Ascending Leaders

Our Church went with AL because we needed to assess where we were as a church on equipping disciples. We realized that we had some concepts and ideas, but no tangible on-ramps to help people get going and get moving. The REVEAL study Ascending Leaders conducted showed us this. We learned a lot about ourselves. It was challenging and sobering. We have implanted some new practices and have seen some improvement. We look forward to taking the study again with AL to see our progress. Would recommend Ascending Leaders to anyone looking to get a watermark on where discipleship TRULY is in their life and church, and want ways to roll up their sleeves and help practically. Keep up the good work!

Sincerely
Rev. Darrell Delaney
Madison Church: Square Campus
Grand Rapids, MI

A STORY OF ASCENDING LEADERS AND ONE CHURCH
Solana Beach Presbyterian Church, Solana Beach, CA

Solana Beach Presbyterian Church (SBPC, my church) engaged Ascending Leaders to consult with church leadership in 2019 to guide us with (1) best practices for taking the Reveal survey, (2) analyzing results, and (3) acting on them. Our purpose was to deepen discipleship among members and friends towards the overarching end of SBPC: "Our members, friends and neighbors become disciples of Jesus growing in love of God and each other" (as measured by Reveal for Church Spiritual Life Survey).

Ascending Leaders assisted SBPC to take two surveys, approximately two years apart; the second occurred during Covid 19, a challenging time for any hope that congregants would respond. The almost unbelievable, statistically valid result was a 200% increase in SBPC's Spiritual Vitality Index from 28 to 84 in just under two years.

Two hundred percent increase in SV was stunning because results for Reveal 1.0 were alarming, disappointing, utterly unexpected. An amazing 66% of SBPC's worshipping community responded to Reveal 1.0, and results landed the church in the "troubled" quadrant of Vitality. We were advised we needed "a first love recharge" (Rev 2 admonition to the church at Ephesus). SBPC had magnificent programs, a full array of service and missions, was financially strong, was known for impact on its community through outreach, had a beautiful campus, yet had strayed from intimacy with God. Fundamental change was required. No new programs were devised because activity does not equal intimacy, daily time alone with God ("15 minutes in your favorite chair") became a meme, Scripture was embedded in virtually all meetings, and Christ-centered leadership began with the senior Pastor and pastoral staff.

Ascending Leaders was the pathfinder in pre and post survey activities in 2019 and 2020. Below is a summary of activities AL/Reveal provided SBPC. These are catalogued to indicate the amount and type of engagement SBPC had with AL, and I believe is necessary to accomplish a desirable outcome.

Reveal 1.0 2019

Pre-taking of REVEAL
1) Mike and DC Rachel Youth Virtually coached Pastors in 7 sessions
2) The core leaders of SBPC got the concepts of discipleship by the stages through a live presentation by Mike J to the Discipleship Team and one to the Session in person

Post-taking of REVEAL
1) REVEAL staff presented high level results to senior Pastors
2) Mike J and Rachel presented deeper result to Pastors talking them off the ledge.
3) Mike J and Rachel provided five virtual coaching appointments with Pastors
4) Mike J and Rachel virtually shared the results with the core staff
5) Mike J provided live a one-day leadership retreat to 120 leaders to hear results
6) Mike J and Rachel virtual presentation with whole staff


Reveal 2.0 2020

Pre-taking of REVEAL
1)     Three planning sessions
2)     Mike J. recorded a “Life with Mike” session for presentation to the congregation
3)     Mike J. led a 6.5 hour virtual retreat with the SBPC Session on REVEAL to prepare for taking it again
4)    Mike J. provided staff with a virtual 1 hour preparation for REVEAL

 Post-taking of REVEAL  
1)    REVEAL staff presented high level results to Pastors
2)    Mike J. reported results to Pastors.
3)    Mike J. reported results to the SBPC Session.
4)    Mike J. recorded with Mike M. an interview to be shared with the congregation along with an interview with Cally of REVEAL.
5)     Mike J. reported result to the full Staff.


On a personal note this pilgrim is immeasurably grateful for the vision and leadership  Ascending Leaders gave our congregation,  through decisions about taking the Reveal study, to actions on results; I am confident we could not have accomplished a 200% increase in the Vitality Index on our own. Many critical decision points -- which study to select,  which consultant's expertise  (Mike /AL) to rely on, which actions to embed in our life together (spiritual practices for small groups, message series, daily email reminders, qualities of Christ-centered leaders,  all church trainings, scriptures, what language to use, and more)  are now showing us how clearly God was going before us. As a choir anthem reminds me "looking back, His promise I see."   The power of a singular focus -- growing disciples for the sake of others -- is what matters most for  our church, is why we exist, and is surely galvanizing followers, at whatever stage of spiritual maturity.  

