A Masterclass from
Paul Manwaring & Steve Backlund
About This Masterclass
Help people see what God sees in them.
You can see someone’s potential and still feel unsure how to draw it out. You encourage them, give them opportunities, and want them to succeed—but how do you help them believe they have something worth bringing?
In Empowering Leadership, Steve Backlund invites you to discover how your beliefs and words shape the people around you. Across four sessions, explore what happens when you recognize the gold in others, grow secure in your own identity, and build relationships where trust gives people room to take initiative.
With his characteristic hope and joy, Steve brings biblical insight and practical challenges to the way you think, speak, and lead. Discover how everyday conversations can strengthen confidence, how encouragement can become a culture, and how to champion people whose gifts may look very different from yours.
There is more to discover in the people God has placed around you. Begin seeing—and speaking—to that possibility.
What you'll learn in this class....
- Recognize how your beliefs about God, yourself, and others influence your leadership.
- Identify limiting mindsets and practice renewing your mind with biblical truth.
- Understand the difference between assigning tasks and entrusting people with authority.
- Give others room to bring ideas, take initiative, and grow in their own gifts.
- Build trust through consistency, integrity, and healthy feedback.
- Develop a culture where hope, honor, and encouragement become everyday practices.
Sessions: 4 | Length: 3hrs 22min
Session 1: Culture of Empowerment
47 min
What do you notice first in someone—their limitations or their potential? Explore how security in your identity as God’s child shapes your ability to recognize the gold in others and create room for them to flourish.
Session 2: Renew Your Mind, Build Culture
50 min
Could an old belief be limiting what you expect from yourself or your team? Discover how renewing your mind with God’s truth can change your language, strengthen hope, and reshape the environment you create.
Session 3: Empowering Through Encouragement
50min
When does encouragement become empowerment? Explore how intentional words, genuine celebration, and meaningful trust help people move from completing assignments to contributing ideas and taking ownership.
Session 4: Lead with Trust and Honor
55 min
People may hear your encouragement—but do they trust it? Discover how consistency, relational depth, and honest feedback give your words weight and help others grow into leaders you can confidently release.
Join the Conversation
Share insights, ask questions, and connect with other members.
Session Notes
Review key insights and reflect on what you’re learning.
Learn at Your Pace
Make room to grow with teaching that fits your schedule.
Faith for Everyday Life
Find encouragement for the people and places God has entrusted to you.
About the Teachers
Steve Backlund loves helping people rediscover hope—and the possibilities they may have stopped seeing. An author, leader developer, and revivalist teacher, he brings joy, biblical insight, and a gift for encouragement to churches and organizations around the world. After seventeen years as senior pastors, Steve and his wife, Wendy, founded Igniting Hope Ministries. Based in Redding, California, Steve's heart is to help people believe what God says about them—and become the kind of leaders who awaken that belief in others.
Paul Manwaring carries the conviction that every believer is a first-class minister of the Gospel of the Kingdom. His heart is to help people know they are sent, recognize what God has placed within them, and feel equipped to bring His Kingdom wherever they go. Paul equips people and organizations to navigate change with purpose, empowering them to find their place in revival, reformation, and a new renaissance. He also trains church leaders to build communities where encounters with God and spiritual family grow together—where people are seen, known, loved, and valued, then equipped and sent to change their world.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Would this class be helpful if I’ve become discouraged in my leadership?
Yes. If disappointment has made it harder to believe in yourself or the people you lead, this class offers an invitation to rebuild hope. Steve combines encouragement with practical reflection, helping you examine your expectations and make room for a fresh perspective rooted in God’s truth.
Do I need to read The Culture of Empowerment Book before starting?
No prior reading is required. The notes recommend Steve’s book The Culture of Empowerment as an optional companion for exploring the themes more deeply as you work through the sessions.
What is Bethel Leaders Network?
Bethel Leaders Network (BLN) is an expression of the Bethel Church family in Redding, California. Our heart is to connect, encourage, and equip leaders to live out Kingdom culture and see God move in their homes, workplaces, churches, and communities. Through resources and opportunities for meaningful connection, we help people grow in their walk with God and in what He has called them to carry.
Who are these masterclasses for?
If you’re hungry to grow in your relationship with God and bring His heart into everyday life, these masterclasses are for you. Whether you’re raising a family, leading a church, building a business, or serving your community, our hope is that you leave encouraged and equipped for where God has placed you. You don’t need a leadership title to have an impact.
How much does it cost to access the masterclasses?
Our masterclasses are included in all three memberships, so you can choose the support and connection that best fit your season:
- BLN Learn — $12/month or $120/year: Grow at your own pace with access to our library of 40+ masterclasses and new content added monthly.
- BLN Engage — $37/month: Enjoy everything in Learn, plus community, sphere-specific mentors, learning pathways, and live calls to encourage you along the way.
- BLN Influence — suggested contribution of $225/month: Receive everything in Engage, plus personal connection, coaching, and pastoral support for senior leaders and their spouses. An application is required, with a $200 non-refundable application fee.
Can I watch at my own pace?
Absolutely. You can watch on demand through the BLN platform on the web or mobile app throughout your active membership. Make space in a rhythm that works for you, pause to reflect, and return to a session as you put what you’re discovering into practice.
How do I get started?
Select “Get Started” to explore our memberships and choose the one that best suits your season and the ways you’d like to grow. You can join Learn or Engage directly, or apply for Influence if you’re a senior leader seeking deeper connection and support.
