Jay is called to serve under his pastor to reach his community. His willing and servant's heart is modeled in his ministry.

Breland was born the youngest of 7 in Los Angles, CA in 1975. His parents were married twice, before getting divorced after his own birth. He was raised by his grandmother in Compton, CA

From my early age, Jay realized that God had his hand on him. His grandmother was a Christ-like example that impacted his life as she demonstrated, love compassion, Grace, and wisdom for me. By the age of 12, He sensed the call to ministry.

All was not perfect, however, in his youth. He was armed robbed by gunpoint and or knifepoint at least 5 times yet God intervened each and every single time.

He also developed a pornography habit, that eventually destroyed his own marriage. At age 36, he was divorced and had hit rock bottom.

Jay wrote, "I remember I felt like a failure because my behavior was an embarrassment to God during my marriage. "After the pity party, God once again spoke and said: 'therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus'."

Years later and with God's restoring presence, Jay is now in his early 40s and walking with God. He has been tested and now serving under his local pastor. He has also obtained both a Master's Degree and PhD in Psychology.

He is willing to mentor others who are on the path of ministry.

Jim grew up in a home that was outwardly religious but with little other than an outward religion, though his maternal grandparents had a living faith. As a child, his parents were transferred to the British Isles, and at a Saturday outreach event, he was born again. At college, Jim was involved with IVCF which strengthened his faith. Returning to the Peoria area, he sat under the ministry of Dr. Bruce Dunn, which strengthened his faith.

Jim is not just an ordinary doctor. He is also passionate about the matters of the soul. For instance, he authored the book, The Brightstar Epistles, which is the mirror image of C. S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, an experienced angel guiding another angel ministering to and overseeing a church on Earth.

At 65, Jim has no plans to retire at as a physician or no plans to slow down in his ministry dream.

Jim is willing to assist Christian Leaders Institute graduates to take their next step in ministry. He is willing to help those called to become ordained with the Christian Leaders Alliance.

John Grove lives in Florida working in ministry. He is ordained as a Deacon Minister in 2018 with the CLA.

Read John Grove's testimony below:

"I was born and raised in Baltic, Ohio, where my mom and Grandmother were the spiritual influences in my life. My mom took my siblings and I to church and by the time I was in the fourth grade I had seen two churches go through horrible splits. This caused me to become angry and confused sending me to find answers on my own. I went down the wrong path and I eventually got heavily involved in the occult.

After high school I joined the Navy, I served four years as a gas turbine mechanical technician. After my honorable discharge, I returned to Baltic and became a reiki master. My beliefs at that time would line up with what we now identify as "New Age".
I was introduced to a new pastor in the area who had come to Baltic from Alaska to fill the call at a local church. Larry Smithwick is an expository preacher, which was new to me at the time. He managed to lovingly expose the errors in my thinking by showing me scripture, not just telling me his opinions. Over the next five years Larry, and his wife Shari, chose to invest into the lives of me and my wife, Tanya. I am certain that the discipleship was the missing link for me as a child which allowed me to drift so far from the Truth of GOD.

I now have a burning desire to disciple those who want to know GOD for themselves. I am willing to pour my life into those that want to go that extra mile, just the same as Larry did for me.

Because God used Larry to disciple me I am now the congregational pastor at Living Hope Community Church in Ocala, FL. We have the same passion to make disciples who make disciples and this is why we are partnering with Christian Leaders Alliance in becoming a mentor center.

Joseph has been a student at CLI since 2017 and since then has completed 73 credit hours with us, earned his Deacon ordination and several awards.

A father of 4, a former corporate professional, published author, and talk radio host, Joseph brings experience in the areas of marriage, divorce, infidelity, addiction, online pornography obsession, and depression, as a certified professional counselor and therapist. 

He has served as a spiritual counselor to the elderly and as a street evangelist and street minister to the homeless.  In addition to his diplomas with Christian Leaders Institute.

Joseph has multiple certificates with Harvard University in Christian Studies and has undergone formal training in Deliverance Ministry.

Joseph spent 30 years researching various false religions, reading books such as the Writings of Buddha, the Koran, The Baghadat Gita, and others, before he had his very own "Road to Damascus" experience, and unconditionally gave himself exclusively (with all of his heart, his mind, and his strength) to Christ, recognizing Jesus as "The Way, the Truth, and the Life."  Not just 'a way', but 'The Way'.  

Read Joesph's Testimony in His words

I came to know God through my family, our attendance at Church, and by attending Christian school from Kindergarten to Grade 12.  However, I did not truly realize my walk with God until late in life.  This was inspired by a culmination of life experiences both good and bad.

One day, while struggling with a very unfortunate human event, I gave myself unconditionally and fully to Christ.  Immediately, I was given the strength and wisdom to persevere and overcome.  I realized that prior to that moment, I enjoyed knowing that Christ was there, but I had neglected my faith and had made God the least of my daily priorities.

As I think of my future ministry, the word that comes to mind is a pastor.  I believe that my attributes, experience, and passions, will serve Christ best in this role.  I am enthusiastic and fulfilled at the very thought.  In terms of key experiences that prompted me to pursue my ministry studies, I cannot name only one.  It was a culmination of experiences, and in hindsight, I recognize how over the course of my entire life, God has been preparing me.

I recognize how over the course of my entire life, God has been preparing me.

Connecting to the Bible has transformed me by validating for me all that I had believed previously, but had taken for granted.  I had diluted my faith placing God as a fixture on the periphery of my daily existence, but I had not recognized and realized that he was always there front and center.  Connecting to the Bible has made me realize this.

Joseph is willing to help and serve other CLI students!

Laura Stapleton-Narry is a married ambassador for God. She strives to continue to walk with the Lord and mentor others for the raising up of more revival leaders.

Laura was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas in America. She has spent eight years in missionary work and learning in Europe. A few years ago, She returned to America.

She founded Laura’s Life Transformers, LLC; She is developing a mentor center in PA.

She started Christian Leaders Institute in 2013 and was ordained in 2018. She is willing to mentor Christian Leaders Institute students and graduates in their ministry training and ordination with the Christian Leaders Alliance.