Ordained Associate Pastor

My name is Arthur Somma and I am blessed to become an Ordained Associate Pastor. I’ve been married to my wife, Laura, for thirty years and we have two children aged 18 and 20. My wife and I were born and raised in Waterbury, Connecticut. Together, we’ve owned and operated a business—where we serve people with their insurance needs—for the past 25 years. Thankfully, both of our children are serving in the church today. Our younger son, Joshua, is also a student at Christian Leaders Institute and he intends to work in ministry as a youth pastor. Our older son, Lucas, is a double major in Biblical Studies and Counseling & Human Services at Moody Bible Institute. In the late 80s, I attended Bible studies with my brother-in-law, Ralph, for three years before becoming a Christian. I was a skeptic at heart and I challenged every teaching. Yet, through love, Ralph and the rest of the Bible study continued to invest in me. At 24 years old, the Holy Spirit softened my stiff heart and I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior on April 4, 1990.

Over the last 20 years, my wife and I served in many capacities in the church body from teaching children’s church, assisting in our youth programs, and serving as Deacons. The church where we were attending launched The Antioch School, a Bible curriculum for leaders. The classes at Antioch inspired me to search out a more formal Biblical training. When that school ended at our church, I later found Christian Leaders Institute in 2015. From The Antioch School to CLI, I’ve participated in a formal study of the Bible that has equipped me to be a better leader and an ordained Associate Pastor.

As a result of my training, over the last four years, my wife and I have been hosting a small group in our home. We have a new appreciation for service and two years ago we joined Higher Ground Christian Church, where I’ve had the opportunity to serve in and outside the church walls. Here, our pastor saw the calling on my family’s life for ministry. He began asking me to preach when he was away. Then, six months ago, he asked me to become an Ordained Associate Pastor. We came to the agreement that I should finish my formal education at CLI, and now that I have, God has been nudging me in the direction to step into the Associate Pastor role. Ministry training from Christian Leaders Institute has given me greater confidence to minister. It will allow me to minister more effectively. Becoming an ordained Associate Pastor with credentials through CLI and Christian Leaders Alliance will advance God’s plan for my life. Already, my training has allowed for many opportunities to serve in the Church.

Author: Henry Reyenga

Henry Reyenga is president of Christian Leaders Institute and Christian Leaders Alliance.