It is not simply amazing positive differences in scores from then and now which elicit unbridled exuberance, but that we are truly not the same people who first answered survey questions.  Transformation is real, I know this in my own soul.  

I am grateful that we continue to work with Mike Johnson and AL, and rely on his data explanations and suggestions for next steps.  Who knows now what and when those will be, but they will be unifying and refreshing for our spirits, I am sure, just as our daily time alone with God —"15 minutes in a favorite chair" has helped us grow.  I am grateful we are not entertaining more programs, but are learning the lessons from Reveal wisdom.

Judy Enns
SBPC Elder and Governance Vice Chair
Team Member Reveal 1.0

Ascending Leaders is a great company that focuses on equipping churches to make stronger disciples. It has been a real blessing to work and be a part of an organization so focused on helping disciples learn more and grow closer to Christ.

Ascending Leaders has become a catalyst for discipleship building, even online! We are connecting pastors and churches and fostering discipleship growth in churches despite social distancing requirements. Ascending Leaders continues to be a great place to work!

Ascending Leaders has provide spiritual growth and love. It has been a marvelous place to work and grow closer to Christ.

Their heart and passion for helping churches is both admirable and awe inspiring.

I'm very grateful for Ascending Leaders. They were able to help our church focus in on our strengths and weaknesses, then put a plan in place to better disciple our congregation.

The heart of Mike and Ascending Leaders to serve the body of Christ is a great inspiration to press on in my walk with Christ. I am so glad to have been able to work alongside Mike and Ascending Leaders.

Ascending Leaders offers several options to assist a church in developing a discipleship culture. They have discipleship material, coaching, and walk with you through the process. I have worked wit h them for years and have found that they under promise and over deliver. They are there for you.

Ascending Leaders is a rare gem of an organization. Their main focus on helping churches grow into sustainable, integral community leaders has been a remarkable ingredient in the well being and overall livelihood of families and church leaders across the United States. I am proud to have worked with this wonderful group for many years and love being a very small piece of this faith driven non-profit.

I first ran across Ascending Leaders during a time in my pastoral ministry in which I was struggling with direction related to our adult discipleship ministries. We had a "buffet" of discipleship options but no guiding principles for why we did what we did. Ascending Leaders, through their publications, their conferences, and their cohorts, gave me the leadership support I needed to get our ministries more focused.

They really care about their customers. Reaching out to check on them especially during these tough times. Their belief in moving individuals into a more personal relationship with God is outstanding. I have learned so much about who I am as a Christian and who I want to be.

Ascending Leaders has helped our church with discipleship in many ways. From assessing our church so we know how to move from introverted to vibrant, to designing a discipleship pathway complete with specific ministries to help people grow at various stages of spiritual formation, they have added a lot of value. Mike and his team have provided wonderful coaching and consultation for our church. Highly recommend them!

I have witnessed the difference Ascending Leaders makes in the area of discipleship within my own church as well as other churches in the area. Their practical and personal approach to discipleship coaching makes an impact in a way that is meaningful to each specific church. I'm proud to be a supporter of the ministry and mission of Ascending Leaders.

Ascending Leaders is a dedicated, Christ-loving organization, committed to helping churches grow disciples for Christ. It has been a pleasure to see the great work they are doing, with great results.

I’ve benefited from, and appreciated greatly, the work that Ascending Leaders has provided. They’ve given a structure to help many churches move forward in their disciple making efforts. I was affirmed and encouraged in my work within my church.

We are so grateful for the pastoral experience and consulting expertise Mike Johnson brought to SBPC this past year. Mike came alongside our leadership with wise counsel and compassion, as we participated in the REVEAL study. We were highly dependent on Mike's ability to interpret, encourage, communicate, and journey with us as we discerned a fresh way forward in discipleship. Mike worked at all levels of our church leadership, providing the appropriate guidance and teaching to each audience. We count our REVEAL study a success, propelled by Mike's skilled partnership throughout the whole process.

