My name is Kimberly Rosso. I’ve been married to my husband Mike for 20 years. We have two wonderful sons, Matthew and Tyler, and a precious daughter-in-law, Stacie. I was born in New York State, USA. We did, however, recently relocate almost 1,000 miles from New York to Georgia. I haven’t been a Christian all of my life. I was raised in a religious home, but not a Christian one. I lived a very ungodly lifestyle for many years. One night, about six years into my marriage, I was lying in bed and felt a strong presence that I sensed was the Lord. I jumped out of bed feeling this sense of urgency and told my husband that God is real, death is real, and we need to do something about it!
We eventually gave our hearts to the Lord at a crusade, started attending a bible believing church, and were baptized in 2004. While living in New York, my husband and I helped to plant a church in the area we lived in. He was ordained as a deacon and we were very active in several ministries there. I was blessed to be used by the Lord in these ministries, but one thing in particular that I felt, and still feel strongly about is the moments that God has used me as a vessel to give godly counsel to others. I am at CLI learning to counsel others in their walk with God.
During my lifetime, I’ve had some bad experiences and many hardships. I feel these experiences made me a stronger person, and have already had some opportunities to use these experiences as a testimony to help others. The funny thing is, I’m not the most eloquent speaker and am usually at a loss for words when trying to find the right thing to say. So, I know it’s only by God’s equipping that me giving counsel is even possible. I always pray for wisdom and discernment, and many times He has honored those prayers. I feel that the Lord wants me to be available to counsel others in some way. I don’t know how, but God does. One big challenge that I’m currently facing is that we just recently relocated from an area where we had a wonderful church home and a very large church family, to an area where we know absolutely no one. However, we felt very strongly that this is what the Lord wanted us to do. I know how Abraham must have felt when he was told to leave his home.
We are in the process of finding a new church home, and I am waiting to see how I will be used here. I know this world is full of hurting people that will seek counsel in ungodly ways. It is my hope that the training I receive through CLI will help to prepare me to be available to give godly counsel for those times that God calls me to do so. Learning to counsel others is a wonderful opportunity for me. I would ask that you pray that we find a church home, get connected with a church family, and that my purpose for being in this new land will be made clear.
Living in a Christian home often is not enough for some people to find their relationship with God. When the seeds of Christian life are planted they do often grow directing us in our lives toward the goal Jesus has waiting for us. Jose is a Christian Leaders Institute student who is now building his own Christian home and life with God. Below is his story…
*******
My name is Jose M Hernandez. I am 20 years old, married and currently reside in the city of Orange, in the state of California.
I am passionate about the LORD and here’s my story.
Although I was raised in a Christian home, I did not know of the great joy of following Christ. I would attend church on a regular basis, and all was fine. Everything changed when I was a freshman in high school. Up to that point my life was all about soccer. Yes about playing soccer. Sounds a bit disappointing to hear how my life was, now that I think about it.
I came home one night from playing with my school’s soccer team. My mother brought me into her room. I thought I was in trouble, but no. She said we were moving to another church. I said, “Okay, its fine with me.” In the church I was attending, I was the youngest teen in the whole church. This is probably one reason why I was not having a relationship with God. I was not being exposed to who God is, what he can do and how my life could be impacted. I was treated lightly there.
The day came to start the new church. It was the same as other day. Nevertheless, I had no clue of what lay ahead of me. Our Christian home would change.
My daily soccer routine was still in hand, yet little by little I started to experience who God was. As far as I remember, I did not want anything to do with God at first. Attending church on a regular basis was it. Now, I cannot get enough. An intense hunger lies within me and I’m grateful for this; I truly want to know about God with a deeper meaning. All the Glory is for God in everything we do.
In the new church I started talking with the pastors’ kids. They were young – around my age. One was 15 and the other 16, and I was 14 years old. Little by little, I would receive phone calls from them, and as time passed our friendship grew. We met at their house, played together, and – what really shocked me – talked about God. Their Christian home and lifestyle, I can say, was one of the encounters I had with who God was. God through them opened up my eyes, and little by little God became everything in my life.
Now the years have passed, and I am grateful to God for putting them in my life. Nevertheless, the ministry I whole-heartedly believe He has chosen me for is to spread the Gospel. Ever since I was young, I have been told God wants me for a specific purpose. Different people have come up and disclosed this to me, but I never thought I was going to have this joy for the LORD until now.
If I were to use a term to identify myself, I would simply say a person that is going after God. Due to the reason that, in this stage of my life, there is nothing else that I want except to follow Christ. At the end of the day, I just want God period. I want a Christian home and life that interests others in Jesus.
Despite the challenges a Christian faces, I still want God. Here where I live, there is this current battle going on. Not a physical battle but these conversations where people doubt God. We find this in the schools and abroad. Something that always keeps me up in spirit is, Gods Word ALWAYS, ALWAYS, wins.
A Christian Leaders Institute scholarship is of indispensable value for the reason learning about God and is a joy to me. I often wonder what God has to say yet sometimes we need help in understanding things in a deeper manner. We have God and I wholeheartedly believe, yet I know this ministry is a blessing and God has led me to it. If I am able to obtain this scholarship I would be able to learn to spread the word in a clearer and deeper manner. This scholarship would open new doors to where I believe God is taking me. I know I am called. I could feel it in my veins, and I know God will provide.
Christian home life can sometimes not be enough to help us build our relationship with God. Sometimes we need to be influenced by people we identify with toward Jesus. We welcome you to learn more and develop your relationship further with free ministry courses here at Christian Leaders Institute. Click Here to learn more. Use this link to learn about donating toward a student’s future.
Tara Frazier of Illinois is developing her relationship with Jesus and building a foundation for her to move into ministry callings. Christian Leaders Institute hopes you find inspiration in her story. You can learn more or become a student HERE.
*******
I am Tara Lynne Frazier. I currently reside in Chicago, IL. USA. I am ambitious, determined and motivated to continuously nurture and develop my relationship with Jesus. I am the proud mother of 2 and grandmother 3. I hold a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Information Systems. I have been in church all of my life, but it wasn’t until ‘life happened’ that I truly got serious about my relationship and walk with Christ. I am allowing God to direct my path which has led me to ministry. I have a deep longing and yearning to build a deeper relationship with Jesus. I consider myself to be a Minister of the Gospel.
I tell everyone about the Good news of Jesus Christ and how they can be saved with the pardoning of their sins. Hell is real and I don’t want to see anyone go there. They need to build their relationship with Jesus. My overall goals are to do whatever God desires of me. I want to educate, strengthen, empower, encourage and inspire God’s people. I believe to whom much is given, much is required. God knows that I am diligent and committed to do what he requires of me. I count it an honor that he trusts me this much. A relationship with Jesus overflows with trust. I currently serve in our outreach ministry at my local church. We prepare food, go out to feed the community and pray for them. Also, monthly my church sponsors a feed the community program.
We prepare a dinner and invite the community in. We just eat, laugh, pray, fellowship and show the love of Christ. This shows people that a relationship with Jesus can be enjoyable and realistic. I would also like to start a mission or ministry and teach. Essentially, whatever path God directs me on, I will cheerfully go. It’s important that I have favor and receive the Christian Leaders Institute scholarship. I recently got out of default with student loans. Financially, it’s been pretty rough because I’m not working. I trust that God will provide because I am living on purpose and in His will.
Philippians 4:19 ESV / And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Often our students live with financial hardship when they find us. Please take the time to give an offering if you would like to help someone become a student. At Christian Leaders Institute anyone can strengthen their relationship with Jesus.