Kingdom Builders, Super Charged Investments for God

In March, One Ascension embarked on a bold new endeavor tied into our Be the Blessing emphasis. We gave away $100 bills to 100 individuals and small groups.

The idea was to empower them to whatever ministry the Holy Spirit was calling them to. 

They could use the money to fund something new to benefit disadvantaged individuals or populations. They could use their “gift” as seed money for a fundraiser to grow that $100 into something even bigger. They could use their $100 to enlist the help of others to make an even bigger difference in the world.

The idea behind this Kingdom Builders endeavor is to remind us that we serve a God of abundance. He’s a generous God who continually blesses us and then asks us to share our blessings with others.

Those $100 “gifts” distributed randomly to both adults and youth came with strings attached: “Don’t spend this on yourself; invest it in God’s Kingdom. Give it away or use it to raise more funds for an activity or a ministry that the Holy Spirit has placed on your heart.”

By mid-June, almost 35 different Kingdom Builders projects, ministries or fundraisers were completed.

KB Dollars funded a diverse slate of heartfelt and Spirit-led projects like Ascension’s recent Pickleball-athon benefitting Harbor House and our youth programs and Ascension’s recent community bike ride to benefit World Bicycle Relief. Ascension’s Food Pantry has been a recipient of dozens of bags of food because of Kingdom Dollars. Maybe you’ve noticed magnets on signposts and other places around town that say “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7.” That was funded by three Kingdom Dollars recipients each pooling their $100 to produce the magnets.

If you have any questions about Ascension’s Kingdom Builders project, please contact us at 

VIDEO: Kingdom Builders overview

VIDEO: How to create your own Kingdom Builders video

Note: Be the Blessing continues to fund new ministries and endeavors on a larger scale through our grant program. Click on the Be the Blessing link on Ascension’s home page. Or click here for more information or to make a grant request.

Kingdom Builders - Sample Projects

A Kingdom Builders Story

From Mia Luna

Thank you, Ascension, for including me in this Beautiful Kingdom Builders project!

It was super easy for me to decide on how to invest the money. I’ve ALWAYS been very fond of “Gifts of Hope,“ so I knew EXACTLY what to do right away. Even though I have never been to Africa, I know about her beauty and her struggles … Growing up in Brazil, I remember this school lesson about two brothers who were given an egg each, and the way they used their gifts:

The first boy was called John. He LOVED a sunny side egg for breakfast every day…The yolk was so orange and delicious, it was gone in no time!

The other brother, Paul, had ALWAYS wanted to be a farmer, just like his grandpa and his dad…So, Paul had his egg hatched. A cute yellow chick was born …and before he knew it, she started producing eggs herself! Paul kept hatching ALL the eggs carefully, and he made sure he kept the hens safe in their coop, especially at night when predators were around …

Paul kept his little farm growing, and he was truly happy to have worked sooo hard to make his dream come true!!! Eventually he became a very successful businessman with his chicken farm that kept growing and growing as time went by.

This story had a huge impact in my childhood, so I decided to donate $25 dollars in little chicks for four African families to invest in something that can grow and provide them with a small business that can go BIG if they work hard towards their dream, just as Paul did!

More info -- to Be the Blessing Bike Ride

Salute to Our Troops Kingdom Builders Follow-Up

 Last month, George Lange’s Kingdom Builders project brought Ascension together with the America Supporting Americans (ASA) organization, saluting our troops and veterans with flag honors at the June 14 Flag Day event at Janss Marketplace (link to highlights ) — and supporting troops with care packages.

The project turns out to have legs, as the saying goes, because it’s still going on.

First, George’s Kingdom Builders Flag honorees – Alexander Daley, Jack Ingles, Patrick Maccarone, Robert Steere, and Karsten Lundring – were joined by 20 more honorees because of George’s excellent promotion of the event.

“Some of my buddies came forward to donate flags,” as George puts it.

That’s 25 honorees in all, and 25 care packages to be sent out by ASA in their names.

And second, he continues to work on the advisory board of Conejo Valley ASA’s local chapter – and be a major booster of the group dedicated to supporting military members here and abroad. He is already thinking up ways to possibly expand next year’s event into the business community.

George was particularly pleased to present Ascension’s Karsten Lundring with his Salute to Our Troops flag. “He has done so much for the church,” he points out, referring to Karsten’s tireless service as a leader and mentor at Ascension through the years. “And he’s got a great story.”

That’s true! See STORY HERE.

 Kingdom Builders Project: Hygiene Supplies for Women

Shelley Engle has been providing feminine hygiene products — rarely donated, yet very much needed – for Harbor House, a girls’ home in Mexico, a summer camp, and our own Ascension food pantry, for many years. Now Shelley is making collecting these supplies the focus of her Kingdom Builders’ project. She hopes to put together 100 packages of these products. At the same time, this project will bring attention to an often-forgotten need, and, it is hoped, spread the word for the future, to get donations of feminine hygiene products in an ongoing way.

There will be people collecting donated items on Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings as well as Pink Collection Boxes in both Narthexes.

“I will be collecting these items this week, and beyond, as this is a monthly need,” says Shelley. “If you have any questions or would like me to pick up your donation, please call or text Shelley Engle.”