Ascending Leaders helped our church look at what God has been doing in our church for the past 60 years and to look at the gifts he has give us and the needs around us and to clearly outline where we feel God is calling us over the next 5 years. We then came up with goals and action plans to seek to carry out God's calling in our church and our community. We had done this before but with Ascending leaders help we have stuck to our plans, We had annual review and after five years we are about to step back and see where God is calling us in the next chapter in the life our our church. In theory we could have done this ourselves, but with the help of Ascending Leaders we have gained more clarity, they helped us hold ourselves accountable, they shared ideas of how other churches have address various opportunities.

I would encourage others to seek the help of Ascending Leaders if you are serious about moving in the direction God is calling your church and has gifted your members. We are seeking to help our attendees grow closer to Christ and reach out to our community with the good news and the love of Christ.

Our church, Chapelwood United Methodist in Houston, TX, has launched a Discipleship Pathway ministry called My Next Step with the help of Ascending Leaders and Rev. Mike Johnson. Ascending Leaders staff assisted us with implementing the Reveal Survey, training our staff and lay leaders through Disciple Forward Workshops and coaching us through the online cohorts. Their customized, layered approach to teaching the stages of discipleship and
need for culture change in the local church discipleship approach is effective. Mike is genuinely interested in helping churches make disciples of Jesus Christ.
Teresa Rossy
Director of Grow Ministries
Chapelwood UMC, Houston

Ascending Leaders effort's to support, educate and rejuvenate church leaders and members in rural America is a much needed mission here at home , in the USA. Grateful for their presence here, especially in Kansas and proud to be a supporter of their work sharing God’s love and hope.

Ascending Leaders has been fundamental in my personal growth and relationship to Jesus Christ and continues to do the work of discipleship in churches and individuals.

Ascending leaders has given excellent coaching as our church began understanding the discipleship pathway. They have reached out and given guidance while asking great questions to help deliver a helpful and thoughtful experience. Their training has been invaluable!

I have recently researched and evaluated approaches to discipleship in church ministries in the US. I have been so impressed with Ascending Leaders ability to assist local churches in developing biblical, practical, and productive approaches to making disciples that I highly recommend it to any church or church movement looking to grow in the area of discipleship.

Ascending Leaders has been a tremendous blessing to our congregation, Peace Community Church in Houston, TX. Through AL's "Charting Your Church Course" initiative, we gained clarity about our next chapter that was practical, workable, and challenging. We would *highly* recommend Dr. Mike Johnson and Ascending Leaders to churches or non-profits looking for help in getting out of a rut, moving forward, and embracing God's preferred future!

I am not sure if it is sanctioned for the founder to write a review. I would like to go on record as one who's heart breaks at the meanness in society and too often in churches, I can think of no other way that I would have liked to spend the last 15 years than to endeavor to help churches address their biggest problems by improving in their ability to disciple!

Ascending leaders provided valuable coaching to New Life Church in Spring, TX, as we went through the process of developing and implementing a discipleship path that the church will use to help people grow spiritually. Ascending Leaders' Ten Step Guide for creating a discipleship path was particularly useful in helping our discipleship team define the road map of steps we needed to take in developing the pathway. Mike Johnson provided valuable coaching on a regular basis to our Pastor and Discipleship Team Leader. He helped us anticipate important questions and decisions that we would need to address. He provided access to videos, articles, forms and exercises that gave us great insight while we were developing a discipleship pathway that would be most useful in helping people in their spiritual progression.

As nonprofits go, Ascending Leaders sets the bar for accountability and for keeping the people they serve at the forefront. Their leadership has a very, very caring and empathetic heart. While many nonprofits do an admirable job in the day-to-day delivery of their services, Ascending Leaders takes that to the next level by thinking strategically about those they serve and plans for both long term and near term success. Were I looking for an organization into which I could pour my time and treasures, Ascending Leaders would be top of my list.

I have worked with Ascending Leaders for approximately 1.5 years, and AL is a top performance Non Profit! AL advises & advances Churches in economic & administrative ways. My best way to describe AL’s tremendous value is to use AL’s FLOURISH as an acronym of value. F is to find your place in your spiritual growth continuum. L is long for a life of more. O is your Oneness with God. U is understand your intimacy with God & your selflessness with others. R is for results of deep empathy & value. I is for inspiring others to go deeper in oneness with God. S is to steward every opportunity that God entrusts with you. H is to honor God through your transformation.

Many churches and individuals are being transformed through the work of Ascending Leaders

We have been supporting Ascending Leaders for as long as it has been in existence. This organization is governed by a board of directors who have been diligent in giving direction, making sure that good work is done and is very responsible in terms of wise discretion as to how the available funds are spent. We are very confident that this organization is well run and is judicious in its use of available funds.

