Rise Above Conference – 2025

Marcus Warner has served as president of Deeper Walk International since 2006. Marcus earned three degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School – M.Div., Th.M. Old Testament, and D.Min. He has written numerous books including his most recent title, Breakthrough! 5 Essential Strategies for Freedom, Healing, & Wholeness. An in-demand speaker, Marcus has spoken for both ministry and corporate groups across the country and around the world. A Bible teacher at heart, Marcus has taught Old Testament and Theology at the junior high, high school, college, and seminary levels. His passion is taking complex topics and making them practical and accessible for everyone.

Marlene Allen is the Executive Director of Life Model Works and the joyful mom of four incredible adult children, “Nana” to two beautiful granddaughters and “Momma Marlene” to scores of others. She served in Southeast Asia for sixteen years where she discovered the Life Model tools. The transformation she experienced drives her passion to make Life Model concepts available to the young and the old, the educated and uneducated, the rich and the poor, and every race and culture. She is currently studying for her Master’s in Transformational Leadership at Bakke Graduate University and is a licensed minister, teacher, and author.

Jim Wilder has extensive clinical counseling experience and is the chief neurotheologian of Life Model Works, a nonprofit working at the intersection of brain science and theology. He is also the lead developer of the Life Model, which is building contagiously healthy Christian communities through equipping existing networks with the skills to thrive.

Dr. Jim Wilder (PhD, Clinical Psychology, and MA, Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary) has been training leaders and counselors for over four decades on five continents. He is the author of over twenty books with a strong focus on maturity and relational skills. His coauthored book, Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You has sold over 100,000 copies in eleven languages. Wilder has published numerous articles and developed video and relational leadership training called THRIVE.

Eric Scalise, Ph.D., serves as President and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) with Hope for the Heart, and is also the President of LIV Consulting, LLC. He is the former Senior Vice President for the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) and former Department Chair for Counseling Programs at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Dr. Scalise is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over four decades of clinical and professional experience in the mental health field. He is a published author (Addictions and Recovery Counseling, and Lay Counseling: Equipping Christians for a Helping Ministry), adjunct professor at several Christian universities, conference speaker, and frequently works with organizations, clinicians, ministry leaders, and churches on a variety of issues. Dr. Scalise and his wife, Donna, have been married for over 40 years, have twin sons—who are combat veterans serving in the U.S. Marine Corps—and four grandchildren.

Dawn Whitestone (MA, LMHC) serves as the Founding Director of the Deeper Walk School of Ministry. She is also the Founding Partner & Chief Growth Catalyst at WhiteStone Professionals. Her passion is growing people and organizations into their full potential.

Dawn has served as an executive coach, strategic planner, and training designer. Her unique approach to following God’s purposes and plans is captured in the book Strategic Business Prayer and its companion workbook.

Dawn’s zest for joyful living is rooted in a strong family, vibrant faith, and familiarity with suffering. Her personal experiences with divorce, grief, and family illness give her a compassion that undergirds her love for life and passion for people. Dawn fills her joy bucket loving her husband, volunteering in her church, and spending time with friends in Lakeland, Florida.