BIOGRAPHY
Hi, everyone! My name is Arlene I. Salcedo. I am married to Asdrúbal Salcedo, and we live in Valrico, Florida. I want to tell you all about my journey.
*Early Life and Conversion
I am the eldest of three children, all females; I was born in 1968 in Puerto Rico. From an early age, my parents, who were college professors, stressed to me the importance of living a life of faith and prayer, reading The Bible, and having a personal relationship with Jesus as my personal Savior. At the age of eleven I gave my heart to Jesus and was baptized.
*Calling to Ministry and testimony
At sixteen I received a calling for ministry, but being immature I postponed it, although continued to live a life around the three principles my parents instilled in me. I graduated with a B. A. in Business Administration from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, the Christian institution my parents worked for. Later on I pursued a Juris Doctor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico.
In 2004 after a kidney biopsy I was diagnosed with glomerular nephritis, a kidney condition that would eventually require dialysis. Because of the many kidney issues in my family and my young age, the nephrologist did not want to rush into a treatment. He wanted to weigh my options. He suggested to repeat the laboratory tests. That Sunday, I was prayed over for healing by the whole congregation of my church. Everyone laid their hands on me. While they were doing this I felt like my torso was being wrapped by two warm hands. I knew God had healed me. On my next appointment with the nephrologist, as he looked to the lab work results he started to scratch his head. He goes back to the biopsy results, then to the original lab work documents and again to the recent lab work. He then asked me: What did you do? I said, prayed. The doctor went nextdoor to get his two associates and they started looking at my medical file. They agreed there was no scientific explanation for my full recovery. My nephrologist said it was a miracle. I promised God I would testify about it so next Sunday, I did. Glory to God!
In 2010 I fully surrendered my life and will to our Lord. In 2011, God spoke to me and told me that I had to move to Florida. After prayer and confirmation from my pastor, I sold what I could, gave away the rest to charity and relocated.
Throughout my life, my faith has been tested on multiple occasions as I went through divorces, infertility, unemployment, sickness. My faith has pulled me through. God is my Rock.
*Ministry Training
From 2011 through 2015 I studied Theology online through Seminario Reina Valera (I confess I have yet to request my diploma). Since 2011, I have dedicated most of my spare time to reading The Bible and cultivating my spiritual life through an absolute surrender to the Lord.
*My renewed calling to ministry and CLI
Throughout my life I enjoyed taking care of the ill in the family. I also enjoyed assisting friends during their convalescing. I was always drawn to help the grieving. In 2018, our mighty God called me to be a chaplain and minister to the sick and to those who suffer. After much prayer and confirmation from my pastors I started to research about online training to fulfill my calling. That's when God blessed me with finding CLI. I am also excited for the ordination opportunities I received as a Deacon Minister, as an Officiant Minister and now as an Associate Chaplain Minister. They are open doors to engage in service. There are so many opportunities to be prepared to serve! I earned a a Christian Ministry Certificate, a Chaplaincy Certificate and a Christian Ministry Diploma. I am so happy and grateful!
I have volunteered at church, have been involved with the Revive Florida movement and have volunteered at Lifepath Hospice. CLI has capacitated me to do what God called me to do and am looking forward to continue to develop my online ministry.
I am fascinated with the curriculum CLI provides. With each class I find myself more immersed in my calling, more prepared for my calling. The professors are very knowledgeable and resources presented are vital for any practicing minister or minister to be.
I belong to Faithwriters, have a YouTube channel, offer podcasts through Soundcloud and have a bilingual Christian blog to minister to people, offer prayer and pastoral counseling to those in need: https://www.cuestiondefe.com
Christian Leaders Institute and Christian Leaders College have been instrumental in my development as a Christian leader. The scholarship CLI granted me is the only way through which I could have pursued my dream of formally educating for ministry. I could have not afforded the education by traditional means. Thank you, CLI!!