Donna Hosea Liles, Texas, USA Enjoys Proper Ministry Training
I was born in 1965 in the state of Texas in a town where Christian Ministry is welcomed by a large majority; however there are those who oppose it and try to discourage it. There have been so many changes here since my childhood. Now my grandchildren don’t get prayer in classrooms in the morning or at any school event. There is no more speaking with God’s blessings openly in businesses. However, the majority of us Christians here still bless one another and Praise God in public.
My Grandmother, Nadyne, led me to my Faith. I remember as a very young child, with three brothers, Grandma would take me to the First Baptist Church in our hometown. I would get to go every time I stayed with her. Vacation Bible School was also a yearly thing when it came to Grandma’s wishes. I was with the Youth Ministry when I was in High School and would often minister for my classmates. I so loved to worship the Lord and share His Word. Faith carried me through many things growing up. From a dysfunctional home to going through my parents’ divorce when I was thirteen. I and my siblings were separated in that divorce; the two oldest with dad and the two youngest with mom. Visits were uncomfortable when we got together on weekends and both parents were not living right. They did not set good examples at this time of our lives.
As an adult I had three daughters and took them to Church often to build their Faith with the Lord. Jesus is the one they could hold on to through the tough times and the easy times of life’s challenges. He has always been my rock and He needed to be theirs. Without Him I could not have made it to be a mother. My spirit had been broken many times. By the time I was 28 I had my third child and counselors were telling me I had already experienced and lived the life of a 46 year old woman. I sometimes wonder how old those counselors would classify me to seem now. I am a survivor of rape, child molestation, many forms of abuse and even the loss of my youngest child; four days before her 11th birthday. She passed away after battling a rare form of cancer over an 11 month span. Nikole was not afraid to die because she knew her Lord and Savior and where she was going. I Praise God for helping me and guiding me to share His love with my children. Our Faith did give me comfort that she knew Jesus and wasn’t afraid. (2 Corinthians 12:9 – …But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.)
I have asked the Lord to use me as an instrument for his work. I want to share His love with others; his mercy, his forgiveness, his promises. I know now that I had to go through many trials to strengthen me. Satan cannot block my Faith anymore or discourage me. My Lord has strengthened me and with him I can do all things. (Philippians 4:12,13 – 12I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.)
I believe Christian Leaders Institute can help me go farther and make it possible for God to use me as an instrument in many more areas. With proper training and better knowledge through the wisdom of his word I can be more effective in my walk and in my community.
This minister is studying at Christian Leaders Institute to add to her education.
Patricia A. Harris started a non-profit ministry years ago and is now using
Christian Leaders Institute to help her further pursue her dreams…
My Personal Bio…
Hi my name is Patricia A. Harris, of the United States. I’m a divorced mother of six adult children, with twenty-seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. I currently live in Minnesota, in the twin-cities area… I am a Christian Leaders Institute student and enjoying the journey.
My family moved here from Chicago, in 1982, to create a better life for them. I spent the first four years of my life in Milwaukee and the remainder of my childhood in Chicago’s south side. There was no father in our home, but we had a great mom. She was always there for us. We never had to wonder where she was because she never worked outside the home. There was no one to provide for us or help raise us.
I have spent many years trying to help others in one way or another, but I felt that wasn’t the only thing I wanted or needed to do. I knew there was so much more to life than simply helping others with basic needs.
My Early Years…
I came to know the Lord when I was seven years of age. We had the opportunity to get a Bible with our name engraved on it for participating in Sunday School every Sunday. It was a wonderful time in my life when I gave everything I could just to go to Church; though our household was not involved in Church, nor did we pray. Some of my earliest memories are of helping children and making sure they had something to eat.
I remember when I was 12 years old I met a family of four that lived across the street. I noticed sad looks on their faces and went to talk with them. They asked if I could get them some food and they showed me the deplorable conditions they were living in. I cried for those children that day. I brought them home and asked my mother if we could give them some food. We were living in poverty ourselves, but my family always seemed to have enough food to help others. My aunt was visiting us that day and she and my mom decided to call the authorities about the living conditions and the four hungry children. Those children would come to be given a place to live with my aunt.
I’ve come to realize over the years that being the eldest carries great responsibility. I guess you could call me a caretaker/nurturing kind of person because I always enjoy helping others whether in Church or out in the community.
How My Ministry Passion Began…
My passion for ministry was birthed out of volunteering and working in the community in the nonprofit arena. I helped others achieve their goals, find shelter, locate resources and come to a place of stability in their lives. For five years I also worked faithfully in my home Church, starting new ministries, and helping with various others. Then in 2000, after my divorce, I left that Church and moved to Atlanta, Georgia.
In 2003, I moved to Beaufort, SC, to further pursue ministry and to answer the call of God on my life. I worked in the Broomfield United Methodist Church as a teacher and a minister of the Word of God. During that time I had an anointing to start the outreach ministry, “Sons & Daughters of Zion”… Church on the Move”, to bring the nations to the Lord. Currently, I am not involved in this ministry because of illness. God has been taking me through a healing process. Taking classes through Christian Leaders Institute at this time in my life is very good timing.
My Dream….
My dream is to have home bible study groups all over the United States and beyond. To me there is nothing more important or fulfilling. I love teaching and ministering the Word of God and I am truly grateful for the opportunity through Christian Leaders Institute to advance my knowledge. Although my ministry is dormant, it is a joy to be able to gain a Bible education through Christian Leaders Institute.
Please pray for my complete healing in every area of my life so that I can finish the work God is calling me to.
My training with Christian Leaders Institute is important to me because it will give me the opportunity to teach more effectively in the future. I believe that education which has been so freely given, will bring great rewards (Mt 10:8) and we will understand why Jesus said “the Kingdom of God is within you”. (Phil 2:13)
I was born and raised in Livingston Izabal, Guatemala. At the age of 19 I was converted to Christianity. Before then I had believed in Jesus through the teachings of the catholic church, but I had never experienced a personal relationship with Him nor understood the true meaning of His life and dead on the cross. Now I realize that Jesus’ death paid for my sins.
I’ve been struggling with a lot of things lately, especially with my families rejection to the real gospel. But all that has strengthened me to keep my faith and believe that one day I will see my entire family, and community, worshiping the one and only true God through Jesus Christ. I’m married to a beautiful woman and have a beautiful daughter 6 months old.