I live in the San Francisco bay area of California in the United States of America. As with most areas of this wonderful country there are many Christian churches in this area that have a diversity of denominational influences. There are many affluent people in this area but also many people who are struggling and need a lot of help. I can help in some ways, but I know the One that can help in all the ways that truly matter.
After many years of prayer from my faithful Grandmother, and during the last few months of my Grandfather’s life, I watched my stern, unrelenting, stubborn Grandfather get to a point that all he wanted to do was hear the word and praise and worship music. I realize that some people who wait until 12th hour to surrender to God, die in the 11th; but my Grandfather’s transformation during those last few months really led me to realize how real God is and inspired me to seek Him for myself.
My ministry dream is simple in theory but the details have yet to be worked out. At the risk of sounding cliché, I truly want God to open the doors to which I’m to walk through and close those that I should not. That doesn’t mean that I don’t want the responsibility of doing what is right or that I’m unwilling to put forth the works to my faith in finding which path God would have me to take, but ultimately I want His word and His way to be the lamp unto my feet and the light unto my path. It has been prophesied over me that I will be in the ministry and I believe this to be true, I’ll let God lead me in the direction He sees fit.
A scholarship to CLI is important to me because man dies from a lack of knowledge. Moreover, as your lessons have already taught, the best way to become closer to God and truly know Him is by studying His word (to show thyself approved). I have been involved in the ministry in some capacity for a number of years but at a young age (26) I’m not foolish enough to believe that I don’t have a whole lot to learn. As I mentioned before, I want to be led by God in everything I do, but I want to do my part in preparing myself for whatever avenue He so chooses for my life.
My wife and I covet your prayers for us. To be specific: praying for God’s direction in my life and my wife’s health. My wife has been diagnosed with severe Fibromyalgia and degenerative arthritis. She has been going through severe pain and sleepless nights for almost 3 years. Thank you, sincerely.
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My name is Christopher Lee Gentry and I am 39 years old. I live in Yucca Valley, California in America with Jamie my wife of three years. Yucca Valley is a small community and I have lived here off and on since I was twelve years old. The town in which I live is very liberal and predominantly occupied by those involved in Secular Humanism, New Ageism, and Occultism. It is very hard to witness for Christ in this area and there is great opposition by many who live here. I too was ignorantly involved in the New Age Movement being that I grew up in this area and therefore just went along with the culture. This area was also one of the first to be overrun by meth amphetamines in the early nineties. I was involved in with drugs and occultism before coming to Christ in 1998.
In 1998 my drug addiction had become unmanageable and I was tormented by demonic creatures that I could see and hear physically. The people I had chosen to befriend were heavily into occultism and they had been initiating me into a cult called The New World Order. Upon failing initiation I found myself in terrible danger from this cult. I had been sentenced to death by their counsel and in terror of what was getting ready to happen I cried out to God for help. To my surprise I was not only released by this cult but actually driven to a local church and dropped off in the parking lot. I was invited in and that night I confessed my sin in front of a small crowd while crying out to God and accepted Jesus Christ. At the end of the service a group of young men surrounded me and begin praying for me while crying out to God. I felt a powerful presence fall on me and then one of the young men declared that I had been baptized in the Holy Ghost. I have felt the presence of God with me ever since.
God called me that night to ministry and through a later prophecy revealed to me that I would be a witness to the very people that had been trying to involve me in their cult. My ministry dream is to achieve the proper training and to go come back into this area and change the odds in God’s favor. I want to be a pastor who outreaches to the drug addicts and victims of the occult in this and other communities. It seems no one is really addressing the issue here and that someone needs to expose these dangers for what they truly are.
I would associate most closely to being an Evangelist. I desire to bring non-believers into the fold and then be available also to pastor them.
The key issue for me to pursue ministry was my salvation experience and God’s power to deliver me from the forces of darkness. I want to be available for those who need someone to lead them in this deliverance experience as well.
There is a great challenge here in California due to the liberalism and idea that god is who you want him to be. Homosexual marriages are newly legal and the people seem to just be without desire for God. Occultism, New Ageism, and Secular Humanism are everywhere and if you simply say the name Jesus in a reverent tone you are offending someone.
I have been attending the largest church in a 20 mile radius which is also a church that seems too involved in itself to welcome new members. I have been praying and will be moving to a smaller church that I have attended several times by the leading of the Holy Ghost. I feel that there will be a much more personal support level there.
Currently my extended family members are non- believers and involved in occultism. My wife has accepted Christ but seems to have very little desire to know Him personally. I have been working on this through prayer and have convinced her to begin doing devotions and attending church with me.
A scholarship is important to me due to the fact that I have no income as of right now. I have a bad back and have had to give up my usual occupation as a cook. My wife is supporting both of us on a minimum wage job. I would not be able to attend a bible college if it was not for this ministry. I know God has called me to ministry and it was no coincidence that I came across this Institute.
Called to Share Jesus
Christian Leaders Institute is giving ministry training to those who are called to share Jesus in their community. Many who study at CLI are “unlikely” Christian leaders. But one common characteristic is that God has revealed himself and that they sense that they are called to share Jesus in this world.
Graduate Wendy Pepe is one such person. Read her story and get inspired to also be called to share Jesus with others!
I am a Christian who had gone astray. I was in desperate need of direction and a miracle. That is just what I received. I had been in trouble with alcohol and drugs and could not find my way out. I had two children, was enrolled in a prestigious nursing program and was able to keep everything under cover until my husband needed emergency surgery and was out of work. I needed to stay home from school to care for him and we had no means of income. In desperation and with no where to turn, I finally did what I should have done years ago, I turned to God. I found myself on my knees in tears asking God to forgive me for the way I had been living my life. He did and has since freed me from the bondage I felt so enslaved to, and has given me knew life and another chance.
That was several years ago and since then I have been experiencing the joy I remembered from my past. God has revived me and given me a new appreciation for who He is and a better understanding of His grace. I have also been involved in outreach and have begun a ministry in my local church for those struggling with addictions. I know that the Lord is the only answer. My burning desire is to share with others the peace and joy that I have found in knowing Jesus Christ. I desire to follow Him wherever He leads me and strongly feel this is His will for my life.
If you are called to share Jesus with others and you need high quality ministry training, take opportunity to gain free access to over 20 online classes. Join Wendy and thousands of others who are also called to share Jesus with others.
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