Leadership Activation Day

Dave & his wife, Taff are the Directors of the Bethel Leaders Network (BLN) which exists to connect, encourage, and empower leaders across the world. Prior to this role, Dave was a pastor and manager at Bethel’s School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM). Dave is a gifted motivational speaker who has a powerful prophetic voice and international influence. His passion is the empowerment of individuals, leaders, and communities, in all spheres of society, helping them to live naturally supernatural lives. Dave worked in Australia as a secondary teacher, consultant to schools and community organizations, and has pioneered many effective programs and motivational seminars which continue to empower young people and families. He has also authored and ghost-written several books which have impacted the global community. Dave is also the founder of ‘INCREASE’, releasing testimonies of God’s goodness through print and the ‘Increase’ Testimony App. His passion to steward the testimony is contagious. Dave & Taff live in Redding, California with their three blonde boys Zeke, Jaden, and Chase.

Steve, along with his wife Ruth, is the Senior Overseer of BSSM Online, the Senior Pastor of Bethel Online, and he is on the Senior Leadership Team for Bethel Church. Steve is deeply committed to seeing heaven’s realities manifested on the earth. Steve travels and speaks at various churches and organizations. He has a heart to minister to business leaders and to see kingdom principles integrated into the workplace. Steve is passionate about healing after having experienced radical miracles in his own body. Together, Steve and Ruth have a heart to teach, equip, and empower the body of Christ to live a supernatural lifestyle and receive the abundant life Jesus provided for us on the cross! 

Steve is originally from Ohio. He and Ruth have three young children - Hannah, Jack & Olivia. Steve has a Master’s in Business Administration from Anderson University. Steve loves going on adventures as a family, the beach, and supporting Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.

Ruth, along with her husband Steve, is the Senior Overseer of BSSM Online, the Senior Pastor of Bethel Online, and she is on the Senior Leadership Team for Bethel Church. Ruth travels and speaks at various churches and organizations, she is passionate about equipping the body of Christ to live naturally supernatural. Ruth was miraculously healed through a love encounter with Jesus. Her own healing catalyzed her passion to see the world encounter the radical transformative power of the love of God. Steve and Ruth have a huge heart for cultivating healthy families, activating leaders and carrying hope. 

 Ruth is originally from the south of England. She and Steve have three young children - Hannah, Jack & Olivia. Ruth has a First-Class Honors Degree in Psychology from the University of Bath. Ruth loves creating fun memories as a family, the beach, and playing pickleball.

Steve Backlund is an encourager, leader developer, joy activist, and a revivalist teacher. He travels extensively throughout the world encouraging churches, leaders, and organizations into catalytic levels of hope. He has a unique anointing to release hope and joy coupled with a revelatory teaching gift that creates new wineskins for greater dimensions of God (both personally and corporately). Steve and his wife Wendy were Senior Pastors for seventeen years and now reside in Redding, California. Steve mentors third-year students as part of Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM), is the Associate Director of Bethel Leaders Network (BLN), and together with his wife is the Founder of Igniting Hope Ministries. He has authored numerous books including Declarations, Igniting Faith in 40 Days, Let's Just Laugh at That, and The Culture of Empowerment.

Wendy Backlund is a revelatory author and speaker with a passion for setting people free from their past. She equips people to walk into the fullness of their true identity in Christ and empowers them to see from a supernatural perspective. Wendy loves to lead the Body of Christ into life-changing encounters with God. She has authored numerous books including Victorious Emotions and Living From The Unseen.