Description

The “Formed to Lead” event brought together a vibrant community to celebrate the launch of Jason Jensen’s new book, which explores the intersection of spiritual formation and leadership through the lens of Luke chapters 1–4. Jason Jensen, Vice President of Spiritual Foundations at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA, was joined in dialogue by Tiffany Malloy, Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Blackhawk Church.

Together, they unpacked themes from the book, including:

• The inseparability of spiritual formation and leadership for followers of Jesus.
• The democratization of leadership as seen in Luke’s Gospel, where humble, faithful individuals play central roles in God’s story.
• Healthy leadership rooted in character, integrity, and humility rather than charisma or control.
• Discernment as a spiritual practice, with Jason introducing a four-season framework (repentance, baptism, testing, calling) and a metaphor from pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago to illustrate the journey of listening to God’s voice.
• The Examen prayer practice, inspired by Ignatius of Loyola, as a daily tool for reflection and spiritual growth.
• Spiritual authority as integrity rather than positional power, and the importance of recognizing spiritual abuse.
• Leadership development that prioritizes who we are becoming over what we accomplish, with practical suggestions for cultivating formation in teams and communities.

Jason emphasized the importance of communal practices, silence, and spiritual direction in shaping leaders who reflect the gospel in their lives and influence. The event concluded with encouragement to engage with the book not just intellectually, but through prayer, practice, and group reflection.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER:

Jason Jensen (M.A., Fuller Theological Seminary) is Vice President of Spiritual Foundations for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA. Jason led InterVarsity staff teams in Berkeley, California, for 29 years. He and his wife, Susi, are based in Madison, Wisconsin, where Jason oversees the formation of InterVarsity staff in Scripture, theology, spiritual formation, and prayer. Their two adult children live in California.

ABOUT OUR MODERATOR:

Tiffany Malloy serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Blackhawk Church, where she oversees and leads the expression of spiritual growth of the Blackhawk community. Tiffany earned a B.S.Ed. in Math Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2005 and a M.A. in Christian Leadership from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2010. Tiffany is married to Jake, and they have four children: Asante, Aly, Ada, and Anaya.

🔗 Link to the book = https://www.ivpress.com/formed-to-lead

This event was recorded live at Upper House on September 18, 2025.