I attended three Ascending Leaders' workshops. The content and leadership have given our church a much clearer direction to communicate the life transformation that God is doing in our church.

Ascending Leaders has helped my church in Houston to become more effective in making disciples through their coaching and teaching services.

I have been fortunate to have been working for Ascending Leaders for almost a year now. It has been such a gift to be a part of such an amazing organization! Mike Johnson has a heart for leading pastors and staff in discipling their congregations for Jesus Christ and coaching them every step of the way. The heart of the company is the Great Commission Jesus left for us! Ascending Leaders does not leave nor forsake anyone, as Hebrews 13:5 reminds us of God himself. Mike and the entire team of adjuncts will walk with you every step of the way in the journey of creating a culture of discipling as a part of everyday life!

Ascending Leaders, from the beginning, has a heart for churches flourishing - spanning small-group studies to church-wide workshops. Mike Johnson, President and Founder, is one of the most genuine people I know who truly "walks his talk," sharing his passion for the body of the church to deepen their understanding and love of God and Christ as well as spreading that love and Word to and through others! Anyone who has interacted with Ascending Leaders and/or Mike will tell you that their Spiritual life has been turbo boosted!!

I've been working at Ascending Leaders for almost 2 years - and I am very impressed with the organization. Its mission is to help churches, disciples and leaders flourish through coaching, teaching and resourcing, and this is what I see on a day-to-day basis. The staff and adjunct staff are focused on accomplishing the mission, and we see churches moving forward in growing their people in discipleship. It's a privilege to be part of this organization.

Mike Johnson brings people together to wrestle through relevant topics that can either enhance or deter people from growing as disciples of Jesus Christ within churches. I am thankful for the monthly conversations which have helped me narrow in on the heart of why we do ministry and the distractions that could sneak in and move us away from drawing people into deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

Ascending Leaders provided an amazing foundation for me just as I was starting as a new Director of Adult Discipleship in a large Presbyterian USA church in Tucson. The message and information are applicable for any community, allows for creativity and innovation, and reflects the Gospel. When I show people the information on discipleship from AL they inevitably nod and way, "Wow, this makes sense. I never thought about it this way."

I'm a Discipleship Pastor and consider myself fortunate to have had Dr. Mike Johnson as a professor while studying at Fuller Seminary. That was 3 years ago and I have remained in connection with Mike and Ascending Leaders because of the very good work that they are doing to equip pastors to lead their churches to define a discipleship path that is clear and effective. I highly recommend Ascending Leaders to any pastor who wants to get serious about the Great Commission, but isn't sure where to begin. This organization is truly a gift to the local church!

I joined as a new client for Ascending Leaders in Spring, 2017, with the intention of learning through a cohort group, and sharing ideas with that group. I've been especially pleased that through experience, example, and technology, Ascending Leaders has been able to push each of those in my group to excellence. What AL does to build leaders (in this case, leaders who make disciples of Christ) goes beyong the norm. They push us to establish goals for ourselves and our church, and AL holds us accountable. Through monthly calls, held online, we share our progress, our struggles, and our needs. It's a remarkable group of consultants, and I've recommended them several times to individuals needing leadership guidance for their church or ministry.

Ascending Leaders has helped several churches in our presbytery form a strategy for creating a discipleship pathway. They have taken our good intentions and focused them toward intentional ministry. They have moved these churches from lots of activity to meaningful activity. They are raising the bar on what it means to say we are Great Commission churches.

Great coaching by an expert in the field. Ascending Leaders offers growth in spiritual character for generations to come.

I had the privilege of sitting in on a day long consulting session as Mike served a local church. What a blessing to see how God led throughout the day. God really worked through Mike's gifts and experience to help this church take a next step. The staff openly expressed their gratitude for what they accomplished and how they felt they had made real progress. I had already been blessed in hearing Mike's approach to serving and his heart for the church. It was an even greater blessing to see it in action.

I have had opportunity to see MIke Johnson lead workshops as well as retreats on Adult Discipleship. Mike's Biblically based presentations demonstate his current experiences and expertize in the field. MIke is personable and listens well, able to make changes and adjustments quickly if needed to respond to the people present.

I have had the priveledge of seeing the inside work of Ascending Leaders from a board level to also being served by Mike and his expertise. Ascending Leaders understands faith formation and the biblical framework of discipleship. Ascending Leaders has a passion for the local church and developing Spirit-led leaders. I use their materials in sermons, council meetings, and counseling sessions.

