Christ, doing missions, ministry in schools.
In 2007 I migrated to South Florida where I joined South Florida Gospel Church, while there I serve as youth leader and as deacon. Though I did study at the Jamaica Theological Seminary in their extension program, moving to Florida I felt the need to have more formal training for ministry, as I have felt from a tender age the call to ministry because of the gifts the Lord has given me and the desire I have to see the people of God experience freedom in Christ.
My wife name is Narice and we have a son Nathaniel who is 3 years old, I also have a daughter her name is Jasmine she is 11 years old.
My search for ministry training led me to Christian Leaders Institute, which I found to offer excellent and relevant courses. Dr Feddes is one of the professors that as certainly left a good impressions presenting his courses and content. It really ease the pressure to get free ministry training at this level without thinking about student loan and how I would pay for it.
The difficulty in ministry I would say is getting people motivated about the gospel, this can only be done through prayer and presenting the gospel.
The free ministry training and ordination will open doors that would otherwise be closed to me.
Being equipped and recognized by Christian Leaders Institute will give me that authority to further the ministry of the gospel.
South Florida Gospel Church where I was ordained with the laying of hands as been supportive under the leadership of Pastor Ansel Aiken who is a mentor to me.
I live in Pompano beach Florida, It is the second oldest city in Broward County and the fifth oldest in all of South Florida. The challenge present in this area is like other cities, people who are busy about other things and not concerned about eternal life.
I started a bible study in the City of Sunrise about 40 minutes drive from Pompano, however, I am planning on starting by God’s grace to cast the vision where I live in Pompano.
I am also grateful for the many resources available to me from Christian Leaders Institute and thankful to Pastor Henry Reyenga and his team for making these materials available free.
I identify or see myself as a Pastor observing other Pastor’s life I see that they have many roles to play at times. I am asking for prayer for my family and for wisdom as we set out by God’s grace into this area of ministry.
My name is Mike Edwards and have lived all of my life in the U.S., specifically Washington state, known as the Northwest. I haven’t done any formal ministry in the U. S., but have spoken several times in a church. However, just sharing the gospel in Washington, where I live, is challenging. The environment is very liberal and Anti-God. Very accepting of other religions except Christianity.
I was born and raised in the Jewish faith, Bar Mitzvahed at 13 years old and by 16 I began to question the hypocrisy around my Jewish faith as it applied to our lifestyle. Eventually, I quit practicing Judaism and took on the “I’m a good person” religion during my 20’s. During that time I was successful as a corporate Vice- President in building a chain of credit companies in the Western U.S. At 30, I was hired as President of a Point of Sale transaction company at which time I met my wife. When my daughter was born a year later, I was so impacted by her birth that I began searching for God but wanted to know if Jesus was the Messiah. The CEO of the company was a Christian and invited me to join his Men’s Bible Study that was just starting the Book of Hebrews. Within two months of study, I accepted Jesus into my life. I was hungry and began to grow as a man, father, and disciple of Christ.
I feel compelled to speak to the body of Christ, especially men. My dream or vision is to challenge and encourage men to raise their standards of living more in aligning with Jesus, not the world. I see myself as an evangelist, writing books and speaking around the country at churches and conferences.
I think over time a key experience is the continued water down of our identity of what we call ourselves a “Christian.” If someone tells me they are a Christian, I’m not sure what that means to them. Peoples lifestyle and actions many times contradict what I define, or Jesus describes as a disciple or follower of Him. So this casualness motivates me out of love.
The biggest challenge for me is being invited int to speak at churches that are lukewarm on the principles and boundaries that the Word teaches us. My belief is that the Holy Spirit will present me those opportunities to speak nevertheless.
I am between churches right now because of moving to another city but am excited to have found a church body that I can join. But I don have pastor friends that are very supportive of my calling.
My wife is very supportive in me pursuing this calling. Her dad was an Assembly God pastor for 60 years and an amazing example of a Christian man. Our kids are grown and are finding their way in their faith right now. I believe they would support me from a relative perspective, not necessarily involved with me at this time.
A scholarship at CLI would give me an opportunity to give my faith a stronger foundation in me and the credibility that the church likes to see when inviting evangelist speakers.
Your prayers are so appreciated. Please pray that God will open the doors for my opportunity to evangelize and have the financial residual income means to put this first in my life.