WHO I AM AND WHAT I DO
Hi there, my name is Lindsay Ginn, and I live in an amazing place called Kalgoorlie, Australia. I’m 55 years old and very excited about the Bible and ministry study at Christian Leaders Institute. For just over three years now, I’ve been serving God as a Bush Chaplain within a denomination called The Uniting Church. My work involves a lot of travel through remote countryside in the state of Western Australia. Most weeks, I travel just over 1000 miles, bringing the gift of music to small outback schools. This work is my Kingdom Ministry, and I use it to reach into the hearts of people, giving them the gift of music.
I believe that music can change a life and that everyone should have the opportunity to learn an instrument. I am forever grateful to my parents for giving me the opportunity to learn the organ at the age of seven. It gives me much joy to see children learning the ukulele, guitar, keyboard, and singing. It’s how I connect with communities and build bridges into their lives. On top of that, I also have two church congregations that I pastor. Each element of my work is rewarding and energizing. I love serving God in this way. It is challenging, healing, and refreshing all rolled together.
EARLY YEARS
I grew up on the other side of Australia in a city called Bundaberg in a Christian home. We attended church on a weekly basis. It might come as no surprise, then, that I became a child of God at seven. Each Sunday evening, I listened to different preachers proclaim the Gospel message, followed by a call to salvation. One night, I knew God was tugging at my little heart. That night, I copied word for word a simple prayer that a visiting speaker prayed, and Jesus came into my heart, cleansed me from sin, and made me His child. I was born again. It’s over forty-five years since that life-changing night. The glorious Gospel message still grips my heart. I still get goosebumps when I hear it told and think, “Where would I be without Jesus?”
TEENAGE MINISTRY
The years following my salvation could be described as ‘textbook’ Christianity. I finished my schooling in year ten. As a teenager, I never lived through rebellious periods or strayed away from God. My only desire then was to serve God anywhere, anytime, and anyhow. That remains my desire to this day.
In 1987, I had my first taste of what serving God full-time is like. I spent the year traveling with a Youth For Christ band called ‘The Travellers’ as the keyboard player. That was a life-changing experience. We performed in many schools throughout Australia and even had the honor of supporting David Meece on one of his visits to our country.
Being in this band is also where I shared my testimony for the first time in front of over 1000 young people in Singapore. What a terrifying experience it was! All I could muster the courage to say was, “I was saved when I was seven years old, and I’ve never had any struggles in life.” I even managed to close it off by saying that “Being a Christian is great!” The other band members commented that it was the shortest testimony they had ever heard! The truth is, I was too shy and terrified to say anymore!
OTHER MINISTRY
I continued to serve God in a musical capacity over the following years in other bands and in church ministry. However, I never took further Bible and ministry courses to study.
More recently, I served with my family from 2014 – 2018 as we traveled full-time as a family band. Throughout those years serving with my family, we lived in a motorhome and visited many parts of Australia. We encouraged God’s people, preached the Gospel, and presented the songs that God gave us to anyone who listened. Living by faith and stepping into full-time ministry is daunting. However, at least fourteen people gave their hearts to the Lord as a result of that ministry. Praise God!
NEVER THE SAME AGAIN
In May 2018, I sat in silence high on a hill overlooking the sparse, desert landscape and the city of Kalgoorlie. This town suddenly and unexpectedly became my new home. During the two weeks prior, I lost everything I held dear – my wife, three sons, friends, reputation, bank accounts, and more. Gone, never to be heard from or seen again. At that moment, I didn’t realize how devastating and permanent recent events would be and what their impact would be on my life. In shock, disbelief, denial, and grief, I was very much alone. Nothing was ever going to be the same again.
I often ponder how I would react to people if I was in God’s position, and I’m glad I’m not! That’s because most people wouldn’t get a second chance. I certainly felt as though I didn’t deserve a second chance, but God is not like that. He is full of mercy, slow to anger, abundant in forgiveness, and overflowing with love for His own. On that cold, lonely day, I felt His gentle promise whisper into my heart from Hebrews 13:5. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
NEVER ALONE
I didn’t have much, and I had lost a great deal. However, even in that situation, I could be content, if I chose to be. That’s what God said, and therefore, it is true. It applied to me that day, in my brokenness and loss. It still applies to me today and always will. I also realized that although loneliness and fear gripped my heart, I wasn’t alone. No matter what happens, I am NEVER ALONE, for God is with me always. Psalm 23:4 tells us that even in the valley of the shadow of death, He is with us. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Therefore, I had two choices as I faced my new reality. They were to give up or get up! Thankfully, I chose to get up, believe the promises of God, hold on to hope, and take one step forward at a time, one day at a time. It’s been over five years now since that day, and God remains my rock. Without Him, I would not be here.
Bible and Ministry Study at CLI
I’m now finding new courage to use my gifts for the Kingdom of God as new possibilities and opportunities emerge. I want to be a workman who needs not be ashamed. One who rightly divides the word of truth. I wanted more Bible and ministry study. That’s why I’ve begun this journey here with all of you at the Christian Leaders Institute. I am so thankful for the Bible and ministry study provided through Christian Leaders Institute. Studying at CLI means I can work on my time, at my pace, get credit for what I do, and consistently make progress towards my study goals.
I do feel alone at times. However, the love of God, His constant presence, His unfailing love, and what He has allowed me to go through, drive me on to share the message of Jesus with others. That remains my one and only desire.
2 Timothy 2:15 – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling you in the Getting Started Class at the Christian Leaders Learning Platform. The Getting Started class will take you less than an hour to complete.
When you log in to the Learning Platform, you will notice that the Getting Started Class automatically appears on your dashboard.
