Kenya student Ketty Opot enrolled at CLI to deepen her knowledge and understanding of God and The Bible with free online training available in even the smallest parts of the world! Here is her story…
Know God Better – Ketty’s Story
Praise God!
My name is Ketty Atieno Opot, 35. I am the first born of 6 children. I am a wife and mother of three kids. I have attained a diploma certificate of management. Currently working for United Parcel Service. I live in Nairobi, Kenya.I was brought up in a Christian home with my parents and sisters. I went to Christian school and attended church every Sunday morning but I never gave my life to Christ. In 1999 I met George, my husband, whom shared his faith and the love of Christ for me, after few months I got saved. I never grew in a close relationship with God, I was a stagnant Christian, never bore fruit. My husband kept encouraging me. Soon God brought to my realization that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. I rededicated my life to God in the year 2000. I started going to my husband’s church was baptized and felt like a new person. and since then I plan to walk faithfully with God.
I have been engaging in bible study and through that the Holy Spirit has helped me understand quiet much on the foundation of a Christian. Late last year as I was on a 7 day fast and prayer, I had a dream which was very clear. Jesus told me to go and spread the Gospel. Since then I have been yearning to attend a bible school so that I may be trained and equipped.
My ministry goal is to go to the remote areas to expand God’s kingdom by training local men and women and send them to the unreached parts in Kenya. My dreams are :
1. Die to self and be alive in Christ Jesus and to Love God with all my Mind, heart, soul and strength and to love my neighbor as myself.
2. To fulfill the great commission.Bible education is of high importance to me. The Bible is the Word of God which is the Truth, hence, I need proper knowledge of God’s word to equip me for teaching and training his people in righteousness.
A scholarship from Christian Leaders Institute would help me know God better, grow closer to God and to be equipped for the mission and fulfill my calling.
CLI Student Ben Gonzaga enrolled at Chrisitan Leaders Institute for Effective Church Planting Training. He has been involved with Church Planting for a while now and wanted to enhance his skills and education for more effective work in Church Planting. Here is his story…
Effective Church Planting Training – Ben’s Story
I’m Ben D. Gonzaga, a CLI student since December 2013. I live in Western Visayas Region in the Philippines, and many Protestant churches are already surrounding our place. But because of economic development in our area, there are also lots of emerging subdivisions potential for church planting work.
I came to know the Lord when I was 17 years old in a small house church. It was planted by my former teacher in high school who also became my spiritual mentor. We don’t have a resident pastor, and we only invited a preacher every Sunday and whenever there are special occasions. As a new believer in that local church, I appreciated so much how everyone is functioning faithfully in consideration of membership size. Everyone is expected and has given the opportunity to serve.
I have combined the INDEPENDENT PIONEER and COLOIZING MODEL in my church planting work. I have already used this model in the past and I’m learning a lot about this model. Honestly, it was not easy for me. I endured a lot of criticism and I really lack financial support during the initial stage. The Lord however turned it out for the good of the church I’m planting. There was only a slow and yet genuine conversion. The new believers were also growing fast when it comes to the quality of their spiritual life. But one thing that I can boldly testify is the reality of God’s abiding presence and empowerment in my work. It was only after six months that I formally got a support from a local church. The works is now being maintained and develop by ministry team from my local supervisory church.
I like to use this model again because this is simple and did not require a lot of recommendation, approval and easy to be started. Some local church also needs a little assurance about the possible success of a church planting work that they will support. Once there is already existing Bible study group, it will easy to ask support from a willing local congregation.
Church planting is appealing for me as a calling because of my passion for the lost and my gift of teaching. By planting a new congregation, I can share more about Jesus and develop more Christian leaders.
I was doing my daily devotion way back on my early years after conversion when I realized the value and necessity of church planting work. The verse is John 4:34. My food said Jesus, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Reaching out the lost is a priority to Jesus. He compared it to food. Just as food is vital for the nourishment and health of the body, so it is with our spiritual life. I can’t live healthy without Church planting work.
