Arbor Christian Fellowship Joins 2025 Ascent Prayer Summit

Church leaders from Arbor Christian Fellowship join statewide summit to deepen prayer life, receive training, and pursue God's presence through worship-based prayer.

Gateway Seminary | April 24–26, 2025

Pastor Jonathan Dignadice, Deacon Victor Veturis, Prayer Warrior Carol Allen, and Children’s Ministries Director Hilda Veturis had the privilege of attending and serving at the 2025 Ascent Prayer Summit held at Gateway Seminary. Representing Arbor Christian Fellowship, Carol and Hilda also served on behalf of the Women’s Mission Union, joining fellow believers from across California for a powerful and Spirit-led experience.

This year’s summit was part of the California Southern Baptist Convention (CSBC) Prayer Initiative, with the clear and urgent aim of recapturing the theological significance, value, and practice of prayer. The overarching vision is that every CSBC church would truly become a House of Prayer.

Over three days, attendees engaged in Scripture-fed, Spirit-led, worship-based prayer, with times of guided personal reflection, small group intercession, and corporate worship in chapel. This rhythm of spiritual focus created space for renewal, transformation, and a deepened awareness of God’s presence.

Themes That Resonated Deeply

Several key teachings and moments stood out:

• Building a Culture of Prayer Takes Time
  Churches seeking to become Houses of Prayer must be patient and persistent. A prayer culture cannot be rushed—it is cultivated through consistent teaching, modeling, and engagement.

• Entering the Throne Room of God
  A significant reminder echoed throughout the summit: when we pray, we are not simply performing a spiritual duty—we are entering the very throne room of the Almighty. This perspective changes how we approach prayer and how we lead others into it.

• The Power of Unified Prayer
  Whether in corporate worship or small group settings, the unity of believers in prayer stirred a fresh desire for God’s movement—not just individually, but in our churches, communities, and beyond.

Spirit-Led Teaching and Encouragement

Presenters Bill Elliff, Dennis Henderson, and Nathan Lino brought powerful insights on prayer, leadership, and revival. Through biblical teaching, personal testimony, and practical guidance, they equipped pastors and ministry leaders to return to their churches with renewed conviction and tools to guide others into deeper prayer lives.

Dennis Henderson, quoting his brother Daniel Henderson, reminded attendees that "Prayerlessness is our Declaration of Independence from God." This sobering truth challenged participants to consider how a lack of prayer reflects a deeper issue of spiritual self-reliance and to recommit to living in full dependence on the Lord through consistent, Spirit-led prayer.

A Personal and Collective Encounter with God

For Pastor Jonathan, Deacon Victor Veturis, Carol Allen, and Hilda Veturis, the summit was more than an event—it was a divine appointment. Each returned with a refreshed heart for prayer and a stronger desire to see Arbor Christian Fellowship continue growing as a place of Spirit-led intercession and worship.

“It was an incredible time of learning, prayer, worship, and growing in faith,” said Carol. “We didn’t just attend another event—we encountered God together.”

Moving Forward as a House of Prayer

The Ascent Prayer Summit was a reminder that prayer is not just a ministry of the church—it is the ministry. As Arbor Christian Fellowship seeks to grow deeper in its calling, this summit serves as both a milestone and a starting point toward becoming a true House of Prayer for all people (Isaiah 56:7).

Let us continue pressing into the presence of God—together.