The Getting Started Class will orientate you to the Christian Leaders Learning Platform and the Programs offered, including:
- Ministry Awards, Certificates, and Diplomas with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- College Degrees with the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
- Minister Credentialling (Ordination) with the Christian Leaders Alliance, including local Soul Center registration possibilities.
Note: You can enroll in tuition-free courses or mini-courses immediately without finishing the getting started class.
Find out more about women in ministry here.
My name is Kristel Hunt. I have a calling to minister. Therefore, I am online studying ministry and Bible courses at the Christian Leaders Institute.
My husband, Greg, and I live in a small town near Branson, MO. We have been blessed with 28 years of wedded bliss, two sons, and a daughter-in-law. Looking back over my spiritual journey, God has always been with me. Some of the most blessed times I have experienced have been when I am serving God alongside my family.
My Journey
My parents have always been great examples of faithful servants in God’s church. Through their actions, I knew the importance of giving back to my church to further the reach of God’s kingdom. So, likewise, God has shown me what it is like to be a part of His family through the gathering of His people in the church.
After I left home to join life with my husband, the church was not high on the list of priorities. I was not confident in sharing my faith, but then God gave me the desire to join a community of believers again. God led me to ask Greg repeatedly to try a church service with me. He reluctantly agreed. In the next few months, God radically changed Greg’s heart. He was a man on fire for the truth. We both had found a home in the United Methodist Church. I served faithfully in the choir, taught Sunday School, and attended Bible study.
We left Wisconsin to live closer to Greg’s parents in Missouri. However, we didn’t leave our faith in Jesus behind. On the contrary, we needed Him even more. Greg needed healing from the anxiety that came with his job in Wisconsin, and we had two young boys that needed to know God. Therefore, I became involved as a Sunday School teacher for the high school students and then teacher and music leader for the children’s ministry at Kimberling City United Methodist Church.
New Direction
One Sunday, a pastor came into the worship service to tell the congregation of a sister church plant in Reeds Spring, MO. It was a brand-new church to be planted in our neighborhood! The Holy Spirit quickened in my heart when I first heard the plan for this new sister church. God called us to help. I quickly became busy helping advertise for the new church as I was a graphic designer in Branson, MO, at the time. Then after a year or so, I said yes to directing the children’s ministry. What a joy! I got to build a children’s program for my boys like the one I grew up in. I had a great calling and passion for my boys to know who Jesus is and what it means to be a part of his family.
Struggles
I have been blessed as I look at the responsibilities God has entrusted me with over the years. Further, I have had a lot of success in these ministries with the help of God. However, I have struggled while living in that blessing. I was never sure of myself, always doubting my abilities and always putting myself down because I believed the lie that everyone was better than I was in some way. Furthermore, I wallowed in “failure” due to my decision to quit my dream of getting a college degree and having a series of jobs that didn’t last more than a few years at a time.
God has not ever left my mind. I have always believed he died for me and forgave me of my sins. And even though I thought I was trusting God, I was not. My emotions sank, and my anxiety grew every year, thinking of what I failed to do as a wife, mother, daughter, and career woman. To top it off, I suffered from migraines lasting for days. They left me in isolation. Therefore, I withdrew from serving alongside my church family for several years.
Growth
Then God led me to search His Word for my identity in Christ. The Holy Spirit confirmed that I must confidently claim this to come out of the isolation that my emotions, anxiety, and headaches put me in. The Holy Spirit was right! My identity and faith in Christ brought me back to participating in service with my church family. I now use my creative talents with the Praise and Communications teams. My church deemed me LifeSong’s graphic artist, as I take care of all the slides for worship services, put together event flyers, and designed our latest t-shirt. What a blessing to feel useful again! And God has not stopped there.
Encountering God
In September 2022, God blessed me with an encounter with Him that I will never forget. I signed up to attend a women’s conference, Ashes to Beauty, with a group of women from the church. I desperately wanted to spend quality time in God’s presence. There was time for praise, listening, and prayer, and no other responsibilities. God and I had great conversations that weekend. I laid down some heavy burdens I didn’t realize I was carrying. I asked God for forgiveness and help in many areas of my life. As a result, God freed me from the heaviness of depression and anxiety. God also confirmed my calling to minister.
Further, on Saturday night, three young women prayed for me as their hands covered my head. Together, we believed God for a miracle. God answered that prayer with instant and total healing from migraine headaches! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
My Calling to Minister and Study at CLI
Since then, I have known that I am accepted through Christ, and He calls me His daughter. I want everyone to know what I know. And to claim that they are known, forgiven, and accepted by God. God has placed a calling on each of us to be a witness of the Good News in Jesus Christ.
Through the Christian Leaders Institute classes and my understanding of God’s Word given by the Holy Spirit, I am better equipped for my calling to minister. I am also better equipped to be an effective witness. I witness to my family, the church, those that have fallen away, and those that don’t know Jesus yet. My gratitude goes to all the visionary partners of CLI that helped make my dream of furthering my education and answering my calling to minister a reality. One day, I pray that I can partner with CLI to fulfill someone else’s dream. God bless you!
Register a Study Account
Register for a free study account, automatically enrolling you in the Getting Started Class at the Christian Leaders Learning Platform. The Getting Started class will take you less than an hour to complete.
When you log in to the Learning Platform, you will notice that the Getting Started Class automatically appears on your dashboard.
The Getting Started Class will orientate you to the Christian Leaders Learning Platform and the Programs offered, including:
- Ministry Awards, Certificates, and Diplomas with the Christian Leaders Institute.
- College Degrees with the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
- Minister Credentialling (Ordination) with the Christian Leaders Alliance, including local Soul Center registration possibilities.
Note: You can enroll in tuition-free courses or mini-courses immediately without finishing the getting started class.
Find out more about women in ministry here.