Spiritual Growth Journey

Spiritual Growth Journey

My name is Cindy Bingaman and I have been on a spiritual growth journey. I currently live in Harrogate, Tennessee, USA. I have lived in 9 states and 2 countries.

I am the youngest of 3 children and the only daughter. We were raised in a Christian home and sent to Christian schools. We were there every time the church doors opened. I received Christ as my Savior early on but it wasn’t until I was in my mid-twenties that I really started to gain a deeper understanding. It’s only been within the last 2 years that I have come to understand God’s amazing grace on my spiritual growth journey. Grace was not taught nor practiced in my family. My own mother and father disinherited me 3 times.

In my late thirties, I went through a horrible divorce and I was spiraling out of control. I lived in an area with no family for support, 2 beautiful children to raise, and an ex-husband that would not help in any financial way. At 41, I was at the end of myself. I begged God to be Lord of my life on my spiritual growth journey.

Shortly thereafter, God brought me to my husband, Les. We went through middle school and high school together. He had gone through a horrible marriage too. He was in Germany, I was in North Carolina. God worked in and through us both in healing emotional scars. Jesus Christ has been the center of our relationship. We have been married for 8 years.

We live in a small rural town. It was not our intention to be here. God just brought us here. My husband is a retired military disabled veteran. God knew what Les needed, peace and quiet.
Our area, although it’s in the “Bible Belt” meaning there is a church on nearly every corner, is 85% unchurched or have left the church. The church we are attending is reaching out to the 85%. It is only 3 years into the ministry. We are growing. My pastor asked if I would lead a women’s Bible study. In the past, I would have said no. Les and I were starting to study Jonah prior to his asking, so I did not say no. I spent days in prayer. I kept coming back to the excuse of not being equipped.

Then, God brought me to Christian Leaders Institute. As I poured over the website, I thought I would love to go through the entrepreneur track. Still, more prayer and God said you will do women’s ministry track. I started the getting started class. Now I am hungry for more. So much prayer has been poured into “God show me where you want me”. I had thought about going back to school, but there is no Bible Seminary and I am my husband’s caregiver. He has so many doctors appointments and the VA hospital is a 2-hour drive. Attending a school would not be possible.

My pastor has agreed to be one of my mentors. He is very excited about this. We talked about ordination which he also thinks is great. He is encouraging me to get a Chaplain certificate as that would open even more doors of opportunity. I am so excited, it is as if scales have fallen from my eyes on this spiritual growth journey. I’m seeing the possibilities for where God can use me. All of this because of God’s amazing grace!! Thank you, CLI, for making this possible!

Learn about minister ordination with Christian Leaders Alliance.