Ministry Training Dream

My name is Billy Dean Hogue and I am excited to be realizing my ministry training dream. I was born in Big Springs, Texas. My parents are Wayne and Dorothy Hogue. I was raised on Cherry Creek in Colorado City, Texas. I went to school in a small school of Westbrook Elementary School and High School all in the same building. I worked odd jobs until I was about 18 and I went to work in the oilfields. I grew up fast and with the wrong friends. I learned a lot of bad things but I never was incarcerated.

I married Carol Roberto from Kennewick, Washington and moved there in the summer of 1981. We had one child together and she already had a son Charles Roberto about one-year-old. We were together for about 22 years and then we got a divorce. Now about the same time, I went to work as a corrections officer in Umatilla, Oregon. I worked there for about 9 years when I retired due to a disability. I could no longer work safely in the prison. I have been retired for 2 years and a few months.

In my ministry training dream, I always wanted to study to be a preacher, but I had no money to attend a Bible School. I am currently married to Elise Hogue for six years. I have been going to church off and on since I was about six years old. My family went to mostly Pentecostal type churches. I was not saved until I was about 27 years old. I was in an accident in 1981 and was almost killed when a split rim tire blew up in my face as I was trying to air it up. Anyway, I was invited to church on a Sunday evening and I didn’t go. So about 7:00 pm that evening, I heard a small quiet voice call, “Billy, Billy.” I kept saying, “Hello, I am here, who is this?” No answer. I kept hearing that voice, “Billy, Billy.” So I got a feeling I needed to go to church. I got in my truck and headed to church and the closer I got the louder I could hear this voice calling, “Billy, Billy.” Well, I got to the church and don’t remember parking my truck, all I could think of was getting to that altar. I couldn’t get it out of my head. I had to get to the altar. That is where I met Jesus. I felt love and warmth and received the gift of holy language. It was awesome! I didn’t even know where I was really. But I started my journey then and there with the Lord. Jesus is awesome!

What will it mean to me to study God’s word and be accredited with a diploma at Christian leaders Institute? It will be awesome, a lifelong ministry training dream of mine. I have been searching for a way to study the word and get credentials to show I can help in the church or help plant a church. Maybe I could even do street ministry or whatever the Lord directs. I have helped with a street ministry before, but we were almost killed and the ministry was canceled. None of us were trained to minister to those people but we did our best. I said to myself then that I will get ministry training so I can have the tools to help people from all walks of life. I want to learn all I can about my Messiah. He is worthy and we all fall short. God will help me to complete this training with Christian Leaders Institute, and I will use it to further the kingdom of God. I am currently attending a Pentecostal church, and I am witnessing with my brother Dan in the local jails.

Learn about ordained minister study programs at Christian Leaders Alliance.