Some of the unique challenges for church planting in my geographic area are the presence of many false teachers and economic situation, but I praise the Lord for giving me my family who is very supportive in the ministry.The free ministry training at CLI makes me ready and more effective in church planting work. I learned a lot of techniques and the necessary attitudes for church planting work.
Please pray I can continue my study at CLI NOW that I have some additional roles to do as a pastor.
Enroll & Take Church Planting Classes & Ordination Today!
View Church Planting Course Here
My name is Franziz Nadja Philip, I live in South Africa, Gauteng. I was born in Namibia, on the 18th July 1972 on a small farm called Grootfontein, to a Namibian German mother and a German father. I am privileged and honoured to share my birthday with our late President Nelson Mandela!
I have been involved with Christian Community work for over 20 years now. I studied Missiology and Biblical Theology at Living Word Community Church Bible College and did various outreaches in Africa, i.e. Zambia, Gazankulu, Lesotho, Swaziland etc. I have worked in children’s and youth ministry for over 25 years.
I married Stephen Philip in 1997, together we established a Non-Profit Organization in the uKhahlamba area. Our main focus is to provide community assistance to rescue and care for abandoned and orphaned children, who are infected and affected by the HIV Aids. Our work has taken us into rural townships and areas where poverty is extreme. Due to our strong networking relationships, with the likes of the KwaZulu Natal Social Welfare Department, various NGO’s and churches who had aligning visions, our work was greatly sustained and well accomplished.
In 2003 we adopted our first black African child who was born in KwaZulu Natal and came to us when she was 16 days old, her name is Rebecca and she is now 11 years old. Then in 2009 we adopted our second black African child at 4mnths old, her name is Ruth and she is now 6years old. Our girls has been the best gift we have received from God, to raise these two precious souls who have brightened our lives immeasurably.
Then in 2005 we left the uKhahlamba area and headed for Johannesburg to volunteer at a well-established Children’s home as house parents of multiracial children that were between the ages of 5-18. In total together with the project in the KwaZulu Natal we have personally looked after and lived with over 25 plus children who we knew intimately and personally. This was a great honour!
2007 I began my own business within the Recruitment industry, in hopes of being able to contribute financially to those who are in poverty. My attempt actually took me further away from the call of my heart and so I released the business and recently together with a partner established a new Ministry called L.I.G.H.T Ministries SA, which is currently being registered as a Non Profit Organisation.
I have been in ministry part and full time, since the age of 18 years old. I am now currently the spiritual leader of a new small church we have planted under the auspices of L.I.G.H.T Ministries SA. My main gifting’s lie in the area of Apostolic and Prophetic. I have it in me to pioneer new works for God. I also together with our Church love praying for the sick and feeding the poor. We have seen God do many miracles…all glory goes to Him! A great passion of mine is working with the Holy Spirit to heal the broken hearted, together with the gifts of the Holy Spirit we see wonderful results to assist this process.
L.I.G.H.T Ministries has been established to provide for many on various levels, but our main passion besides feeding and healing, is training. Training folk in the Scriptures! Not only do we see the necessity of the Word being preached and taught but we see how important it is for Scripture to be caught….for others to love the Word too and teach it.
A vision we are currently looking to establish is the “Bread & Butter” feeding project. Where we would like to hand out food parcels to those that are unemployed. The idea is to provide each individual a parcel of basic necessities, including bread, milk, sugar, soap and toothpaste etc…
At a later stage we are aiming to purchase a Farm, to expand our projects on. Some of these projects include establishing a Church as the core, a Bible School, a Healing Centre, a Children’s Home, we would like to establish Feeding and Clothing Schemes, Skills Development Centres, Agricultural Projects and the establishment of small Businesses to generate income to provide self-sustainability. On the education side, a home schooling centre for ages 7years to 18years old, as well as a Baby Centre, the list goes on!
My desire is to see the darkness give way to the Light, to bring Jesus to a dying world and bring a dying world to Jesus! Amen