Johnny Sears is the Director of the Academy for Spiritual Formation®, an international ministry of the The Upper Room® that offers experiences in disciplined Christian community and emphasizes a holistic spirituality of body, mind, and spirit. Johnny is a native of Kentucky and a Baptist layperson who holds a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Louisville. Formerly, he was a specialist in product design/development and sustainable practices for Lexmark International. His deep passion to help others awaken to and embrace the transformative power of prayer for their lives and, ultimately, for the world is what led him to make such a drastic career change. Johnny studied at the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky and is himself a graduate of the Two-Year Academy for Spiritual Formation as well as the Foundations of Christian Leadership program by Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. He is a certified Myers-Briggs Practitioner and also a certified Pastoral Care Specialist