Shadows of the Past

I grew up in a home where conflict overshadowed love. Home felt less like a refuge and more like a battlefield—where words were weapons and affection was distorted. To survive, I learned to hide my emotions, keep my dreams small, and prepare for disappointment. I carried the heavy weight of that dysfunction into adulthood, battling anxiety, low self-worth, and a constant feeling of being invisible. The harder I tried to fix things on my own, the more broken everything became.

A Cry in the Dark

Eventually, the weight became too crushing to bear. On the outside, I was functioning; on the inside, I was completely unraveling. Bitterness took root, and my heart hardened. I tried self-help books, distractions, and avoidance, but nothing reached the deep ache inside. Exhausted, I cried out to God in raw honesty: “If You are real, I need You to show me.”

Encountering the Living Savior

God answered in a way I could never have imagined. My spouse invited me to look into Christian Leaders Institute, and as I dove into the coursework, Jesus met me right where I was. His compassion for the broken and His power to forgive shattered my defenses. One evening, I was overwhelmed by a deep, unmistakable sense of being loved and seen. I felt the Lord gently assuring me that He knew my pain and could heal it. That night, I surrendered my life to Christ.

Restoration and Calling

Healing began immediately. Layer by layer, Jesus replaced the lies I had believed with His truth. Through Scripture, prayer, and community, my hardened heart softened, allowing forgiveness and reconciliation to replace resentment.

God has transformed what I once considered a curse into a calling. Through my training, ordination, and chaplaincy credentials with CLI, my past no longer defines me—it equips me to serve others.

Our Ministry Mission

We recognize that many people in our community suffer in silence—feeling forgotten, ashamed, frightened, and hopeless. Our mission is straightforward:

• Share the Gospel and the life-changing love of Jesus Christ.
• Serve Practical Needs by coming alongside the most vulnerable, particularly the homeless community in the greater Jacksonville area.
• Provide Free Support through ministry, discipling, and coaching without strings attached.

Our Commitment to Integrity

• 100% Direct Impact: We don’t have massive buildings, large staff payrolls, or high operating overhead. Every dollar donated goes directly toward serving people in need.
• No Pressure or Manipulation: We do not use guilt, fear, or heavy-handed tactics. We offer all of our ministry services entirely free of charge.
• Freely Received, Freely Given: Christ met us in our deepest need, and it is our joy to reflect that same unconditional grace to others.

Are you called to ministry? Christian Leaders Institute provides a generosity-driven, high-quality formal ministry education to equip you for your calling. Through this rigorous yet accessible training, you can earn ordination credentials that are recognized and maintained by the Christian Leaders Alliance.

    See Jen’s Profile on the Christian Leaders Alliance Website