Welcome to CGN Ministry Conference
Main Session Speakers
Check out our lineup of 2025 speakers featuring leaders from around the world. Click on an image to learn more.
Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975. Following graduation from The London School of Theology, he served eight years in Scotland at both Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh and Hamilton Baptist Church. In 1983, he became the senior pastor at Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio. He has written several books and is heard daily and weekly on the radio program, Truth For Life. The teaching on Truth For Life stems from the week by week Bible teaching at Parkside Church.
Ted is the pastor of Reliance church in Temecula CA. He planted Reliance Church in 2007 and serves as the main teaching Pastor. Prior to starting Reliance Church, Pastor Ted was the founder & Executive Pastor of Revival Christian Fellowship in Menifee, where he served for 15 years. Ted is a graduate of the Calvary Chapel School of Ministry and has a heart for church planting, helping to plant many churches, both nationally & internationally. He is a trusted leader and serves on the Boards of several churches in two states.
Greg Opean was a pioneer church planter in Eastern Europe for almost two decades. During that time, he planted and pastored several churches in Hungary, finally settling in Budapest, where the Lord established a strong vibrant fellowship in the heart of that city. Golgotha Budapest is one of the most influential churches in that city today. Greg currently serves as a teaching pastor at the Packinghouse Christian Fellowship in Redlands, California.
Doug Sauder has served as the lead pastor of Calvary
Chapel Fort Lauderdale and its regional campuses since
May 2014. Before that, he was a founding member and
president of 4KIDS Of South Florida and an associate
pastor at Calvary Chapel since January 2000.
As a former educator, youth pastor, and foster parent, he is
a passionate advocate for kids in crisis and the author of
The One Factor: How One Changes Everything. He also
serves as a leading voice in Church United, a movement of
gospel-centered, city-focused churches in South Florida
uniting for the sake of one mission.
Doug and his wife Suzanne have three sons: Jackson,
Kaden and wife Megan, and Kennedy. To relax, he enjoys
a good book, a cup of coffee with friends, and an intense
game of basketball or chess.
Chapel Fort Lauderdale and its regional campuses since
May 2014. Before that, he was a founding member and
president of 4KIDS Of South Florida and an associate
pastor at Calvary Chapel since January 2000.
As a former educator, youth pastor, and foster parent, he is
a passionate advocate for kids in crisis and the author of
The One Factor: How One Changes Everything. He also
serves as a leading voice in Church United, a movement of
gospel-centered, city-focused churches in South Florida
uniting for the sake of one mission.
Doug and his wife Suzanne have three sons: Jackson,
Kaden and wife Megan, and Kennedy. To relax, he enjoys
a good book, a cup of coffee with friends, and an intense
game of basketball or chess.
Ed Stetzer, Ph.D., is the Dean and Professor of Leadership and Christian Ministry at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He also serves as Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University, where he teaches twice a year. Ed has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches; trained pastors and church planters on six continents; earned two master’s degrees and two doctorates; and written hundreds of articles and a dozen books. He is Regional Director for Lausanne North America, the Editor-in-Chief of Outreach Magazine, and regularly writes for news outlets such as USA Today and CNN. His national radio show, Ed Stetzer Live, airs Saturdays on Moody Radio and affiliates. Ed serves his local church, Mariners Church, as Scholar in Residence & Teaching Pastor.
Kike Torres is the lead pastor at Horizonte Queretaro as well as the founder and president of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, both in Mexico.
Daniel Williams has a heart for encouraging and equipping church leaders through his Leadership Lessons Podcast and ministry at www.eeleaders.com. Daniel currently serves as the Lead Pastor of Calvary Chapel of the Palm Beaches in Southeast Florida and on the CGN Connect Team.
Bruce Zachary was raised in a Jewish home and has been a follower of Jesus for more than 30 years. Bruce was an attorney for 25 years and has been an ordained pastor since 1995. In 1996, he planted Calvary Nexus, a Calvary Chapel church in Camarillo, California, where he continues serving as teaching and leader development pastor. Bruce has authored 18 books and directed a global church planting initiative in the Calvary Chapel movement. In addition, Bruce serves in a leadership role within the Calvary Global Network as a member of the CGN Executive Team and as leader of the Connect Team.
Workshops
A primary purpose of this conference is for leaders to connect with leaders from other churches who do similar ministry, share resources, ideas, and encouragement, and leave the conference with an expanded network of like-minded leaders who share their calling. In addition to ample opportunity to forge relationships, each workshop will be hosted by an experienced leader who will share their insights, and best practices, and facilitate connections.
We invite and encourage you to bring your team, whether paid staff or volunteers, who serve or have an interest, in the following areas:
Tuesday, June 24
- Lead/Senior Pastors with Brian Brodersen
- Executive + Associate Pastors with Jordan Taylor
- Women in Ministry with Cheryl Brodersen and Brenda Leavenworth
- Children’s Ministry with Tami Pena
- Youth Ministry with Craig Finley
- Worship with Faith Wake and Royce Rull
- Small Groups + Care Leaders with Jeremy Einem
- Tech Teams with Abe Lambeth
- Administration with Shirley Ruiz
- Lay Leaders with Tommy Cota and Seth Allingham
- God’s Design for Gender: Answers to the Serpent’s Trans Attack with Gerry Breshears
Wednesday, June 25
- Lead/Senior Pastors with Brian Brodersen
- Executive + Associate Pastors with Jordan Taylor
- Women in Ministry with Cheryl Brodersen and Brenda Leavenworth
- Children’s Ministry with Tami Pena
- Youth Ministry with Craig Finley
- Worship with Faith Wake and Royce Rull
- Small Groups + Care Leaders with Jeremy Einem
- Tech Teams with Abe Lambeth
- Administration with Shirley Ruiz
- Lay Leaders with Tommy Cota and Seth Allingham
Workshop Speakers
Check out our lineup of 2025 workshop speakers.
