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About Us

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We were hopeless and joyless pastors in a spiritual desert
when a revelation of Romans 12:2 set us free!

Steve Backlund

Steve Backlund is a prolific encourager, catalytic author, joy activator, and revivalist teacher. He brings transformational levels of hope to churches and organizations around the world. He is uniquely gifted to release hope, joy, and healthy leadership everywhere he goes.

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Wendy Backlund

Wendy 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. She loves to lead the Body of Christ into life-changing encounters with God.

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Connie Jones

Associate Director of Igniting Hope

Connie Jones is a John Maxwell Certified Coach and Leader Developer. She is a radical encourager with a passion to see the Bride of Christ rise into her magnificent identity and authority. She has served the Church for over 25 years as a youth pastor, associate pastor, senior leader, and itinerant minister.

Connie Jones is a John Maxwell Certified Coach and Leader Developer. She is a radical encourager with...

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Angela Parker

Executive Assistant to Steve & Wendy Backlund

Administrative Manager

Angela is a prophetic leader with a helper's heart. Known as our administrative "guru", she loves to serve other people's visions through organization, encouragement and  lots of laughter. She has a passion to see others raised up, empowered and launched into their God appointed destinies!

Angela is a prophetic leader with a helper's heart. Known as our administrative "guru"...

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Melinda Lagaay

Operations & Marketing Director
Backlund Leadership Academy, Director

Melinda is a true visionary who is passionate about equipping the body of Christ to step into the fullness of who God created them to be. Melinda is a licensed Pastor at Bethel Church in Redding, California. Melinda and her husband Pieter are passionate about seeing marriages restored and equipping the body in inner healing, deliverance, and the renewing of the mind. Melinda's powerful testimony demonstrates that love conquers all and dreams can be resurrected, no matter the circumstance.

Melinda is a true visionary who is passionate about equipping the body of Christ...

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Grace Clibourn

Social Media Coordinator

Grace is passionate about helping people understand that in Christ, they are both fully known and fully loved. She cares deeply about the mind of the Believer and is currently pursuing an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University. She enjoys gardening, cooking, traveling and being with friends.

Grace is passionate about helping people understand that in Christ, they are both fully known and fully loved...

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Jenny Fitzgerald

Jenny is passionate about seeing the sons and daughters of God fully revealed - stepping into their true identity in Christ! She is deeply honored to partner with the Holy Spirit to see people set free from old, negative belief patterns and radically renew their minds, so they can walk in ever-increasing hope, freedom and joy!

Jenny is passionate about seeing the sons and daughters of God fully revealed - stepping into their true identity in Christ...

Beliefs Training Assistant

Our Staff

Igniting Hope Contributors

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Phil Backlund

Dr. Phil Backlund is one of Steve's brothers. For over 40 years, Phil taught communication studies at universities around the world. A lover of teaching, Phil believes one of the most important gifts he can give his students is the ability to communicate effectively in public, small group, interpersonal, and intercultural contexts. 

Dr. Phil Backlund is one of Steve's brothers. For over 40 years, Phil taught communication studies at universities around the world. A lover of teaching, Phil believes one of the most important gifts he can give his students is the ability to communicate...

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Pieter Lagaay

Pieter Lagaay is a dedicated volunteer for Igniting Hope Ministries, where he co-founded Igniting Marriages and Arise and Shine Ministries. With a diverse background as a former foot and ankle surgeon and a law school graduate, Pieter currently practices law while also serving as the founder and CEO of Bezalel Innovations, a medical technology company. Pieter's passion lies in integrating the transformative message of Igniting Hope into all aspects of his life, from his personal journey to his professional endeavors in business and healthcare.

Pieter Lagaay is a dedicated volunteer for Igniting Hope Ministries, where he co-founded Igniting Marriages and Arise and Shine Ministries. With a diverse background as a former foot and ankle surgeon and a law school graduate...

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Rob Weir

Robert Weir or Rob, is a Backlund Team BSSM third-year alumni currently volunteering with Igniting Hope. Originally from South Africa, he lived in Hong Kong with his family for 12 years before moving to Redding in 2020. Rob is passionate about the local church and desires for people to encounter the God of the impossible, as well as seeing the Kingdom in all spheres of life. With a business background in Logistics, he has held Senior Leadership positions on two continents. Rob is enthusiastic about the catalytic leadership and belief upgrades that will come over the next 9 months of the Leadership Academy.

Robert Weir or Rob, is a Backlund Team BSSM third-year alumni currently volunteering with Igniting Hope. Originally from South Africa, he lived in Hong Kong with his family for 12 years...

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Aaron Jones

Aaron Jones is a dynamic encourager who loves the body of Christ. He uses authenticity and humor to declare Jesus Christ and His finished work to empower, encourage, and strengthen the body. Aaron has dedicated more than 25 years to serving the church with his wife, Connie, as senior leaders, associate pastors, youth leaders and itinerant ministers. He attended Rhema Bible College and has pastored with Connie for several years in Redding, CA. 