As the Director of Adult Discipleship of a church, I find it difficult to find comprehensive Christian Discipleship training for leaders and others. Ascending Leaders provides excellent written materials in a wide array of topics. I also attended an Ascending Leaders Seminary at Fuller Theological Seminary that provided wonderful insight into discipleship and the various approaches to encourage spiritual growth.

I am a prison pastor in central Iowa. Ascending Leaders has been extremely helpful in providing study materials that we can use in our prison Bible study. All the studies are not only biblical but also practical. That means a lot since our primary emphasis is life change through spiritual transformation. The latest study topic we received from Ascending Leaders was "Giving Forgiveness." As you can imagine this is a core principle for men or women who are incarcerated. A big thanks to Mike Johnson and the entire team at Ascending Leaders. Pastor Rick - Iowa.

I deal with many non-profits and often they approach our school needing something, whether they are aware of their deficiency or not. Ascending Leaders is one of the few I have dealt with that comes to the table both wanting to give and prepared to do so.
They are a self-sufficient organization that brings value in a niche area that is sorely needed by today's church. Hosting them and their ministry should be an easy choice for any organization that is lucky enough to be contacted by them.

Recently, Dr Johnson led the leaders from a group of churches through the Thrive:Stewarding Unexpected Change curriculum, equipping us to guide our churches more effectively through conflict and transition. The material was practical and specific enough for us to apply the instruction to our own specific locations. The curriculum was encouraging, yet challenging. I have not found a better way for churches and leaders to discuss the inevitable changes and conflicts which are faced by every church.

I have been a part of Ascending Leaders from almost the start as a donor, volunteer, and client. First and most importantly as a client. Because of its very significant effect on my life I became a donor and volunteer. I am a better Christian today because of Ascending Leaders. I highly recommend it to every one.

Ascending Leaders offers "premium growth" processes - a super fertilizer, so to speak - for the decidedly rooted, growth minded Christian. Through active participation and reflection, they are able to guide individuals, leaders, and organizations in their quest to effectively live out a life of love and service for Christ the Lord. The materials - bible studies, workshops, books, etc. - are designed to usher in revolutionary change through deepening one's spiritual bandwidth and fostering a closer relationship with God. That, in turn, changes everything!

I have used Ascending Leader for years to develop leaders and disciple people. The material is well organized, easy to understand, effective at developing leaders, and assists a small group in going deeper in the material and relationships. I highly recommend the studies as 2 week to 6 week per book. This all depends on the maturity of your group.

The organization is focused on discipleship and people growing as believers in the faith. They provide spiritual formation paths to assist any person to understand the subject and to grow in Christ.

Ascending Leaders is an organization that encourages serious discipleship and spiritual fomation in th lives of everyday Christians. In a world where people are living very shallow relationships with God and one another, Ascending Leaders is a refreshing voice for significant, character-based spiritual living. Their lessons are more extensive than most discipleship courses, but isn't that what the church needs?

Ascending Leaders is a great organization. The people and the materials that they produce are top quality. We worked through the "Charting Your Course" material in a triad and found it to be extremely valuable as it opened up past experiences and used them to provide some clarity about how God has been involved in our lives and direction for the future. We have also used it in small groups at our church since then and have heard feedback about how the groups are also finding it valuable.

It's not easy, but very good as it challenges us to take a deep look at ourselves and our relationships with God.

I've coached many stewardship committees of West Michigan churches over the last several years. Typically they see that discipleship training is a natural for moving toward their stewardship goals. And they are always looking for well written materials to use in their congregations. Ascending Leaders now has excellent materials for getting the job done. When my stewardship teams ask me now where to find stewardship and discipleship materials, I will be pointing them in the direction of AL first and foremost.
Rodger Rice, Church Stewardship Education Consultant, Barnabas Foundation

Ascending Leaders is in my opinion an outstanding nonprofit with unlimited potential for making disciples. It's been an absolute thrill to walk alongside Mike and this ministry.

Ascending Leaders as an organization has been helping our church family in working toward our goal to become more like Jesus. Mike and his team have spent years developing curriculum based on sound theology and sound social science leading toward life change. I highly recommend a partnership with them!

I believe these are among some of the best discipleship materials out there. They are comprehensive, easy to use and apply, and promote accountability by design. I would highly recommend them!

