Introduction
Hello, my name is Carol Behrens. I’m a child of God, a wife to a wonderful husband, a mother of five. We live in Durban, South Africa, and attend a small Methodist Church in our neighborhood for the past 15 years. I am thankful for the Christian Leaders Institute with its online Theology and ministry courses (Learn more about free online Bible courses, Click Here).
My Life Before Receiving God’s Calling
I grew up in a family of four, with a much older brother. We attended church every Sunday. After school, I started working for a Petroleum Company in a male-dominated industry. In those years, women were either stay-at-home moms or managed an office-bound position. Everything else was a man’s job. Determined to prove myself, it took many years to reach the rank of Regional Sales Manager within this male-dominated industry.
The Calling
Although I managed to achieve a Senior Management position at the company I worked at, it did not feel like I accomplished anything. I felt something was missing in my life. Therefore, we joined our current church in 2006. After my parents-in-law moved to the suburbs, we automatically followed them. My mother passed away in 2006, making me realize that life is not all about work and what type of work you have. At our local church, I started putting my hand up. I volunteered for more duties, from Bible Reading to joining the Choir to becoming a Society Steward.
In June 2011, during a Sunday morning service, it felt like God spoke to me. God was calling me to preach. After talking to my husband about this feeling, we decided to pray and see if the feeling persisted after a few months. However, the feeling did not go away. So, in November 2011, we made an appointment to speak to our Reverend. Our Reverend invited me to attend the “Listening Committee” for the Local Lay Preacher Department of the Methodist Church. They listened to my testimony and allowed me to join the Methodist Church of South Africa as a Lay Preacher.
In 2012, I officially started my training as a Lay Preacher. For the next three years, I studied at a Christian College to obtain a Senior Certificate in Theology. I also studied at the Methodist Church (Wesley Studies), while doing services in my local church. I had one trial service per quarter marked also for study purposes. In 2016, the Methodist Church of South Africa accepted me as an Official Local Lay Preacher after I completed my studies.
My hope for the future
I always hoped to complete a degree in Theology and to start an online Ministry. Further, it became apparent over the past two years due to Covid that our Churches are suffering. People are too scared to attend, and they are searching for spiritual guidance online. I’m so thankful that God led me to the Christian Leaders Institute for online Theology and ministry courses. Now I can further my studies and work towards my goal of starting an online ministry. Thank you, CLI!
Steps to Sign Up At Christian Leaders Institute
Step 1 – Register for a free study account that automatically enrolls you in the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2.
After you register, you will automatically be enrolled in the “getting started” course. You will locate the course at your “home” button when you are logged in. Scroll down to find the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2 Link. Click the link and open the course.
Step 2 – Complete Part 1 of this course, and then you are allowed to enroll in mini-courses or regular courses.
The Christian Leaders Getting Started Class Part 1 shows you how to enroll in courses and mini-courses. Part 2 of the course connects your calling into ministry with programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute. Part 2 will offer some ministry training and introduce you to the other programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute.
Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the CLI’s Leadership Excellence School.
