Called to Serve in Ministry

Introduction

Greetings, brothers and sisters in Christ! My name is Barbara Kelly Ernst, and I am called to serve in ministry. I have used my middle name since birth, so please call me Kelly. I am a 50-year-old mother of two adult daughters aged 29 and 30 years old. Also, I have 4 cats named Calypso, Chimmy, Koya, and Valerie, and a ferret named Shooky. I am studying at the Christian Leaders Institute because I am called to serve in ministry (Learn more about online Bible courses, Click Here).

Early Life, Conversion, and Call to Ministry

“Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to all the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:4-5 (ESV)

What many call the “Roman Road to Salvation” were the first Bible verses I learned during my childhood. They were also how I was introduced to the concepts of sin, forgiveness, and salvation. I was saved and baptized at the age of 13. As I look back on my life now, I believe I received God’s calling to ministry at a very young age but chose to run from it for many years.

Running from God

So, I was running from God, but He was always right beside me, even when I was doing things I knew I should not be doing. At one point, I became addicted to prescription medications. In my desperation to get away from the drug culture, I cried out to God. Only through His grace was I able to overcome my addiction. I have been clean and drug-free for 27 years. My thanks go to God for my sobriety every single day.

Another time in my life, I dabbled in witchcraft due to peer pressure and out of rebellion against God. I tried to turn my back on all I knew to be right. I even tried to convince myself that all I was doing was praying. So, if I wasn’t harming anyone, it was okay. Unfortunately, I realized later that I was harming someone: myself and my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I know others struggle to break that cycle of evil in their lives. Have faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, pray for forgiveness, and He will break the chains that bind you! He will save you through His divine grace!

Accepting His Call to Serve in Ministry

“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8 (ESV)

Not so many years ago, I lived in my car with my younger daughter and our pet ferret Dante in a Wal-Mart parking lot. We were on the Gulf Coast of Florida shortly after Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on the area. My older daughter had stolen our rent and bill money to buy drugs. We lost everything we had worked so hard for. I was at the end of my rope.

I had tried for so long to do things “my way,” but nothing worked. One night, as I was sitting in that parking lot, sweating from the heat and in tears, I cried out to God and prayed for the first time in many years. I told Him I had tried things my way for far too long but realized now it was time to try it His way. Then, I asked Him to put me where He wanted me to be as I rededicated my life to the Lord. I made a promise that night that if He led, I would follow.

Over the last few years, I sought God’s divine guidance in my life. He has faithfully led and guided me into situations that have helped me grow in my relationship with Him and understand His calling on my life. God provided so many blessings for my obedience to the promise I made to Him that night.

Christian Leaders Institute/Christian Leaders College

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

I believe the Lord led me to Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) and Christian Leaders College (CLC) to bless me. At CLI/CLC, God continues to lead me in my growth as a Christian and allows me to bless others and lead them to the Lord. CLI/CLC has helped me continue growing and understanding the calling God placed on my life to serve in ministry. Being an ordained deacon minister through the Christian Leaders Alliance (CLA) and my local church lends credibility to my ministry. My call to serve in ministry is in counseling other women in need of God.

I have been accepted into the Christian Leaders College and am currently pursuing the Associate of Divinity degree. My plan is to continue toward the Bachelor of Divinity and seek ordination as a Minister of the Word through the Christian Leaders Alliance and my local church.

To my fellow students of CLI/CLC/CLA, please pray for me to continue growing and walking closer to the Lord as I follow this ministry path He has set before me.