Grant Hawes is a California revival leader currently doing the Lord’s work in Stockton, California. What’s interesting about Stockton? Well, according to Forbes Magazine, it’s the most miserable place to live.
Hi, my name is Grant Hawes and I reside in beautiful Stockton, CA. Many people will disagree that Stockton is beautiful; they are entitled to their opinion. Even Forbes Magazine listed Stockton as the most miserable place in the country to live in February 2009.
But that’s where Grant Hawes disagrees. As a California revival leader, Grant is looking at more than just the economic and social environment in Stockton. He’s seeing the work that God is doing in the California revival scene. And in the work of God there is a beauty that surpasses the economic and social state of the city.
Some agreed with the magazine article and condemned Stockton, but I believe it’s beautiful because of what I see the Lord doing in this community. My family and I decided we could agree with the article or do something about it, so we began serving in our community. We feed the homeless and host a chapel service at the local rescue mission once a month.
Grant came to CLI to get free ministry training after leaving a lucrative job to go full time into ministry. With less income, Grant couldn’t afford traditional seminary education. But God provided what he needed to continue pressing forward with the California revival movement.
I walked away from a six figure income and accepted a position on staff at my local church. I have been on staff now for four years now and serve as the Director of Missions/Outreach/Men’s at my church in Stockton California. I am blessed and honored to be called into service in a community that truly needs Jesus. My theology hasn’t always been Protestant as I was raised in a Catholic family but asked Christ into my heart looking for a deeper relationship with Jesus and have been following Him ever since.
I am seeking this education through CLI and know that God honors heart and effort. My heart desires to strengthen the ministry the Lord has given me and a deep understanding of His word provides the strength I seek. I am willing to put forth the effort to honor the God that called me into service. My position on staff was offered to me, I had no formal seminary training only a passion to make His love known and yet I am on staff. I wish to honor this gift from God by learning as much as I can about His love and His passion and make that love and passion known to other.
In Matthew 5:14 Jesus says, “You are the light of the world”. His doesn’t say you should be the light of the world or you could be the light of the world, He says, “you are the light of the world”. I desire to be that light.
If you are called to take part in God’s revival, you could also benefit from training at Christian Leaders Institute. The training is assembled and taught by great professors, with attention to quality, source, and non-traditional accreditation. Click here to enroll in classes now!
It’s thrilling to see so many ministry calling stories from around the world. Ethan is the most recent person that has testified to how God has called him to be a youth minister for Him. Youth ministry is an important part of ministry because our young men and women need godly guidance and counsel as they prepare to approach life in a culture that isn’t very fond of the gospel.
Hello, my name is Ethan Barber. I was born and raised in Pennsylvania. I am 19 years young, not old yet. I currently attend a leadership school in South Carolina, that allows us to figure out who we are in Christ. It is a nine-month program and so far it has opened up so many doors for ministry for me. I felt called to be a Youth Minister in March of 2015. God really placed that on my heart and I always had a passion for the youth. How I came to Christ was pretty cliché, but it happened, I was invited to a Youth Conference and was worshipping and praising God except I really had no understanding of what was happening. One of the speakers gave an altar call and asked if anyone had wanted to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior, and without hesitation I accepted Him. I had very little intellect of this whole Christianity thing, but it was not my first experience with the Lord. I grew up going to church with my mom, my two older brothers, and my great grandmother; she kind of was the glue to us all going… after she had passed away in 2009, my family had strayed away from God and the church. Now I am here on a mission to serve the Lord and expand the presentation of the Gospel.
I currently live in the United States of America, ministry in the U.S. can be very easy and challenging at times. Since us Americans have an immense amount of access to Bibles, resources, you name it we have it; therefore, that is my problem everyone has their own type of theology and some theology is not based on the word of God.
I was attending a Youth Conference and the Lord just grabbed ahold of me and said, “Ethan, I am calling, will you answer?” After I accepted Christ into my life, I was baptized in the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues.
My ministry dream is simply to capture the next upcoming youth, I want to show how much God loves them and teach them Biblical truths and principles. I want to become a Youth Pastor.
I would proclaim the name of Youth Leader, just because I will affiliate most with the youth. When I was in my neighborhood apartment complex, I got to play some football with a bunch of kids and just fell in love with talking to them and ministering to them through a simple sport; God really ignited my passion for the youth.
I haven’t had really many challenges with my geographic area, I have been pretty stationary in my life. Other than moving to South Carolina to go to school. My local church has been a crucial impact in my ministry decision, there is an abundance of theological sound pastors and so much mentorship that I can adhere at my church. My mom and stepdad are supportive of my decision to go into vocational ministry and become a Youth Minister.
A scholarship from CLI will definitely be an imperative aspect in pursuing my ministry dreams. Having a free education and getting trained by a group of teacher/pastors who have plenty of experience will enhance my learning ability and my intellect going into ministry. A scholarship for me would mean so much, due to the fact that nothing is cheap in this world and finances are of course super tight. I would be honored and it would motivate me to want to keep going and furthering my Theological knowledge.
A few things that would be helpful as I pursue being a youth minister would just be that the Lord allows me to learn, and grow not only in the knowledge of His word but in my relationship with God. One prayer request would be that I never forget the reason why I am going to be a youth minister and never forgot the source to the order. Having a relationship with God and being really intentional in my devotional life will impact my ministry tremendously. A lot of the times we can get so wrapped up in our ministry that we forget the reason and the purpose we have of doing it; preaching the Gospel to all the nations correct? We must not fall into complacency with our ministry and forget all about God. I ask that your prayers be for me to continue following God and developing a relationship with Him.
You don’t have to be a called youth minister like Ethan. If God has called you to any role in the ministry, there’s a good chance you can benefit from the free ministry training offered at Christian Leaders Institute. Click here to enroll in our free courses now!