I am Pastor Darko Ghanaian by birth, Italian by nationality, lives in Italy since 1993,with married with 6 girls, ordained as the Pastor in 2011 by the Day star bible school in Ghana, I was brought up by my mother who taught me the way of the Lord, I daily moved with her to Bibles studies in the scripture union, I gave my life to Lord in 1976, being born again had the Holy Spirit baptism, was baptized by immersion in 1978 after a three days seminar in a suburb of Accra – Ghana.
Being part of the Scripture Union really helped me to live for Christ, my desire by then was evangelism, down broadcast, distribution of Bible tracts, doing corresponding courses with the World Bible school as a youth with the zeal to know much to serve the Lord, my love for the Lord was so much that I was called by nickname pastor, evangelist and so many, I used to organized my school mates in sharing the word of God, prays with them, I have attended several leadership training course both in Ghana and in Italy.
Since 1979, I got interested in Church planting, in the secondary school I was forming bible groups, weekly worship, praying for people, became a youth leader and doing lots of work in the arena of the church. My desire has since been to learn more of the things of God to enable me preach, and teach His word.
In the year of 1993, changes happen for me. Italy was all a new beginning of my Christian life and my vocation, going from place to place preaching and planting churches. I stared the study of theology in one of the Bible schools in Italian language for barely 8 years without achieving my objective with the difficulties of the their language, I then started different corresponding courses in order to prepare me for ministerial work., but could not complete any for lack of funds due to the excessive charges.
For the 23 years residing in Italy, I see the needs for reaching the people with the gospel of Jesus Christ
Through my research for an affordable Bible Institute I came across the CLI, after reading more about the Institute and testimonies of some of the students I was totally convinced that this is the place for me to have the necessary training I needed to be well equipped as a pastor. Fortunately and, unfortunately, I am self-sponsored in my calling in Italy with my wife’s salary and mine. My wife and children have been of a great help in every area, my late mother always happy to see me working for God that was the revelation she had about me from my childhood.
I am convinced and happy that a scholarship at the CLI will help me become a well-trained pastor God wants me to be.
I will need the prayer of everyone above all the CLI in the area of Boldness in reaching out the people with the word of God that we win more soul to the Lord and machining positive changes in the community.
My name is Jeremy Pagan and I am from the United States of America, Specifically Brooklyn, New York. Ministry in this part of the world is interesting. We have so many cultures and different kinds of people and languages. So we have to be creative in our ways of evangelizing.I was introduced to the Lord as a young child, but in my teen years I strayed away into my thoughts and ways. At the age of nineteen in the year 2009 I had an encounter with the Lord. It was around 1 a.m, and I began to hear trumpets. I looked around my house, and everyone was sound asleep.
Suddenly a presence so Powerful entered my room, and I fell and trembled. The Lord called me by name and began to tell me how much He loved me and how He knew everything about me. The Lord told me to get up and proclaim His Word that He is coming soon. Since that encounter; I have been serving along side our local church youth pastor for about five years now. I am doing ministry with the youth and young adults because not only can I relate to them on so many levels, but also the Lord has given me a broken heart for them. Witnessing all that they go through in the stages of life that they are in. Some challenges that we have in this area is so many teens, and young adults are being raised by pop culture, school, friends, and the different trends the world is putting out there. Most kids are growing up in single house holds, and parenting is rare to them. The local church has been very supportive to me and has helped me grow as a man and leader in the Lord. This scholarship is so important because its very helpful and effective to go into a deeper understanding of God and spreading the good news through ministry.
Many people enter ministry only to get burned out and give up however far along they get. I want to be as sharp as the Lord will allow and be able to not just do the work of God for a sprint but for a marathon. All the days be able to give of me to God and His purpose and will for my life. To be trained that I may in turn train others in the coming generations and in my own generation. You guys can help pray for me by coming into agreement that the Lords will be done. That the Lord will grant me the strength to do all that He has called me to do; that a new path will be opened up, with new relationships in the faith, mentors that are built up and willing to teach, to heal in areas of the past that try to hinder our potential in the Lord. Most importantly that I will be used merely as an instrument; a broken vessel as HE gets all the Glory, Honor and Praise. Amen.
I was lost for a very long time and was sure I was unforgivable and unloved by God. There was no way that the Lord could ever want me. I was nothing. This is how I lived my life for many years. My life in chaos and a downward spiral from the age of 14. I ran away from home and further and further from God. The enemy had me convinced that I could not be saved. I was taught that I could only confess my sins to a “special” kind of person and that without that I was lost. I was not good enough to ask Jesus to forgive me, only “special people” could do that for me. Yet I believed that my sins were too great and I was no longer accepted to the only place where the “special people” go, the church.
One day I made a new friend online. I wanted to know more about God but I had never been back to church for more than 30 yrs. My friend, Jamie Marks, a student at CLI, explained the gospel to me in great detail. He told me how much God loves me and wants me back. I could be saved, and I was saved and I am saved! I am a child of God! I was overcome with tears of joy and sorrow over the years I had missed while I was lost.
Before the age of 14 I was on a path to becoming a nun and devoting my life to the Lord. I was twisted into thinking that the evil that had been done to me was my sin and my fault. I know now that was a lie. Over the past year, I have studied more in the Bible than I have my entire life and I love it! I do not see myself becoming a minister but I know I have a purpose now. I do not yet know what the Lord has for me in my future but I know that He is with me always.
Christian Leaders Institute is what lead my friend, Jamie Marks to start a Bible study group that I have been in since almost the start. We pray for each other and encourage each other and we even get to hear how Jamie is doing with his studies. CLI is a great opportunity for me to learn even more as I grow as a Christian so that I may help plant seeds with others that are lost like I was. What a great jumping off point. I have already been able to help some with their own studies.
I was been baptized earlier this year and my life is no longer my own, but my Lord’s. Thank you for the blessing that is my friend and for this opportunity or I would not be able to afford this on my own. The Lord is working through you and I pray that He will work through me as well.
Pray with me that the Lord uses me for His will and that I may reach others. Lord, lead my by the hand for your glory.
Bless Christian Leaders Institute to spread the word throughout this fallen world. All power and all glory are Yours Holy Father. In Jesus Holy name Amen.