Seeking Deacon Minister Ordination

Seeking Deacon Minister Ordination

My name is Debbie Holland, one seeking deacon minister ordination. I am seeking Deacon Minister Ordination with Christian Leaders Alliance. I am newly widowed as of December 10th, 2018, and I am a mom to two sons aged 44 and 32 and a grandma to one 7-year-old grandson. With a passion for health and fitness, in 2010 I became a Certified Personal Trainer and later a Running Coach. I was a distance runner for over 40 years. I love working out, hiking and the outdoors. However, my biggest passion is God’s Word and discipleship.

Early Life and Conversion

I was born in Old Fort, North Carolina on May 12th, 1958. I am the oldest of six children. My childhood was very dysfunctional and filled with abuse in all forms including sexual, verbal, physical, and spiritual. As a result of the damage, I left home at the age of 15. Because of poor choices, I only completed 8th grade in school. In 1983, I returned to school and earned my GED. On a path of self-destruction, I transitioned from one abusive relationship and experience to another for several years.

In November of 1984, a co-worker invited me to church. I agreed to go, and that day my life was forever changed. Though I tried, I could not run from God. He had been calling me to give my heart to him since I was a small child. Unfortunately, my earthly canvas of Christ was extremely distorted. Psalm 40:1-3 (NIV), “I waited patiently for the LORD, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire, and he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.”

Journey to Ministry and Seeking Deacon Minister Ordination

Since my conversion, I have had a passion for knowing Christ and His Word. As a result of the abuse suffered, I turned to God and the Bible in pursuit of healing. God used the story of Joseph and his brothers to show me what Satan meant for evil; God allowed for good. Though it has taken years and been a roller coaster ride, God has brought tremendous healing to my broken heart. I feel God has called me to be a vessel of hope for those who have suffered similar life circumstances. Isaiah 61:1 (ESV), “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the LORD has anointed me to bring the good news to the poor; to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”

December 30, 2012, I married the love of my life, Pastor Paul Holland. We were blessed to serve together in churches in Florida, Montana, and Michigan. He was a lead pastor of a church in Traverse City, Michigan until he collapsed on May 18th, 2018. He was diagnosed with very rare and aggressive brain cancer and given 2-8 months to live. As a result of the complications of cancer, I was his full-time caregiver. He lived nearly seven months from his diagnosis and then went home to be with the One he served faithfully for 25 years in the ministry on December 10, 2018. He was 56 when he went to his new address. Cancer did not win! God did! His purpose this side of heaven was complete.

Ministry Calling, Training at CLI, and Seeking Deacon Minister Ordination

Over 34 years as a believer, I have served in various areas of ministry including Women’s Ministry Leader, Children’s Department Leader, Lay Counselor, Sound Engineer, Pastor’s wife, and more. I attended a state college in my earlier years and then transferred to Liberty University. I planned to return as a junior in their Seminary Program this March. However, due to limited finances after my husband’s death, that was not feasible.

In January 2019, I found Christian Leaders Institute, and it is the answer to my prayers. I have long felt the call into women’s pastoral ministry. However, I allowed my fears, shame, lack of confidence and limited finances to hold me back. Thankfully, none of those things stopped the still small voice of the Lord. He called me to step out by faith and go back to college. Thankfully, I found CLI!

While seeking deacon minister ordination, my goal is to earn a Commissioned Pastoral Diploma, an Associate of Divinity, and Bachelors of Divinity or Chaplaincy. My prayer is that God will open a position with a church as their women’s pastor. I love to dig into the Word and am seeking deacon minister ordination. I am passionate about discipleship and equipping women to be all that God has called them to be in the kingdom.

Personal Life Post from Blog

Throughout my husband’s illness, I began to blog more faithfully. Following is a recent blog post:

One of the many questions people have asked since Paul changed addresses is, “Where are you going to live?” Naturally, most thought I would move back to Florida to be near my son Michael and grandson Gabe. However, it is evident God took us back to Montana. I feel that is where I am to remain for the foreseeable future.

A couple of nights after Paul’s transition, I was chatting with a good friend and text counselor, Pastor Jeff Goodwin. We were discussing some major decisions causing me turmoil. As our text conversation ensued, I told him about one of the young girls here, Maysa. She asked if I would baptize her when I returned home from Michigan. He was blessed to hear this news, and I said, “See, Paul’s ministry continues!” Momentarily, he replied, “No, his ministry is complete.” After pondering his response, I replied, “So…the mantle has been passed?” He simply replied, “YES.” That opened wide the floodgates and tears spilled down my cheeks.

The Mantle Has Been Passed

The story of Elijah summonsing Elisha to the office of Prophet came to mind. By placing the mantle also called the `addereth in ancient Hebrew history, on Elisha’s shoulders, it was a symbolic act denoting Elisha’s call to the office of prophet by God. (1 Kings 19:19-21) While the call to be a prophet could be a debatable subject for some, that is not the purpose of my writing. The summons to full-time ministry is not debatable regardless of one’s vocation.

Paul’s earthly ministry was completed on December 10th, 2018; however, my ministry and yours continues. The fruit of his ministry will be carried on by those who were impacted by the call God had on his life.

The mantle has been placed symbolically upon each of our shoulders denoting the call God has on our lives to be ministers of the redemptive and restorative work of Christ. God has equipped each of us with a unique set of spiritual gifts. We were created for a purpose that can only be fulfilled by us. We are all called to full-time ministry in our jobs, homes, communities, and churches.

Follow God’s Call

With mantle securely in place, will you too, follow the summons on your life and seek to be full-time ministers allowing God to use your spiritual gifts to share the love and message of Christ to those around you in your home, job, communities, and churches? Elisha had a choice to accept the summons and so do we. Choose well, my friend.

John 15:16  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.