Aaron Jones is a dynamic encourager who loves the body of Christ. He uses authenticity and humor to declare Jesus Christ and His finished work to empower, encourage, and strengthen the body...

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Andy Fitzgerald

Andy Fitzgerald has been in ministry for over thirty years. He has served as a church planter, lead and associate pastor, and university chaplain. Andy and his wife, Jenny, are the co-directors of Imagine Life Ministries, a congregational and leadership coaching ministry. He holds a doctorate in context theology from Northern Seminary. Andy and Jenny live in Redding, CA, with their four children.

Andy Fitzgerald has been in ministry for over thirty years. He has served as a church planter, lead and associate pastor, and university chaplain. Andy and his wife, Jenny, are the co-directors of Imagine Life Ministries...

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Emily Neustaeter

Emily is a beloved daughter of the King who is passionate to see other believers, and specifically women, have encounters with the Lord that will bring healing to their deepest wounds. She believes that personal and family revival is going to usher in global revival. Emily and her husband, Jason, love to minister together with their 3 children and bring believers into alignment with heaven.

Emily is a beloved daughter of the King who is passionate to see other believers, and specifically women, have encounters with the Lord that will bring healing to their deepest wounds. She believes that personal and family revival is going to usher in global revival...

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Jason Neustaeter

Jason is a devoted husband to his wife Emily and loving father to his 3 powerful children. His ability to communicate Kingdom truth in common language brings revelatory wisdom to those around him. Jason’s powerful testimony demonstrates that one encounter with the King changes everything. He is passionately committed to igniting personal revival in believers by bringing them into alignment with heaven so they can establish God's Kingdom on the earth. He believes that global revival is coming and that the revived individual is carrying it.

Jason is a devoted husband to his wife Emily and loving father to his 3 powerful children. His ability to communicate Kingdom truth in common language brings revelatory wisdom to those around him...

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Debbie Roed

Debbie loves to be in the presence and enjoys going on adventures with the Holy Spirit. She is a wife, mother and grandmother. Family and leaving a spiritual legacy is her priority. She is joyful and passionate about mind renewal and healing. Debbie has been a senior leader in government and business in Denmark, and has an education in organizational learning and leadership.

Debbie loves to be in the presence and enjoys going on adventures with the Holy Spirit. She is a wife, mother and grandmother. Family and leaving a spiritual legacy is her priority. She is joyful and passionate about mind renewal and healing...

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Jan Penvy

Jan Pevny has been a dedicated volunteer at Igniting Hope Ministries since 2020, making him the longest-serving volunteer. As a software engineer and a professor at Bethel College, Jan empowers students to transform their career paths and achieve their full potential.

Jan Pevny has been a dedicated volunteer at Igniting Hope Ministries since 2020, making him the longest-serving volunteer. As a software engineer and a professor at Bethel College...

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Nicky Weir

Nicky is an experienced education professional with over 24 years dedicated to transforming learning environments from early childhood to tertiary levels. She has a strong background in educational leadership, strategic planning, and curriculum development, with a focus on fostering multi-cultural learning communities. Nicky envisions education as a transformative force, bringing hope and life to learners and aligning educational practices with God’s purposes.

Nicky is an experienced education professional with over 24 years dedicated to transforming learning environments from early childhood to tertiary levels. She has a strong background in educational leadership...

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Josh Greegor

Josh spent 19 years as an electrical engineer, project leader, and manager before leaving it all to follow the call of God on his life to go to ministry school. He also served as a worship pastor at his local church for 13 years. He is passionate about seeing people set free from everything that binds them and released into the destiny God has for them. Josh lives in Shasta Lake, CA with his beautiful wife, Corina, and their three amazing boys.

Josh spent 19 years as an electrical engineer, project leader, and manager before leaving it all to follow the call of God on his life to go to ministry school. He also served as a worship pastor at his local church for 13 years...

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Corina Greegor

Corina is a mother to three amazing sons she is raising alongside her husband Josh. After earning her degree in Music Education with a minor in Theology, she served as a worship pastor and choir director for 13 years. She is a gifted speaker and Bible study teacher and is currently writing her first book. Corina is a licensed minister with the Assemblies of God.

Corina is a mother to three amazing sons she is raising alongside her husband Josh. After earning her degree in Music Education with a minor in Theology, she served as a worship pastor and choir director for 13 years...

Invite Us to Speak!

Are you hungry to experience more of God in your life? We love to connect with The Body of Christ around the world. The Igniting Hope team is full of powerful speakers who can speak at your event. Speakers can be requested together or separately.

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Aaron & Connie Jones

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Steve & Wendy Backlund

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Pieter & Melinda Lagaay

Contact Us

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