Ascending Leaders has a model that fits within all congregations. They promote a respectful, mindful approach to content mastery for a variety of studies and have some of the best tools I've encountered for how to make the information livable. If you approach any study with an open mind and engage with all of the resources they offer you will come away changed for the better and with a profound respect for the work that they are doing.

As a pastor, I was attracted to Ascending Leaders because of the quality of the materials they were creating and the expertise of Dr. Mike Johnson. The materials have high quality content that is built around personal study, group discussion, and then triads for application. The materials have a powerful 1-2-3 punch that brings real life-change. On the topic of church discipleship, Mike is a gifted seminar facilitator and church consultant. I heartily recommend Ascending Leaders.

I have participated in several A.L. studies and volunteered as a trained, group guide, helping lead A.L. studies. All experiences were the best! The student books are packed with rich, rewarding, interesting material. The research and writing - flawless! I highly recommend any and all A.L. books/materials and the group guide training experience.

Using the study materials Ascending Leaders provides made our small group get REAL and helped bring better understanding of ourselves and others.

First, I rated AL 5 believing that 5 is the top vote, not the worst, because AL is top-notch. I know the phrase life-changing is overused, but in the case of AL it is also accurate. I have seen lives -- including my own walk -- changed because of AL and its programs. I've been a participant and a group leader. I know the impact AL has had on my Christian walk, and I've seen similar steps being taken by others as well.

I am one of the many individuals who's life has been permanently and significantly impacted by Ascending Leaders. I attend church with one of founders of the organization and through that relationship have been able to take part in multiple studies developed by Ascending Leaders. The organization has developed some wonderful, timeless materials for people at all points in their walk with Christ to learn how to walk evern closer with Christ. What a wonderful mission to have in this world!

The studies produced are excellent discipleship studies. They train and equip leaders to be more effective in leading groups. The triads that are setup in groups allow people to open and talk in greater depths. Each study present challenging question and thoughts for people to do each day. Quality of look and content are excellent.

I have been associated with Ascending Leaders for nearly five years now. I was on the committee that birthed Ascending Leaders. Then was in the first group of Table Guides trained for Charting Your Course Weekends. I really enjoyed this evangelistic work, so I became a Group Guide training with the first group of Guides. Since then I have done volunteer work for them, putting together mailings, leading others through their new study books, and being in pilot groups going through their material before its released to the public.

After using a variety of curriculum for adult spiritual formation in our church, we recently made the switch to Ascending Leaders. We are not going back to other curriculum. This past year, I guided groups through both Spirit's Fruit and Your Self. Of particular note in the Spirit's Fruit material is the daily exercises. Through these exercises, the material does more than increase one's cognitive knowledge about the Spirit's Fruit. The material enables a person to better grow that fruit in his or her life. It teaches the spiritual disciplines that makes space for God's transforming work in a person's life. The Your Self curriculum is much more comprehensive than another other similar curriculum we've used. The format is simple. The daily readings are manageable. And our weekly discussions and triad meetings were fruitful. I heartily recommend this material to any church devoted to the development of disciples of Jesus.

The Ascending Leaders (AL) studies have profoundly impacted my spiritual life and my relational and leadership skills. I've been blessed to be able to participate in Spirit's Fruit, Christ's Habits, Charting Your Course, Your Self and now, Your Influence. I met both of my spiritual running partners, who I meet with regularly, through the AL studies. I went through the AL Group Guide training program which is incredibly helpful. I am able to use the knowledge from the Your Self and Your Influence studies to be a better leader, employee, friend, wife and daughter. The opportunity to learn about and actually experience Spirit’s Fruit was an amazing experience such that I facilitated a group for others. The habits learned in Christ's Habits such as prayer, journaling, meditation, fasting, etc. are habits I practice to this day. Because of these studies I’ve truly transformed and most days I am more loving and patient and kind. I’m a better steward of the gifts and blessings I’ve been given. I am forever grateful!

This ministry has impacted my life in meaningful and lasting ways. I have learned so much about myself and God through the programs Ascending Leaders offers. I have participated in the Charting Your Course weekend program as well as three of the 10-week small group studies. As a result of these studies I have relationships with sisters in Christ that are deeper and more real than any friendships I have ever experienced. I will so be participating in a 4th Ascending Leaders study and I am very exciting; happily anticipating what God will reveal. My husband has seen the changes in me that came from participating in these studies and we were both so grateful that God gave us the ability to contribute support to Ascending Leaders this year. This ministry has so impacted my life (and, therefore,my husband's as well) and I appreciate all they do and all God does through them!