I was born in 1986, in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, to a loving family. I have an older brother who is married with three great children. I completed my Masters degree in 2011 from the University of Rhode Island in Political Science.
Since I was a boy, I have had a desire to get closer to God and live by the standards my family had instilled in me: family, respect, and dedication. Throughout the years, God has played a major role in my life: through natural disasters, a car accident, our house burning down right before Christmas when I was 7, surgery, and other life altering events. I have recognized His hand in my life and know there have been many times when He has shown me the right path, but I have gone the other way. Yet because of His faithfulness, He has brought me to where I am today, a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
My ministry goal is to bring God’s principles and values to my community. I have had to decide what kind of man I am going to be and what it means to follow Christ, and I want to help others walk with Him too. I know they will stumble and fall like I have but hopefully, together, we can become more Christ- like and bring Jesus to our community. As God changes us from within, I know that His grace will affect others around us.
Currently I am a minister with American Fellowship Church. I long to grow in my knowledge of the Scriptures and see how things work and fit together. I have read my Bible from cover to cover and seek further understanding. Getting a scholarship from CLI would help tremendously. I know the classes will be a great building block for future studies, plus they have already been a tremendous tool in helping me understand my mission and goals.
At this time in my life I do not have the means to pursue a formal Biblical degree nor would my job allow it, so I am grateful that CLI offers donation based, online, bible training. This makes it possible for me to have a good quality education while still being able to work and focus on my own personal walk with God.
Called to service this Pennsylvania man escaped a life of panic, anxiety and addiction. Delivered by Jesus, Christian Leaders Institute student Jamie Marks tells us his inspiring testimony.
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I am Jamie Marks, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to service and set apart for the gospel of God. I live in Meadville, PA of the United States of America.
–1 Corinthians 1:26-27 ESV / “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;”
I began talking to God when I was 5 or 6 years old and I was saved when I was 12. A van ministry picked up kids in our area for a vacation Bible school. This vacation Bible school is where I learned about Jesus for the first time.
When I was 18 I first felt called to service for the Lord. I took it serious enough that I enrolled in a Bible school. I stayed one year before I left thinking I would be better off in a different school. Little did I know that I would not take my calling serious again for many many years. All of my time was spent running from the Lord.
I ran but I could not hide. Over and over throughout my life the Lord would remind me of what he wants me to do. Over and over I would ask,” why me? There are plenty who you can ask.” Sometimes I would simply say I couldn’t be called to service in the Lord. I always had an excuse.
As a result of not walking with God and not even trying to obey Him I suffered greatly. Addiction, panic attacks, anxiety and depression were my life. The Lord was always with me and in short periods of clarity He would often remind me I was called to service by Him. At one such time I decided I would just tell the Lord I will do what He wants. As soon as I did this my life changed. No panic attacks, anxiety was gone and I was healed from my addiction.
Saying I will do as Jesus asks was one thing. I had to show the Lord I was serious. I asked my pastor about school and he sent me some suggestions via e-mail. As I was searching Christian schools on line I came across Christian leaders Institute. I book marked the site to read later.
I was skeptical about on-line Bible training so I prayed about going to a brick and mortar school. A school that was accredited and I could earn that fancy degree I thought I needed. The more I looked for a school and weighed the expense; I came to realize I cannot afford to attend a Bible college or just up and move to a campus someplace. I felt so discouraged and began to pray about being called to service in God. One day I opened my favorites and Christian Leaders Institute popped right out at me.
This is when I started Christian Basics Certificate courses. I figured that at least the Lord would see I was serious and heard Him when I was called to service. Perhaps Christian Leaders Institute is just the beginning? I can always attend another seminary when I am more able. Financially, if it were not for CLI, I simply would not be able to obey being called to service with the Lord this soon. This is why a scholarship is so vital to me right now.
