Brad DeForest could not afford to take additional courses through a traditional seminary, so he enrolled at Christian Leaders Institute for a Ministry Education Without Financial Obligation. Here is his story…
Ministry Education Without Financial Obligation – Brad’s Story
I grew up in a Catholic church and came to know the Lord through Bible study with my mom and Sunday school. I did not have a good Christian foundation of faith through High School and fell into the ways of the world in college. After college, I started to go back to church at a small non-denominational church where I began to know the Lord better through his word. Over the last five years, my relationship with the Lord has grown, and he has given me strength through hard times that brought me closer to him. My wife and I are currently the Youth Leaders at our church, and my dream is to grow the Youth Ministry at our church and eventually start a College Ministry. I think that there is a lack of Christian mentorship between the ages of 18 and 25, and would like to grow ministry to provide encouragement and guidance to this age group. I identify most with Youth Leader because I am a Youth Pastor. The lack of good Youth leadership in my younger years prompted me to step into ministry. I wish I would have had a good Christian mentor in High School and college to keep me from straying from the Lord. I live in South Florida, where society is extremely materialistic. Worldly influences are everywhere with more night clubs and strip clubs than churches. It is hard to keep the youth focused on God and not on the world. Our Lead Pastor has been a great mentor and is very encouraging. Additionally, the congregation has come behind us in encouraging the ministry and us as leaders. My wife has been a huge factor in continuing in ministry. She knows how much I enjoy ministry and encourages me when I get discouraged. Additionally, since I became a Youth Leader, my dad who has never known the Lord has decided to start going to church and seeing that God has used my step into ministry to bring him to God brings me great joy. A scholarship at CLI will allow me to get Bible and Ministry education that I would not have the means to get any other way. I work two jobs just to pay my bills and cannot afford to take out additional student loans to get this education. Please pray that God gives me a strength to continue in this calling for my life.
Jeffrey Whitlow recognizes that his community is on the Brink of Revival and wishes to use Christian Leaders Institute’s free online ministry training to bring Revival to Muskegon, MI. Here is his story…
Brink of Revival – Jeffrey’s Story
Hello! My name is Jeffrey Whitlow, and I live in Muskegon, Michigan in the United States. I first accepted Christ as a child, grew up attending church, and at the age a 20 I felt a strong calling become a pastor. I even checked out some Bible Colleges but was unable to afford the cost. By my mid-20s, I had turned away from God and the church to lead my life. I quickly sank into a world of drugs, sex, and witchcraft that nearly killed me. I spent 15 years practicing Wicca, even serving at times as a high priest. Fortunately, God rescued me and brought me home in 2005. Since that time, I have strived to live a life pleasing to Him. He has blessed me with a beautiful wife and opened many doors to serve.
My ministry dream is to become an ordained pastor and the doors for further ministry that that will open. However, I also recognize the many opportunities available now. In fact, I am currently preparing for another week of serving as a counselor at a Christian-based summer camp for Special needs adults.
I think one of the biggest challenges to ministry in my area is poverty; financial, spiritual, and moral. Muskegon is a city poised on the brink of revival, but we need more people willing to do what it takes to make that difference.
A CLI Scholarship is important to me because it will allow me to pursue the education that will help me to become a better leader.
Abu Umoru has a deep desire to Present the Gospel through Ministry Training, and enrolled at Chrisitan Leaders Institute for all of the free ministry courses that will help him do so accurately and effectively! Here is his story..
Present the Gospel Through Ministry Training – Abu’s Story
My name is Abu Once Simon Umoru. I was born in 1976 as a Nigerian, brought up in the Northern part of the country, in the Army barracks where my father was serving the Nigerian Army. I grew up in a home with eight children. During my secondary School days, I developed a desire to serve God even as a Catholic, I use to fellowship with other denomination outside our church. As we share the gospel together with the brethren from other denomination, I discovered that there is a vacuum in me that needed to be filled. My life was changed completely in 1994 when I surrendered to Christ and decided to make Him my personal Lord and Savior.
I completed my higher national diploma in management from the Benue State Polytechnic by 2006, after my father’s retirement from active service. Am married to Mary, a caring wife since 2010 and the Lord has blessed our union with two boys. Presently we live in Otsuka, Benue State Nigeria. We fellowship with a church called “The Established Pentecostal Church of Christ.”
In Benue state, we Have lots of Churches. As the middle belt of the country, doing ministry here requires patience and commitment. This end time you see many people attending and bearing denominational names without bearing the fruits of genuine repentance. In my place, people belong to one church or the other though crime and lawlessness are on the increase. About 40% of the people living in my locality are literate while most of the illiterate ones live in rural areas, since they can not read and write, it makes a rural work more tedious since one will need to adopt the people by using there language to present the gospel to them.
CLI has been a blessing to me; I have obtained a diploma of ministry through there support. I will ever live to appreciate the impact of some of the professors, especially my mentor professor Henry Reyenga Jr. There good tutelage has been of tremendous blessing. My learning experience with CLI has been inspiring. Initially, I intended to take only the getting started class. I discovered more of the grace of God shed on my ministerial callings as I delve into Further studies with CLI. My life and ministry are been greatly transformed by some of these courses like the: Church History, sermon construction and presentation, Church Planting, People Smart for ministry, Christian Ethics, Exegesis, among others. My passion for the presentation of the Gospel has been raised to a level that nothing matters to me like the Gospel. Am now well equipped to present the Gospel at every slight opportunity, care for the members of the fold in my way as the spirit directs.
At ordination, I believe the grace of God will help me to harness all my potentials to fulfill my ministry goals. I have a passion for youth evangelism, rural outreaches, Missions and Church administration. Currently, my wife and I are assisting in the work of the gospel in a branch of our church in Otsuka a village in Benue State. As a bi-vocational minister, I feel the ordination will launch me into a full commitment to the work as an associate pastor in our church and my wife will be assisting in the musical department.
My ordination will brighten up the future of my calling; I feel the urgent need to present the undiluted word of God to the people of my generation. Like brother Jude said in Jude 3 that we should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints.
I identify with the word Pastor because it is my earnest desire to know people, preach to and teach them the principles of the kingdom that will help them to grow into the fullness of Christ.
Our local Church has been very supportive. The state overseer have been backing us with prayers and giving other necessary guidance during my studies. The church also requested that we share our visions with the senior pastors so that they can pray along with us and serve as mentors to aid effectiveness in our area of calling. I have been requested to forward my certificate to serve the Church after my training and ordination as a pastor.
Please pray that God will release His grace on me abundantly so that, I will be effective in the ministry. That the entire future ministry goal God lay in my heart will find expression as I live to fulfill His mandate alone.