Ordination for Ministry

Hello to my family in Christ. My name is Vann Jones (actually Donald Vann Jones, but everyone knows me as Vann); I live in Mocksville, NC, USA. I am studying for ordination for ministry at the Christian Leaders Institute.

My Spiritual Journey

I have called myself a Christian for my entire life. However, until relatively recently, I scarcely understood what that title truly entailed. I grew up attending church, but it was more a social club than a place of worship. Although I was baptized at around nine, I never connected with God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit on a personal level. God, religion, and church went on the back burner during my teen years. It stayed that way for more than 35 years.

After retiring from a career in air traffic control with the FAA in Charlotte, NC, I moved back to the small town of Mocksville. I also reconnected to the church. At first, it was much like it had been before: more social than spiritual. However, as I began to get more involved, something changed. The leaders asked me to teach a Sunday School class for young adults. I had done some teaching in both the U.S. Air Force and in the FAA. So, teaching was easy for me. What I didn’t realize was that, spiritually, I was wholly unqualified for the task. I began teaching facts and systems rather than biblical wisdom. But as I began to spend more time reading and listening, something shifted.

New Understanding and Growth

Then the leaders asked me to be a part of a committee to update the vision and mission statement for our church. It was at that point that the light dawned on me and showed me what the Gospel is all about. I explored discipleship. Through the writings of Jim Putman, C.S. Lewis, and others, and really reading the Bible for the first time, the Holy Spirit started working on and in me. It was as if I had truly been blind but was now seeing more clearly. I reaffirmed Jesus as my Savior and found myself hungry to learn more and to make a real impact.

Now, I am a Certified Lay Servant with the United Methodist Church. I want to advance my knowledge and my spiritual maturity. I enjoy teaching. So, I plan to continue to learn and pass that knowledge along to others. I also want to help others to find the path that eluded me for so long. So, perhaps I am pursuing the role of a teacher-evangelist.

My goal is to help my church return to its intended role. To be a congregation that worships God, studies the Word, and serves each other and our community. In other words, a church of genuine biblical discipleship. The education that I plan to take away from Christian Leaders Institute will help me advance that goal.

Profile Update: Ordination for Ministry Journey Continues

I began my ordination for ministry journey a little over five years ago. I was active in my local church – teaching a Sunday school class, working with the youth, leading the choir, and such. However, I realized that I was woefully untrained and unprepared for the tasks before me. I began to search for a way to get real, quality Bible and ministry training online. There were a lot of “order credentials online” sites. There were also high-cost online universities and seminaries available, but quality training at a reasonable cost was elusive. Fortunately, I discovered the Christian Leaders Institute, and I’ve been taking classes online since 2018.

As my training has progressed, I have found numerous opportunities to serve, officially and unofficially, in ministry to others. I have spoken at funerals, taught classes, prayed with those in need, and even done some substitute preaching in my church. As I have continued along this path, I have felt a calling to take the next step into ordination, making official my dedication to Christ and His service. Among the motivations to move forward in this was a recent request by a dear friend to officiate at her wedding. I am looking forward to being a part of her and her future husband’s entrance into a new life together.

Laborer for Christ

I see so many opportunities to share Christ with others, inside and outside the church organization. Matthew 9: 35-38 says, “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’”

CLI has been instrumental in helping me understand how to be a steward for Christ’s Church and a blessing to those I come in contact with. I don’t know how far my path and training for ordination for ministry will lead, perhaps as far as a Minister of the Word. Time, and God’s will, will tell the story. In the meantime, I will try with God’s help to act as a faithful servant. Please keep me in your prayers.

Steps to Sign Up At Christian Leaders Institute

Step 1 – Register for a free study account that automatically enrolls you in the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2. 

After you register, you will automatically be enrolled in the “getting started” course. You will locate the course at your “home” button when logged in. Scroll down to find the Christian Leaders Getting Started Course Part 1 &2 Link. Click the link and open the course.

Step 2 – Complete Part 1 of this course, and then you are allowed to enroll in mini-courses or regular courses. 

The Christian Leaders Getting Started Class Part 1 shows you how to enroll in courses and mini-courses. Part 2 of the course connects your calling into ministry with programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute. Part 2 will offer some ministry training and introduce you to the other programs offered through Christian Leaders Institute.

Learn more about ordination at the Christian Leaders Alliance. Interested in a low-cost college degree? Check out the Christian Leaders College.