My name is Kelly Jadon. I grew up in small-town America: Goodrich, Michigan—a place where your school’s principal had also had your father and mother under his charge. A little taste of heaven: I knew everyone, and they knew me. Goodrich was a safe and happy place to raise children.
My grandmother made a significant impact on my life. She was very active in the United Methodist Church—her encouragement to my mother ensured that I received infant baptism, Sunday School classes and Vacation Bible School activities. Leona Frantom, my grandmother, wore the mantle in my family and I have fond memories of her standing next to me during a Christmas Eve Service.
As a teen, Holy Spirit opened my heart to receive Jesus at a Holy Ghost church in Flint, Michigan. Continuing my spiritual life, I joined a local church in Goodrich, Lakeview Community, which is associated with the Brethren In Christ. Pastor Robert Verno baptized me in a lake that summer. I was 16. At age 17, I went forward after a call by the pastor for those who would go and serve the Lord.
My college years were spent at Spring Arbor University, which is Free Methodist, located in Spring Arbor, Michigan. During that time I went to Hamamatsu, Japan with Life Ministries and taught English as a second language (ESOL). My degree is a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration on poetry and a certification in secondary education.
In 1991 I received the “Who’s Who Among Teachers” Award. In Florida, I taught several years of high school English.
After graduation, I married my husband of 27 years, Rafat Jadon, who is from Nazareth, Israel. My husband attended a private Baptist school in Nazareth and was baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church (over Mary’s Well in Nazareth). Our two children, David and Noel were also baptized there.
Rafat and I met and married in the United Church of Christ, New Port Richey, Florida.
Our Son, David, is at the University of Florida’s Law School. He is active in the Christian Legal Society. David is a graduate of Florida State University and spent a year teaching debate and math before continuing with law school. Our daughter, Noel, is a teacher’s aide and athletics coach at Morningside Academy. Noel excelled at the state level in weightlifting and track in high school. She is also a student at Indian River State College.
Both of our children attended Morningside Academy.
Morningside Academy in Port St. Lucie, Florida, is the school run by our church, Morningside Ministries, under the leadership of Senior Pastor Dr. Thomas Crawford. Morningside Church is affiliated with the Evangelical Friends Church. I have worked at the school as a substitute teacher when needed since 1996.
I currently write a local column titled “Hometown Heroes” which is syndicated online through Digital Journal to Google News and other news sites, reaching an international audience. My writing reflects the work of ordinary people doing extraordinarily good things.
Additionally, I am certified as a Competent Communicator through Toastmasters International. I serve as Vice President of Public Relations for Treasure Coast Toastmasters, and am a regularly featured speaker and have been on radio, see “Events” at www.KellyJadon.com
As an Online Publisher, I created a website which delivered news content to online and print newspapers and university libraries (McClatchy-Tribune, Gale Cengage, Google); carried more than 400 noteworthy authoritative professional contributors. My personal content was syndicated to online news outlets (Google News, BlogCritics, Fox News, Reuters, etc.) and print newspapers.
Part of my personal content included interviews: Mandisa, Andy Andrews, Donny Poole, etc…
I am a member of the American Academy of Poets. My poetry has been published in literary journals and heard at the University of Colorado and on the radio. I have published the book, To Taste the Oil: The Flavor of Life in the Middle East, (Into the Deep Books, 2014) which has been written to be used as an outreach to the Muslim peoples, raise the plight of the Christian in the Middle East and those living in diaspora, and to edify the church. (A complement book has been written of 70 poems to introduce Christ to the new-believer community; currently, I am writing a book of story poems about the types of Christ in the Old Testament, showing how they foreshadow Jesus, titled He Is Alive! Muslims love stories and poems and they are not afraid to hear about Jesus and other Biblical persons, with whom they are somewhat familiar.)
In addition, I hold certifications from Christian Leaders Institute, Laubach Literacy and the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program. I have worked on a masters in Educational Leadership at the University of Southern Florida (Tampa).