My ministry dream is to do the best I can in leading others to the Lord. Being an evangelist seems to fit right now but pastor I am sure will happen someday. Whatever the lord wants from me; I just need to be prepared. With my pastor’s help and CLI, I will be on the right path. I am sure the Lord will see I am trying to be as obedient as I can, called to service, with what resources I have. One thing is for sure; I am tired of running and know I cannot hide from being called to the service Jesus has provided me.
If you want to pray for me; pray that I learn to be prepared for whatever the Lord will have me do. God bless all of you!
IN HIS GRIP: Jamie Marks
Called to service by Jesus, Jamie even tried to distance himself from God to avoid his calling. When Jesus tells you there is a special path for you, it is ultimately where you will be placed.
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Born in Zimbabwe This Man Follows Dreams to Pursue Ministry Training and Becoming a Pastor. He wants to teach the Bible and teach Faith in Christ to college level, high school and younger students. Many areas of South Africa experience living and life conditions that leave some residents without access to formal education or Christian ministry training. Christian Leaders Institute is donation supported. This allows us to offer quality online ministry training free across the globe.
We would like to introduce Patience Nziradzemhuka a Christian Leaders Institute student. The following is his story and what brought him to pursue ministry training. We pray this and the many other student stories bless you and inspire you to also seek training or simply want to learn more about Jesus.
My name is Patience Nziradzemhuka and I’m 24 years of age. I was born in 1990, in a town in Zimbabwe. Today I currently reside in South Africa. I migrated to my present area in 2012 while I was in search of greener pastures. I thank God my ministry dream was rekindled when I first stepped into this area. I felt a need to pursue ministry training but was not sure how.
My father died in the year 2000 and we were left with our mom to look after me and my brothers. At some point after my father’s death we were forced to migrate to rural areas here in South Africa. When I was in high school a group of youth preachers came to our area preaching about repentance. I was so touched by what they taught. I wasn’t pleased with the way I was living and with them I gave my life to Jesus. That was in 2008 and it was a great day in my life. After that time I decided to attend a local Methodist denomination church. In 2010 I moved to an urban area nearby and started going to ‘Apostolic Faith Mission’ which was a Pentecostal church.
My dream is to pursue ministry training so we can raise up a youth that fear God and walk according to the love that was shared on the cross. It came to me that if no one had preached to me when I was in high school what could have happened to me? Now I would like to go back to my home area and engage in a schools ministry. I would be preaching and teaching to youth in colleges and high schools about knowing God when you are still young.
The day I gave my life to Jesus in 2008 completely changed my life. I had focus knowing that there was eternal life to come. Thank God for Christian Leaders Institute. I came to know that eternal life starts the day you give your life to Christ. That experience alone and seeing my old friends and colleagues still living in sin, unsaved, has prompted me to pursue ministry training. With Christian Leaders Institute I can pursue Ministry training free and safe online.
A unique challenge I have faced here in South Africa is if you try to enroll with a local Bible school the first priority is students from their own denominations. Another issue is we have different races and the majority of locals don’t understand English. This is especially true in the very rural areas.
My local church has been of positive impact in my ministry training. With the help of my pastor and mentor, Pastor Nelson Vutabwashe, I have had opportunities to grow. I have been given an opportunity to run a campaign with the youth and sometimes I get to preach at a church service.
My family has played a major role in my calling to pursue ministry training. Thanks to my mother who has been a pillar of strength. She encouraged me in times when I was losing hope. My mother told me that with God all things are possible. We study the Bible together as a family and pray. This has contributed positively in my calling.
At this point in time I really thank God for Christian Leaders Institute because it stands with donations we contribute. I am the one who is now responsible for the family which my father left. My finances are squeezed and I cannot afford a paid institution for my dreams to come true. I really appreciate the miracle of being awarded a scholarship at CLI. Without it I could not pursue ministry training during this time of my life.
Please pray for me that I may have depth in the knowledge in the Bible and that I mature very quickly so I may be able to lead others to Christ.
As you can see free online ministry training offered through Christian Leaders Institute is useful to many across the world. As Patience grows in his walk he looks forward to teaching younger people about Jesus so they might have the tools to help them early in their lives.