Igniting Hope Ministries

Many believers lack victory, not because they do not fast enough, but because they do not "feast" on hope, truth, testimonies, worship, teachings, biblical meditation, declarations, and the promises of God. Join Steve Backlund as he unpacks this life-launching truth in this podcast.

Managers tend to maintain, while leaders lead into better things. In this podcast, Steve Backlund releases motivation and strategies to take key areas of our lives, ministries, and assignments to the next level. 

"The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Revelation 19:10). One of the main reasons we have been given a memory is to remember what the Lord has done, because what God has done in the past prophesies how we see our current situations. In this podcast, Steve Backlund shares about the vital role of testimonies in healthy mind renewal and teaches how to extract the prophecy within them to build faith for your future. Get ready to be equipped with a higher way of thinking and seeing!

What comes to mind when you hear the word revelation? For many, it means something deep, something new, something we’ve never heard before, and/or a fresh insight that feels profound. And while those things can be a part of it, there is a bigger purpose. Join Steve Backlund as he shares an important insight for people who value growing in biblical revelation.

Many people are trying to stop negative behaviors.  But here’s a powerful truth: The best way to stop a negative behavior is not just to remove it—it is to replace it. Join Seve Backlund as he shares an important truth for those who desire change.

Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly, adapt, or "bounce back" from adversity, trauma, or significant stress. In this podcast, Steve Backlund gives insight into the beliefs and habits that will help you make a faster comeback when faced with disappointing happenings.

"This is going to be my best day yet!" This does not guarantee it will happen, but the moment this is said, it increases the likelihood it will. In this message, Steve Backlund shares one of his favorite life tools for seeing dreams and desires happen. 

We cannot consistently do what we don't believe we are. One reason many sincere Christians feel unworthy when they read the Bible is that they are reading it with a behavior-first mindset instead of an identity-first mindset. In this message, Steve Backlund gives you insight into this and helps you get excited about Bible reading (and hearing sermons) like never before.

We are called not only to prophesy, but to be a prophetic person - one who sees people, circumstances, and possibilities through Heaven’s lens. Instead of being limited by appearances, past history, or natural probabilities, they choose to believe what God says is possible. In this message, Steve Backlund shares about this higher way of living.

Romans 12:3 says God has dealt to each one “a measure of faith.” The word “measure” comes from the Greek word metron, which is a measured sphere of authority. It’s the area where God has entrusted us with unusual faith, unusual grace, and unusual influence. This podcast is designed to help you find your purpose and calling in a greater way.

Lies smart people believe usually don't make them rebellious; they make them passive. They don’t cause them to run from God; they cause them to expect less from Him. In this podcast, Steve Backlund reveals subtle lies that put on ceiling on the potential of responsible and logical people.

This is a part two to last week's podcast, "I Am So Glad It Was Hard".  In this message, Steve Backlund quotes from James 1:12 and shares how perseverance through trials gives us a "crown of life" (ability to give life away to others in the very areas we are overcoming in). This message will give further purpose to what is difficult in our lives. 

I was talking recently with my wife, Wendy, reflecting on some high-profile leadership messes. These people rose quickly in influence, but their lack of character undermined their influence. In the middle of that conversation, I said, “I am so glad it was hard for us.” This podcast shares the why behind that statement. Get ready to be inspired and equipped for strength and longevity as you listen.

When controversy happens in our lives, our churches, or in our nation, we are very tempted to let our emotions direct our beliefs and responses, but this often leads to division rather than bridge-building. In this podcast, Steve Backlund gives some great insights into navigating controversies in a healthy way.

Steve Backlund gives great insight into how to think and respond to the unexpected happening in our lives. 

The fruit of the Spirit of self-control is vital for so many areas, but it is especially needed for us to not over-react to perceived doctrinal error or rumors about people. In this podcast, Steve Backlund will help you become more balanced in your responses to such things. 

In this message, Steve Backlund makes the case that the third most important question in life is "Who Do We Say the People in Our Life Are?"

"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34. Our beliefs come out through our words. It is fascinating to consider what we believe is hard (hard to do or difficult to experience). The belief that something is hard is usually a bigger problem than what seems to be hard. In this fun, inspiring, and revelatory teaching, Steve Backlund shares what we really need to believe is hard.

Steve Backlund shares prophetically what he is hearing for 2026.

This is a message Steve preached at Valley Church in Caldwell on December 14, 2025, right after Wendy and he moved there. Get ready to be inspired and hear a "now word" for your life.

Steve continues a Christmas podcast tradition of sharing insights into what the birth of Jesus speaks about the circumstances we are facing in our own lives.

This great message will build your expectation to experience abundance in nine key areas to accomplish God's highest purposes for your life.

It has been said that people, on average, heard the gospel 7.4 times before surrendering and believing in Jesus. In this podcast, Seve Backlund shares the importance of repeating things in ministry and beyond. 

In this podcast, Steve Backlund makes the case for "thank you" being the two most important words we can speak. Get ready to be inspired to take your thankfulness to life-changing levels. 

The Apostle Paul told Timothy to "stir up the gift" that was in him (2 Timothy 1:6). It is not automatic that our gifts will mature and bear fruit. In this podcast, Steve Backlund puts on his coach's hat to inspire you and give you insight into how to stir yourself up and see an increase in the gifts and talents you have. 