Since I was a very young girl, I have wished to serve the Lord. About eight years ago, the Lord began to call me to new service. A mentor laid hands on me and baptized me with Holy Spirit. I am extremely thankful for Christian mentors I have had along the way, my home church—Morningside, and for the wonderful training I’ve received through Christian Leaders Institute. CLI is preparing leaders around the world. I intend to use my certification and education at Christian Leaders Institute to enhance my speaking, writing and teaching as an evangelist.
Hello and Blessings! My name is Charles Larsen, although I usually go by the nickname “Chuck”. I live in a beautiful area on the western side of the state of Michigan in the USA. Our town is called Grand Haven and is a community blessed with water, sandy beaches and many churches, including the one I attend and am privileged to be an elder at. This church started just over 25 years ago with a handful of people and has grown into a diverse and wonderful church with over 900 people attending on Sunday services.
I would like to say that I have had a strong relationship with the Lord for many years, but alas although I thought myself a strong Christian it wasn’t until we started attending this church about 4 years ago that my relationship with God really blossomed and grew! A recent trip to the Holy Land fueled my passion for Jesus and then “discovering” CLI through a group of friends has served as an important step in my walk with Jesus!
My wife and I are recently retired which allows us to participate more in church activities, small groups, eldership, as well as our bible study and CLI. I am looking forward to learning and increasing my knowledge and personal spiritual education.
Being retired and now on a fixed income, we find it important and wonderful that CLI is an online low-cost way to accomplish these goals. Should I be blessed to be able to proceed to a degree, I feel that this will allow me to achieve these goals within the framework of a regular structured course where the material is accessible, presented in clear and entertaining manners and organized in a progressive way.
I feel that I am fortunate to be supported in CLI work by my wife and a study group, as well as with comfort and support of church leadership. Through my prayers I know that the Holy Spirit will be with me in my studies as well as my Walk and in performing whatever Work God is going to call me to do.
I continue to pray that CLI will further equip me to do His Work and lead me to an even closer and stronger relationship with Jesus!
DANIEL NYARKO FROM GHANA
My name is Daniel Nyarko, a 32-year-old caring Husband. I am married to Deborah Nyarko, a nurse by profession in Ghana in the Eastern region, who has been very instrumental in my ministry. I am currently the Coordinator of the English Assembly of the Christ Apostolic Church International, Akim Oda – New Town Assembly.
Doing ministry in Ghana is awesome and fulfilling despite the economic challenge one may encounter. I was born into the Church of Pentecost, dedicated and brought up in the ministry. Having duly gone through the Bible outline ascribed to the children’s ministry, I was baptized and ushered into the Adult service. I acquainted myself with the Bible and personally believed in the inspirational word, prayer, fasting and the oneness of God.
I have always desired of serving the Lord in His divine vineyard as a Pastor. I have always felt the calling of God upon my life until one faithful day; I felt sick to the point of death; I clearly heard the voice of God trumpeting into my ears that I will not die unless I have fulfilled His calling upon my life. I surrendered all and answered to the calling. God blessed me a book that I wrote, entitled: Discovering your Purpose in life. The book was launched at the Christ Apostolic Church, Akim Oda – New Town. After a while, I had a revelation that I had joined the Christ Apostolic Church. I sought the Lord in prayers, and after I had received a confirmation, I joined the church.
Because of the economic downturn in Ghana, standard of living is very high in our geographical area; rendering the local church financially unsound. Again, members attend to their work early and return late, which affect attendance at church in the evening services. Just to mention a few.
Given the challenges stated, the Christian Leaders Institute Scholarship will be of help to me to be able to fulfill my dream calling.
My church had been of tremendous assistance to me regarding advice, motivation, prayers among others when I told them of my enrollment in the Christian Leaders Institute.
Your prayers for long life, dream calling guidance, understanding the Holy Spirit more and perseverance to finish the race will be of much assistance. God bless you for this opportunity to share my story.