Ministry Life Ordination

My name is David Ruhman and I live in the central United States with my wife and five children. I grew up in the church as my dad was a pastor in the Presbyterian Church for over 45 years. Church has always been in my DNA, the DNA of our family, and was part of my Christian High School and college. I came to a saving knowledge of Christ’s sacrifice for my sins during the summer between my 8th and 9th grade school years. It was in the mountains of upper New York State where I heard the Gospel message and saw the majesty of God and understood that this was for me. Unfortunately, my church background and my exposure to religion impeded my development in learning to experience Jesus Christ in a living intimate relationship. God was not deterred by my attempts to save my face as He continued to seek me through the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit on my ministry life ordination journey.

After a long period of time, God reached me through the opportunity to attend a Marked Men for Christ Phase I weekend, a Tres Dias Reunion Group and a Tres Dias Weekend. I needed to come to a place of failure. A real encounter with my inability to manage my own life coupled with the knowledge that my soul was wounded. Only through allowing Jesus to save my life was I going to experience a real encounter with my Lord and Savior. Marked Men For Christ’s Phase I program showed me the five wounds of a man’s soul. In this weekend, I saw my pain in a different light and for the first time, I encountered men who celebrated my salvation. I know it sounds weird, but at no time in church or organized religion could I remember breaking down my defenses and encountering my pain and then celebrating my new life in Christ. That was exactly what this weekend did for me. As one part of my follow up, I joined a Tres Dias Reunion group. The chance to attend a Tres Dias Weekend occurred as I was completing my Marked Men For Christ Phase II process and moving into a Marked Men For Christ Phase III accountability group. At the Tres Dias Weekend, I was undone by the love and work of the Holy Spirit in my life, which took my love for Jesus Christ into real change. I was losing my false ideas about church and religion and encountering Jesus Christ in a real, dynamic life-changing relationship as He prepared me for my ministry life ordination.

I started the Christian Leaders Institute classes as a way of getting legitimate credentials to officiate at my daughter’s wedding. It was a simple goal of giving her a gift; however, God had other plans for my work in this endeavor. He wanted to see me develop the lifestyle of a minister. I had a not-so-great experience with ministry growing up. It was not bad; however, it was sometimes overwhelming. The CLI classes opened my eyes to see the real relationship I am to have with Jesus Christ. It allowed me to see how real ministry should be conducted and offered to others through my ministry life ordination. The Deacon Minister Ordination class was an extension of this change that was occurring in my life. It caused me to see the nature of the ministry I was already doing with others and how my personal study of God’s Word was impacting hurting people.

I will engage in life-long ministry with others through the practices I have developed as a result of my CLI classes. I am serving now with Marked Men For Christ and Tres Dias. I am giving back to the places that I have gained a growing, dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ. What I do has shifted from a thing that benefits me to the thing that brings glory to God. I have learned to lay my life and will down to accomplish the unique design God has laid out for my ministry life ordination. I am actively living a life committed to the message of Christ and the building of God’s Kingdom. If I did not have the opportunity I have with CLI, I would not have learned the tools for making what I was experiencing become my life practice. I would not be prepared to marry my daughter in the spiritual way that God intended her ceremony to be conducted. I would not be open to speaking to anyone and everyone who is crossing my path on a daily basis. God has opened the life of ministry before me and I am using His love and His Word to make a difference in the lives of others. I would ask that anyone who reads this pray for me to continue to live the real life modeled for me through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and that my ministry life ordination brings glory to God.

Learn about Ordained Minister Study programs at Christian Leaders Alliance.