Those who succeed most seem to fail most. Winston Churchill said, "Success is moving from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm." In this podcast, Steve Backlund helps us practically live out these truths.

Cyndi Barber joins Steve Backlund on this important podcast. Cyndi shares her own experience with grief, and conveys the powerful truths and practices that have helped her and many others overcome it.

"The joy of the Lord is our strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). Our spiritual load-bearing capacity is in direct proportion to the level of joy in our lives. Celebrating progress, not perfection, is an important habit of joyful people. In this podcast, Steve Backlund expounds on five Bible verses to help activate your celebration of yourself like never before.

Both those who believe they can, and those who believe they can't, are right. What we are experiencing today is largely the result of the beliefs and words we had in the past. In this podcast, Steve Backlund helps us break the tendency to use circumstances and feelings for why we believe what we believe.

We have beliefs to "work out" and strengthen in five areas - beliefs about God, ourselves, other people, circumstances, and decisions we are making. In this podcast, Steve Backlund gives insights and inspiration about our beliefs about the people in our lives. 

This podcast helps break off the lie that we are victims of the people in our lives. Steve Backlund shares an excerpt from his book, Let's Just Laugh at That!, about how some of his favorite biblical characters overcame this lie and how we can do so too.

Steve Backlund shares seven fun and transformational truths from his white water rafting experiences.

In this podcast, Steve Backlund prophetically shares five things we can expect to increase in our lives because of the life and death of Charlie Kirk.

Steve Backlund prophetically speaks from Isaiah 54 and John 5 in this podcast. This message will inspire you to move forward into your dreams, plus it will give you a key if you are feeling overlooked or devalued in this season.

Join Steve Backlund as he gives you insights from his basketball coaching and applies them to life and leadership. He specifically speaks about following through on what we have committed to believe and do. This message will take you higher in life and influence.

"Show me a sign of your favor” (Psalm 86:17 ESV). God gave many of our favorite Bible characters "signs" that confirmed they were headed in the right direction and that He was with them. In this podcast, Steve Backlund will inspire you to expect big signs of God's favor and guidance. He also gives some practical wisdom in healthily interpreting these signs. Get ready to be inspired and equipped as you listen.

Empowering leaders are more focused on building big people than building a big organization. If we are "small" in our attitudes (i.e., jealous, selfish, insecure, competitive, etc.), we will struggle to build people and to have "big" people attracted to us. In this podcast, Steve Backlund compares Israel's first two kings (Saul and David) to defeat the self-limiting beliefs that restrict our influence. 

Steve Backlund shares some wisdom that is "a word in season" for many who listen.

We each have unlimited potential in God. In this podcast, Steve Backlund shares these four habits from Philippians 4 that will propel your life in incredible ways.

In this message, Steve Backlund uses Jesus as the example for getting people's hopes up. In Luke 4, He proclaimed that His ministry would be one of regularly proclaiming good news to the poor, freedom to captives, and that the current year would be the year of God's favor. This powerful podcast will inspire and equip you to be like Jesus in bringing hope to people.

All of us are tempted to be disappointed with God, ourselves, leaders, people we are leading, and life in general. In this message, Steve Backlund shares inspiring insights to empower us to overcome disappointment and move forward in our lives like never before. 

Steve Backlund shares four more of the leadership principles that have greatly impacted his life and the lives of many others. This week's pillars are: Speaking Life, Faith-filled Decision Making, the Culture of Gladness, and Empowerment - Building Big People.

"Then you will make your way prosperous and be of good success" (Joshua 1:8). In this podcast, Steve Backlund shares four of his life pillars that have revolutionized his life: 1) Inspiring and Leading Yourself, 2) Transformational Beliefs, 3) Intentionality, and 4) Healthy Relationships. 

The victim mindset is a stronghold we all get to defeat. It wants us to believe we are at a disadvantage because of factors like our finances, family situation, physical appearance, our health, other people's perceptions of us, our past, our education, our vocation, or something else. This limiting belief is almost always a bigger problem than what we feel a victim of. In this podcast, Steve Backlund exposes lies behind this belief system and gives strategies for victory over it. 

Steve Backlund brings his unique perspective on speaking that will help you be more confident and effective. This message does not just help public speakers, but it gives insights into how to increase empowerment in all our communications with others.

Our conclusions about a circumstance are always more important than the circumstance itself. In this podcast, Steve Backlund explores the story of the twelve spies in Numbers 13 and how it speaks to our lives today.

"Desire spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy" (1 Corinthians 14:1). This podcast will help you understand the nature of New Testament prophetic ministry and how to grow in it so that others can become what they never thought they could be. 

Steve Backlund shares about a time when he thought he had his identity rooted in the right things, but it really wasn't. What he discovered in this seemingly negative time for him will help you avoid a crisis of identity in your future.

Join Steve as he explores the significance of joy in the kingdom of God and its transformative power for personal and relational growth.

People of hope give God a LOT to work with because they believe the future will be better than the present, and they have the power to help make it so. This “power to help make it so” mentality enables us to join with God and take risks to try new or creative things, which he will partner with to see breakthroughs happen. This podcast will equip you to give God much to work with. You and others will be glad you did.