Leanne’s ministry style is wonderfully feminine, and refreshingly humourous. She moves powerfully in the anointing seeing many released and set free from the bondage and limitations keeping them from becoming all that God has designed them to be.

Leanne uses personal stories and testimonies to connect with people on a very real level. Her prophetic insight and practical down to earth ministry style will ensure her audience is refreshed, equipped and empowered to take on all that life has to offer.

Lisa Bevere’s authentic, passionate, and witty teachings weave profound biblical truths with practical application. A New York Times best-selling author, her books are in the hands of millions worldwide. Lisa and her husband John, who’s also a best-selling author and teacher, are the founders of Messenger International.

Maria Durso is living proof that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Having come from a childhood devastated by loss and abuse she grew up to thinking she could mask her pain with drugs. Her lifestyle could have left her hopeless and alone—yet God kept and preserved Maria’s life.

Understanding firsthand the effects of abandonment, loneliness and rejection are, she ministers to those whose hurt lies deep in the heart and works to minister to those who need hope. Armed with discernment, insight into the true character of God, honest about her own experience, and down to earth, Maria is an intercessor, teacher, and powerful speaker.

In 1975, immediately following the first most important walk Maria would ever take down a church aisle—Maria took her second most important walk down the aisle and married her life-long love, Michael Durso. Together they pastored as Lead Pastors at Christ Tabernacle, the first church to be birthed from The Brooklyn Tabernacle, since 1985. They now oversee Saints Church, formally known as Christ Tabernacle. They have witnessed, firsthand, the faithfulness and grace of God who supplies the needs of a continually growing urban church.

Believing that our greatest ministry is prayer, she has overseen the Intercessory Prayer Team for decades, a group that still intercedes daily for the needs of the congregation, various ministries, the Pastoral staff and requests that are phoned into the church as well formerly leading the Women’s Ministry for over 35 years at Christ Tabernacle.

Maria published her first book, “From Your Head to Your Heart”. With powerful examples from the Bible and redeeming stories from her testimony involving abandonment, loneliness, rejection, and drug use—this book gives you the keys to access the power in God’s Word. Begin the renewing journey from your head to your heart today. In 2019, she released her second book “Ageless”. In the book Maria bridges the generational gap and cracks the code to spiritual dryness.

Blessed with a wonderful husband and three sons in ministry, their wives and grandmother to eight, Maria considers herself wholly blessed. The Durso’s look forward to the great plans God has for their ministry, their lives, and their family.

Lisa and her husband Michael have been part of Awaken Church since the early years of the church when it was just one campus. They helped launch our East Campus and currently oversee our El Cajon Campus with a thriving community in the east county of San Diego.