Sample Profiles

Christian Wedding Officiants Ordained through Christian Leaders Alliance 

I am from the United States but currently am living in Trinidad, W.I. Professionally, I am a lawyer with experience in international disputes and business transactions. I grew up Methodist and my faith has always been important to me. I have participated in several mission trips in Mexico and Guatemala that have been impactful in my spiritual growth and professional practice. I have been involved with and support my local church as well as other Christian ministries such as International Justice Mission and the United Methodist Committee on Relief. My first formal step into ministry is as a Christian wedding officiant. 

My name is Jonathan Burchett. I’ve long been interested in becoming ordained and officiating weddings. However, after being "ordained" through an "ordination mill" site, it didn’t feel right. How could they truly know my ability to serve in this role?

So, I searched again and discovered the Christian Leaders Institute and Christian Leaders Alliance. Receiving the license to be a Christian Wedding Officiant was exactly what I wanted and needed.

I'm 

My life has followed a somewhat "normal" path as a military wife. My late husband was a military pilot for 28 years and retired in 2020. In 2024, he passed away from a stroke and melanoma. My life has always been grounded in strong faith, but over the last few months, that faith has been deeply tested and tried with the loss of my best friend and life partner.

I am forever saddened by his loss, yet deeply grateful for our marriage, the life we built, and the family we created.

I’m a Pilates instructor, fitness coach, and an all-around health enthusiast. I love life, walking, lifting, Pilates, and animals. My life is richer with friends and family, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve my niece by officiating her wedding.

I’ve been a Christian my entire life. I’ve taught Bible studies, Vacation Bible Schools, and so much more. My time in the Word, in prayer, and in fellowship with other Christians continues to sustain me during this season of trial without my partner by my side.

I am truly honored by opportunities like this. Serving others on their wedding days is one of the most meaningful and humbling things I can be a part of.

My name is David Inman, a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and a loving husband to Jessica Inman for ten wonderful years. I am a father of three and a firm believer in the sanctity and sacredness of marriage.

I have been blessed by my church's marriage mentor program and have had the privilege of mentoring several couples through the process of marriage preparation. This work is built on the foundation of Christ-centered love and a lifelong, unbreakable commitment.

Brief History with the Church:

• Walking with Christ since 2005
• Teacher and marriage mentor at my church
• Leader in the apologetics community of our city

The Licensed Christian Wedding Officiant training has equipped me to better serve my community and has prepared me for the role God has called me to within the Body of Christ.

My name is Jay Bertsch. I am the husband of Patti and the father of three adult children. Next to my faith, Patti has been the greatest gift from God. Over our 32 years of marriage, we have shared countless moments of laughter and some tears, always witnessing God’s faithfulness to us.

Professionally, I am a chiropractor and have served as the CEO of a multi-specialty wellness clinic in Champlin, Minnesota, for 34 years.

I decided to pursue certification through CLI after being asked to officiate the wedding of my nephew and his fiancée. While deeply honored, I felt inexperienced and didn’t want to let them down. I am truly grateful for the training I received from CLI, which has equipped me to confidently prepare for this blessed day

The Licensed Christian Wedding Officiant credential will enhance my ministry by providing another option for those seeking to join in marriage. My motivation for pursuing this credential comes from the memory of my mother, who was a pastor and officiant before her passing. She married my husband, Casey, and me, and I remember how much joy it brought her.

With this credential, I will be able to serve as a Christian Wedding Officiant and unite couples in marriage. I also feel called to be credentialed as a Life Coach Minister. The process of becoming a Licensed Wedding Officiant has been financially accessible, which I greatly appreciate. There are so many avenues I can explore and tools I can gain from the resources this school offers.

Thank you for giving so generously. This opportunity has been a blessing to me and many others.

Hello, my name is Nathan (Nate) Andrews. I decided to pursue ordination when a friend’s daughter was considering getting married. Rather than using a site with no Christian connection, I did some research and discovered Christian Leaders Institute and Christian Leaders Alliance.

As the owner of an IT consulting business, utilizing the web for learning is familiar territory for me. When I explored the content of the Christian Leaders Institute and Christian Leaders Alliance courses, I knew it was a perfect fit.

Hello, my name is Christopher Costello. I have been serving the Lord for over 20 years and have always desired to be properly credentialed. However, I never had the opportunity to enroll in a Bible college due to long commutes, a busy schedule, and financial constraints.

I truly thank the Lord for Christian Leaders, an amazing organization that has removed these obstacles. It has been such a blessing and encouragement to so many people. My desire is to serve God’s people, and with this licensing and credentialing for wedding ceremonies, I can now fulfill my calling legally.

