My name is Godwill Z. Mandla aged 37, am a born-again Christian living and working in Botswana as a science teacher. I am married with no children yet. I am a member of small and fast growing church in Botswana where I serve in the house of the Lord as an Executive Committee chairperson, and my wife a minister in the house of God.
Botswana has been a Christian state since its independence from the British colony in 1966 to date, we have been very much blessed by having been founded in peace, and by God’s Grace we are one of the very few countries in Africa that has never experienced any kind of wars on the soils of our land. From independence the country was mainly dominated by the mainline Protestant churches, a group of Protestant churches that contrast in history and practice with evangelical, fundamentalist, and charismatic Protestant denominations. These are churches that a prone to social gospel, less emphasis is put on the teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ as the one and only way of human salvation. This has led to the people of Botswana to remain behind in the knowledge of true salvation and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people. Therefore people took a church as a good social organization where people meet to exhort each other and worship God, but without appreciating Jesus Christ as our personal savior. It is now in the past three decades that the true gospel of Jesus Christ the savior, has come to the country though evangelical and charismatic Protestant denominations that few people of Botswana started to come to an understanding of the true Christianity. In this light I want to say it is not only to bring people to Christ but also to reteach them and encourage people to engage in reading and developing a habit of reading the word of God on their own.
The scholarship of CLI will greatly assist me in equipping me with the wisdom of the word of God as continue to serve in the house of the Lord. It is my strong believe that all leaders in the house of the Lord must be knowledgeable in the word of God. And be able to evangelize in any place they find themselves in. it is therefore very important for me to have had this opportunity of knowing about CLI and making use of it, especially that I could not have managed to go to a Bible college or seminary because I am currently working.
My dream is to see a nation of Botswana getting personal with God, that is being a God fearing nation, a nation which the face of the Lord shall not depart from it, a fulfilment of the scriptures;
2 Chron 7:14
“14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” NIV
With CLI programs I believe that I and the multitudes that are yet to enroll, we can take the gospel to the nations even if it means one person at a time.
Worship Leader Studies Ministry
Hello and greetings. My name is John Parks I grew up in a little town in Alabama my graduation class had less the 30 people. I am the oldest 2 children. I have an amazing wife, and we have been blessed with a beautiful child.
The town I grew up in is a lot like other towns in America it had more churches than stores. Everyone went to church but few really walked the walk.
I was brought up in the church but most of my childhood it was just checking a spiritual box it wasn’t something I lived each day. I made the decision to serve the Lord in my preteen years.
I attended a small southern church and had a great brother in Christ who began to teach me to play guitar and worship at church we done many hymns and I wrote a few worship songs. In my teen years I began to play a21guitar in a youth group. Since then I have played in praise bands and enjoy it.
I see my calling being in a Pastorate role. However, my true destination is wherever the spirit leads me. A scholarship from CLI is a blessing to me in the fact I can get the education I need, and in the future through donations can support others so they can answer Gods call in their own lives.
This worship leader studies ministry courses at CLI. These free program of study is open for anyone who has the Internet. Enroll now.
Archie Smith, USA
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and God Bless,
“I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord, the humble shall hear thereof and be glad. O Magnify the Lord with me Lets Us exhalt his name together!!”
I am Archie Smith, an Army veteran, a businessman, a minister of the Gospel, but most importantly a Child of the King. I accepted the gracious gift of Salvation at a tender age of 5 yrs. old and the call to preach the Gospel at the age of 12. I am married to my beautiful wife and am the parental steward to 3 beautiful children. My only desire is to fulfill Gods call on my life and to lead and love the family I have been placed in charge of as Christ Loved the Church.
My assignment is to be a yielded vessel used to pour into the many lives of individuals across this country. We believe in the inerrant word of God and that all scripture is God-Breathed.
The experience at CLI has been one of the simplest, enjoyable, truly God given experiences I have partaken in. CLI provided very sound biblical and doctrinal training for not only minsters, but also and other Christian leader seeking to deepen their understanding of God and his inerrant word. If I needed help on an assignment, did not understand a portion of the class, or simply wanted to provide feedback the Help Desk and leadership were most helpful and receptive. I stand by CLI as one of the best institutions in the nation.
This ordination will serve as a secondary ordination for me. I am in the process of attaining my primary credentials for ministry, but this enables and also validates the call that is on my life. I will also seek to accomplish the Church Planter ordination; so that whatever God has for me to do I have been enabled and well instructed to do through CLI.
I identify most with the title Minister/Pastor. God called us at a very young age to preach the gospel. Through times of struggle and poor decision-making, God has given me a chance to fulfill my call as HE had originally designed and destined me to. There has always been a call to preach on my life. I understood and could explain scripture at a very young age, have always been well spoken, and am more recently receiving a boldness from God to declare what thus saith the Lord. We are trusting God that if he desires for us to Pastor or plant a church, he will lead us to do that. We want to do and accomplish everything he has for us and we hope that means Pastoring/Shepherding a flock.
We trust and believe that anything God calls you to do, he also enables you to do. He has entrusted us with good speech etiquette, a strong biblical foundation, a sound biblical and systematic theological understanding, and a renewed passion to accomplish his will and preach his word. All things work together for those who love God and are called according to his purpose!
Living in America there are few challenges to freedom of religion, however with the society and cultural changes, we live in a country that has turned from God. The challenge now is getting people to simply believe and if they believe to trust. God is great and gracious enough to forgive anyone who wholeheartedly turns and seeks him. Our goal is to point as many people to Christ, not religion, not denomination, not church, not traditions, but Christ and Christ alone.
My local church utilizes me in ministry. At a young age, I taught children’s church and preached at worship services, I currently teach a weekly Men’s study class and preach the word when called upon. The local congregants are very receptive, encouraging, and prayerfully edified and exhorted by our laboring in the ministry.
Everyone has a calling, a gift, or a talent to be used as unto the lord. Despite how things play out in your life, be encouraged and take comfort in knowing that God is a forgiving God and that he still expects you to utilize what he has entrusted to you for the edification of the body. God CAN and WILL use you, if you are a willing vessel for him!
The fact that this training has been 100% financially free, is one of the most significant blessings I have ever received in my life. I know the call God had for me and wanted to further explore the timeless truths of his word. I sough Internet free programs that teach sound doctrine and biblical fundamentals. After I received my certificate in Christian Theology, I believe God led me here to CLI. This program is right up there with any distance-learning Seminary. Because this has been free, it changes the outlook on ministry. Often times people want to get paid to preach or minister, but Christ’s ministry and gift of Salvation is free, CLI training is free, and my laboring in the Gospel is as unto God not, man and should be free because in the end our goal is to point people to Christ!
We ask that you pray that God continues to develop us in Christian Ministry, pray for our local congregation, our City, State, and National governments, and then pray for the congregation that God will enable us to start or join in Pastoral ministry. That we be a blessing to them and every facet of that ministry. Pray that we continue in Gods will for our lives, that he enables us to give back to CLI, and that CLI can expand on the areas of ministry it can provide instruction in Amen.
We seek to be a blessing in any way we can. We love and stand by CLI. It has been an honor and a privilege to study here at CLI.
“To God be the Glory, for the things he has done!”