Apply - Ascend Leadership - Kingdom Factor

Member Criteria

Ascend Leadership works best for leaders who fit this description.

Young or emerging Christian leader in the first 10 to 12 years of your career
Seeking personal, professional, and spiritual growth and development
Looking for community, both peers and mentors
Desiring to discover God's calling in your leadership
Willing to make this a priority in your life and business
Committed to giving as well as receiving
Willing to agree to 100% confidentiality
Coachable and open to being challenged to change

Know a young leader who fits this description? Share this invite with them.

Kingdom Factor Statement of Faith

Every Ascend Member and Mentor agrees to this statement of faith. If you're weighing whether Ascend is the right fit for you, this is the place to start.

We believe there is one God, eternally existing and fulfilling three distinct roles: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We believe the Bible is God's written revelation to man, verbally inspired, authoritative, and without error in the original manuscripts.
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ: His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, death on the cross to provide for our redemption, bodily resurrection, and ascension into heaven, His present ministry of intercession for us, and His return to earth in power and glory.
We believe in the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit, that He performs the miracle of new birth in unbelievers and indwells believers, enabling them to live godly lives.
We believe man was created in the image of God, but because of sin was alienated from God. Only through faith alone, trusting in Christ alone for salvation, made possible by His death and resurrection, can that alienation be removed.

Member & Mentor Expectations

The most vital aspect of a successful Kingdom Factor Ascend Leadership cohort is a firm commitment by each Member and Mentor to meet the full requirements of the program, including the standards below for attendance and conduct.

As a Group Member, I Pledge To

Keep all issues discussed in meetings confidential
Offer proactive feedback and counsel in a prayerful spirit of truth and love
Be transparent and authentic in sharing my career and personal needs with other members
Receive godly counsel without taking offense to the advice I am given, even when I do not agree with it
Honor points of view differing from my own
Regularly pray for my fellow Ascend Group members
Keep my personal commitments, and hold fellow Ascend Group members accountable to keeping theirs
Make attendance at my group sessions the utmost priority, missing only for true unexpected or unavoidable circumstances
Be present and on time, and stay for the entirety of all meetings (2 missed meetings allowed in a 12-month period)
Notify my group facilitator at least one week in advance of any planned absence, except in the case of a personal health or family emergency
Discuss the situation with my group if I miss more than 2 meetings in a 12-month period
Meet with my Spiritual Board of Advisors once a quarter for 2 hours
Prepare and present my "SBA" presentation to my Mentor/Guide when it is my turn
Meet individually with my Mentor/Guide once a quarter to build the relationship and share an update
Come to each meeting with my homework and assignments completed, ready to engage
Honor and fulfill my full 24-month membership commitment
Make a sincere effort to participate in Kingdom Factor offerings and initiatives to contribute to and get the most from the community

As a Mentor or Guide, I Pledge To

Invest 3 to 6 hours per month
Keep all issues discussed in meetings confidential
Offer proactive feedback and counsel in a prayerful spirit of truth and love
Be transparent and authentic in sharing my own career and personal journey with group members
Honor points of view differing from my own
Regularly pray for my Ascend Group members
Keep my personal commitments, and hold fellow Ascend Group members accountable to keeping theirs
Host or facilitate a 2-hour Spiritual Board of Advisors session once a quarter
Meet with each participant in my group quarterly to review their Deep Dive presentation and Personal/Professional Development Plan
Attend as many Ascend Leadership group sessions per year as possible
Honor and fulfill my full 24-month commitment to serving as a Mentor/Guide

By applying, you are agreeing to fulfill the terms of this commitment and the Kingdom Factor Statement of Faith above. A formal signature is collected before you join a cohort.

Schedule a Conversation

The Investment

Ascend is valued at $200 a month. No one is turned away for lack of resources.

Item	Detail
Program value	$200 / month
What members currently pay	$25 – $150 / month, based on personal capacity
Full annual cost per participant	$2,500 / year (offset by sponsorship where needed)
Commitment length	24 months

Sponsorship dollars help cover the shortfall. Every participant is asked to personally invest at whatever level fits their budget. See Get Involved to sponsor a leader.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the group's primary focus?

Helping young and emerging Christian leaders grow personally, professionally, and spiritually, while preparing for the next level of leadership and management in their organizations.

Who are the members of the group?

Young and emerging Christian leaders, generally ages 18-35 and in the first 10-12 years of their career, paired with seasoned mentors who volunteer their time and experience.

What is the format of the meetings?

Each cohort meeting runs about 3 hours and follows a set agenda: community building, prayer, imperatives, a content or guest speaker discussion, and an open issue discussion. See the full sample agenda.

How often does the group meet?

8 cohort meetings a year, plus 4 quarterly Spiritual Board of Advisors meetings, plus individual mentor sessions as needed.

What is the commitment level expected?

A full 24-month commitment, with attendance treated as a priority. Members are allowed no more than 2 missed meetings in a 12-month period.

How is confidentiality handled?

Everything discussed in meetings stays in the room. Every member and mentor agrees to 100% confidentiality as part of the pledge before joining a cohort.

What if I can't invest $200 a month to participate?

The stated value of the program is $200 a month, but most group members do not pay that to participate. Generous sponsors and investors help subsidize and underwrite the cost. We work with each participant to determine an amount they're able to pay, one that still represents a real financial investment but fits what they can afford. We do ask every participant to have skin in the game, investing time, talent, and treasure.

Do Ascend groups meet in person or virtually?

Both. Groups meet face to face in person as well as virtually.

Is it a requirement that I attend a local church to participate?

No. Our requirements for participation are that you agree with our Statement of Faith, agree to the participation expectations and commitments, and make a monthly financial investment to participate.

What is the approval process once I apply as a Group Member or Mentor?

The Ascend Leadership team schedules a personal interview to make sure the program is a fit for you, and you for it.

Is Ascend Leadership Right for You?