Hello, my name is Kristie Karns. My husband and I are happily married and live in Michigan, where we are both in full-time ministry, actively serving God through our church. I have served as a youth pastor for six years and have been part of church leadership for nearly 20 years. Currently, I am an adult teacher and a full-time Christian non-fiction writer. My passion is to serve God in every aspect of His kingdom and the church. Becoming a wedding officiant allows me to further serve Him and be a blessing to others, which is why I chose to pursue the opportunities available through CLI and their ministry programs.

In addition to my ministry work, I hold a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and am a licensed private investigator in the state of Michigan.

My name is Beverly McClarn. I am the proud mother of two daughters, five grandchildren (four grandsons and one granddaughter), and two Yorkshire terriers who are affectionately part of the family.

I hold an MBA and a BS in Human Resource Management, both of which I was blessed to pursue with funding from my employer while working full-time and managing a part-time job.

As a notary public in Tennessee, I am authorized to perform marriages. However, I wanted more than just the ability to officiate weddings. I desired the knowledge and understanding to educate couples about the meaning of marriage and what it truly involves. This desire led me to search for an educational program that aligned with my goals.

I discovered Christian Leaders Institute (CLI), which offered the courses I needed to not only educate couples about the sacred union of marriage but also obtain the credentials to become a Licensed Christian Wedding Officiant.

When reflecting on my spiritual journey for this calling, one of my favorite scriptures comes to mind: Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This verse encourages and reassures me that by believing in myself and trusting in God, I can achieve anything I set my mind to. Truly, these are words worth shouting an AMEN to!

While I may eventually pursue further training with Christian Leaders, I am still undecided at this time.

The free training and Ordained Christian Wedding Officiant course at CLI have been instrumental in shaping my journey. They have given me the determination and preparation to succeed in fulfilling this calling.

Becoming an Ordained Christian Wedding Officiant will help me fulfill the mission to which I have been called. I am deeply honored to have been chosen to officiate the weddings of two close friends. By God's grace and loving kindness, He has used me to minister to those around me through my friendships.

I pray that God will continue to use me as a kingdom minister and that others will be blessed when He works through me to officiate weddings in His name. I am truly grateful for the Christian men and women God has placed in my life to support me on this journey.

The Christian Leaders Alliance Ordained Christian Wedding Officiant Course has provided a wonderful, biblical framework. I believe this course is a tremendous blessing to the church community and those seeking to serve in ministry.

My name is Barbara Day, and I have been a Christian for 52 years. While I’ve attended church since birth, I didn’t develop a personal relationship with Jesus until much later in life. Since then, my life has completely changed, and I can never thank Him enough for His presence and guidance.

At age 40, I pursued my dream of becoming a teacher by attending college. I was on the fast track, taking 25 units at a time, and eventually earned both a BA and an MA in Arts. I taught until my husband, who is 10 years older, decided to retire. We then spent 10 wonderful years traveling in an RV, meeting amazing people and often sharing Jesus around campfires. A year ago, on July 4th, we settled into a house in Lafayette, Oregon, and are enjoying the stability of living in a neighborhood. We attend a wonderful little Nazarene church in Sheridan, where we continue to grow in faith.

I have three children, two stepchildren, ten grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Spending time with them is one of my greatest joys. The main reason I’m pursued a Wedding Officiant credential is because one of my granddaughters asked me to officiate her wedding. She is inheriting my wedding rings early, and to her, this makes everything come together perfectly. After praying about it, Jesus gave me the assurance to move forward and complete this program.

My name is Aaron Droogsma. I was raised in a Christian household, and my parents (married 30+ years) and grandparents (married 70+ years) have been incredible role models for both my faith and my understanding of marriage. My wife and I attend a local church and have been volunteer leaders with the youth group for the past few years. We have been married since 2022, have a young son, and are expecting our second baby soon. I work as a software engineer and hold a Bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University.

I firmly believe that marriages are stronger when God is the foundation upon which a family is built. When my brother’s fiancée asked me to officiate their wedding, I felt honored but also recognized the weight of the responsibility. I agreed but knew I needed to ensure I was fully prepared and met all the necessary requirements. Rather than turning to an instant ordination website, I discovered the Christian Leaders organization, which provided thorough training and ordination upon successful completion.

I will continue to follow Jesus and encourage others to let Him guide their lives. Knowing Jesus has brought me immeasurable joy, peace of mind, and comfort during challenging times, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve Him and others in this meaningful way.