The CGN Podcast

This season, on Mission & Methods, we are getting to know members of the CGN Executive Team. Rafael Manzaneras is the pastor of Santa Ponsa Community Church, on the island of Mallorca, in Spain. Rafael has a unique global perspective, having served in the United States and Europe for many years. In this episode, Rafael shares his story of growing up in both Spain and the United States, and how God led him back to Europe. We also talk about the work God is doing through Calvary Chapel churches in Western Europe, and why it is such a strategic place for the mission of God in the world. We’d love to hear feedback from you on these episodes. You can email us at CGN@calvarychapel.com

This season, on Mission & Methods, we are getting to know members of the CGN Executive Team. Jeff Gipe has a unique background, having been a successful businessman in Southern California, and then planting and pastoring a church. He now uses these skills and experiences to serve Calvary Global Network, both as a member of the staff, and as the head of the Funding Team. In this episode, Jeff talks about some of the ways the funding team has been able to help churches and empower ministry initiatives around the world, and why he is passionate about mobilizing the church to use our skills and resources to help each other further the mission of God. Jeff also hosts the Isms That Cause Schisms Podcast. We’d love to hear feedback from you on these episodes. You can email us at CGN@calvarychapel.com

Welcome to CGN Voices. We are in a mini series called CGN Voices from Ukraine, a series dedicated to sharing powerful stories of resilience, faith, and service in the face of great difficulty. In this episode, we have the privilege of hearing a remarkable story shared by Lena Morrison from Calvary Chapel in Svitlovodsk, Ukraine. Lena shares her story of choosing to stay in Ukraine after the beginning of the full-scale invasion, in order to house and feed refugees fleeing from the war zones in eastern Ukraine. Additionally, she recounts the inspiring story of someone they helped, who initially had deep skepticism about church, but who came to faith through the support, love, and acceptance she received, and now serves in the church in helping others. “If I would have known that church is like this, I would have come sooner!” As Lena shares this uplifting story, she also highlights the continued challenges faced by their church and community amidst the ongoing conflict. Discover how you can support and pray for them as they persevere and extend God's love to those affected by the war. Join us in this episode of CGN Voices from Ukraine, as we celebrate the transformative power of faith and witness firsthand the resilience and dedication of believers compelled to serve others as Jesus served them.

Welcome to "Voices from Ukraine", a mini-series inside look at the resilience, faith, and service of Calvary Chapel believers in Ukraine during the difficult months since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. In this special edition, we sit down with Tanya Kotelenets from a church in eastern Ukraine. Kotelenets shares her harrowing experiences from the first days of the war - the fear, uncertainty and eventual decision to flee the city with her church community. Despite difficult conditions, God's provision and grace sustained them. Though she returned home months later, the impact of war remains. Kotelenets’s husband ministers at funerals almost daily, including that of a coworker who recently died in combat. Our listeners are reminded that all parts of the body of Christ feel the suffering of others. Kotelenets asks for prayers for the children enduring so much change and loss, and for strength to continue living through this conflict with hope. If you'd like to support relief efforts in Ukraine, donations can be made through calvaryglobalnetwork.com/relief Join us next time for another firsthand account of courage, sacrifice and faith continuing to burn bright within the Calvary Chapel family amidst the darkness of war.

Ted Leavenworth is the Lead Pastor of Reliance Church in Temecula, CA. In addition to pastoring Reliance, Ted leads the Care and Coaching Team for CGN. In this episode, Ted discusses the benefits of coaching and church assessment, and describes how their team is able to help provide support for leaders, but also practical training to up-skill those who desire help from other leaders with more experience. Prior to planting Reliance Church, Ted worked as a paramedic and was the founder and Executive Pastor of a large church in Menefee, California. He shares how his experience in those roles shapes his approach to ministry today. Check out the Leadership Collective Podcast. We’d love to hear feedback from you on these episodes. You can email us at CGN@calvarychapel.com

Wayne Taylor is the founding pastor of Calvary Fellowship in Seattle, Washington. As part of the first generation of Calvary Chapel pastors, Wayne has been in pastoral ministry for over 40 years, during which time he was involved in the planting of over 50 churches in the Pacific Northwest, Europe, and Russia. Wayne is passionate about prayer and evangelism, and in this episode, he shares about how the work of CGN is carrying on these important aspects of what the Calvary Chapel movement has been about since the beginning. We’d love to hear feedback from you on these episodes. Contact us at CGN@calvarychapel.com

Richard Cimino has been a pastor for over 40 years, the majority of which was spent in Northern California. In this discussion, we talk about the importance of cultivating friendships in ministry. Richard shares very candidly about some of his hardest experiences as a pastor, including closing down a church, and how it was his friendships with other pastors and ministry leaders which God used to encourage him and give him direction in those times. We’d love to hear feedback from you on these episodes. Contact us at CGN@calvarychapel.com

Kellen Criswell serves as the Global Strategist for Calvary Global Network. In many ways he is the architect of CGN. In this episode, Kellen shares about his background as a worship leader and church planter, and the events which led to him being involved in helping build CGN as an organization. Kellen is currently based in Hungary, and we discuss God’s work through Calvary Chapel in Europe in the past and to this present day, as well as what Kellen is excited about for the future of CGN. We’d love to hear feedback from you on these episodes. Contact us at CGN@calvarychapel.com

Bill is the pastor of Calvary Chapel in Inglewood, California — a community that is rapidly changing, and in this episode, Bill shares about some ways they are addressing those changes, reaching out, and discipling the people God is bringing their way.  Bill is also the father of a child with a disability, and he shares how his son’s disability has shaped him and his family, and how it has changed the way he approaches ministry and leads his church to love people who have unique challenges.  As a member of the CGN Executive Team, Bill also talks about what he is excited about in regard to Calvary Global Network in regard to "gospel unity" and the ability to do more for God's Kingdom together than we can separately. We’d love to hear feedback from you on these episodes. Contact us at CGN@calvarychapel.com

Tommy Cota is the pastor of Hope Alive Church in Santa Ana, California.  In this episode, Tommy shares about his background, growing up in Los Angeles and being involved with drugs and gangs, and how God took hold of his heart and transformed his life. Tommy also shares about his journey of planting a church in Santa Ana, and how God has opened doors for him to minister to youth in public schools. Tommy is a member of the CGN Executive Team, and he also talks about what he is excited about in regard to the future of Calvary Global Network. We’d love to hear feedback from you on these episodes. Contact us at CGN@calvarychapel.com