Brian Brodersen is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. He also serves as President of the Calvary Global Network, Chancellor of Calvary Chapel Bible College, and is the co-founder and director of Creationfest UK. Brian is the featured speaker on the Back to Basics Radio program and co-host of the live call-in program Pastor’s Perspective. Brian holds an M.A. in Ministry and Leadership from Wheaton College.
Jordan Taylor is the Executive Pastor at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. He moved to Costa Mesa, CA in 2019 after planting and pastoring Calvary Wallingford in Seattle, WA since 2011. Previously he served as the Administrative Pastor at Calvary Fellowship in Mountlake Terrace, WA. He holds an M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Tommy Cota is the lead pastor of Hope Alive Church. In Tommy’s young teenage years, the life he was living led him into darkness and ultimately 5 1/2 years of prison time in the California state prison system. It was during this time that his wife, Diana, began praying for him, and soon after his release in January of 2000 he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. Tommy was so excited to live his life for the Lord that he enrolled in Calvary Chapel’s School of Ministry, and after graduating in 2004 he was brought on staff as an assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa.
Jeremy has been in the role of the Community Life Pastor since he came on staff in March of 2020. Jeremy was born and raised just outside Detroit, MI. He attended Spring Arbor University where he majored in Pastoral Studies and Biblical Studies. He then went on to receive his Masters from Liberty University in Christian Leadership. He was serving in ministry as a pastor and Next Generation leader at a church in Michigan for 10 years before coming to Camarillo and Calvary Nexus. His wife Caley attended Nexus throughout her student years. They and their two daughters now get to serve this community. Jeremy is primarily responsible for the leadership of the Neighborhood Groups and overall assimilation.
Justin Thomas is president of Calvary Chapel Bible College (CCBC) in Twin Peaks, California, where he is an alumnus. Prior to serving at CCBC, he was the founding pastor of Calvary: The Hill in Seattle, Washington. In addition to holding an M.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies from Western Seminary, Justin is continuing his studies at Western as a doctoral student (Ph.D.) in Intercultural Education.
Seth Allingham is an assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel Rohnert Park in Rohnert Park, California. Seth also serves on the Board of Directors for Calvary Global Network.
Gerry Breshears has been professor of theology at Western Seminary since 1980. In addition to teaching and lecturing at a number of colleges and seminaries around the world, he speaks in many churches. He works with a wide variety of people and issues in the pastoral side of his life. He works in leadership in the Evangelical Theological Society nationally and regionally, including having served as national president. He is coauthor of Vintage Jesus, Death by Love, Vintage Church, and Doctrine with Mark Driscoll. Gerry and his wife, Sherry, have two sons, Donn and David, and a daughter, Cyndee, and four wonderful grandchildren. He is an elder and a member of the preaching team at Grace Community Church of Gresham, Oregon.
Event Schedule
Sunday, June 22
5:00–6:00 PM Check-In
6:00–7:00 PM Meet & Greet Dinner
7:00–9:00 PM An Evening of Worship
Monday, June 23
8:00–9:00 AM Check-in
9:00–10:30 AM Session #1: Ted Leavenworth “The Example of Jesus
10:30 AM–12:00 PM Session #2: Daniel Williams “A New Commandment”
12:00–2:00 PM Lunch Break (Western Seminary Student Lunch)
2:00–5:00 PM Free Time/Networking
5:00–7:00 PM Dinner “CGN Family Feast”
7:00–8:00 PM Session #3 Alistair Begg “Chosen and Fruitful”
8:00–9:00 PM Extended Worship
Tuesday, June 24
8:00–9:00 AM Morning Prayer with Wayne Taylor
9:00–10:30 AM Session #4: Alistair Begg “The Spirit of Truth”
10:30 AM–12:00 PM Session #5: Kike Torres “The Vine and the Branches”
12:00 PM–2:00 PM Lunch Break (Cultivate Church Planting Lunch)
2:00-3:00 PM Panel Discussion
3:00–5:00 PM Workshops
5:00–7:00 PM Dinner Break
7:00–8:00 PM Session #6: Bruce Zachary “If the World Hates You”
8:00–9:00 PM Extended Worship
Wednesday, June 25
8:00–9:00 AM Morning Prayer with Wayne Taylor
9:00–10:30 AM Session #7: Greg Opean “Another Helper”
10:30 AM–12:00 PM Session #8: Doug Sauder “The Prayer of Jesus: That They May Be One“
12:00–2:00 PM Lunch Break (Connect Lunch)
2:00–3:00 PM Panel Discussion
3:00–5:00 PM Workshops
5:00–7:00 PM Dinner Break
7:00–8:00 PM Session #9: Ed Stetzer “The Prayer of Jesus: So Send I You”
8:00–9:00 PM Extended Worship
Registration
Helpful Information
Area Hotels
CGN has arranged a discounted rate with a few area hotels. You can use the links below to book online or call using the information listed below.
Murietta Hot Springs Resort
39405 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd
Murrieta, CA 92563
Resort Rooms (1 King bed or 2 Queen beds) or Twin Bunk Bed Rooms (4 twin beds)
$169 per night, plus tax (Guest Resort Fee – Waived)
You can contact the front desk at 951-290-0887 or use the link below. When you call mention the group name of code: IMCGRP
Home2 Suites by Hilton
28400 Rancho California Road, Temecula, California, 92590
King Bed Studio Suite Nonsmoking
$140 per night plus tax – Single or Double Occupancy
- Complimentary Continental Hot Breakfast.
- Complimentary access to Spin2Cycle in our combined fitness/laundry facility.
- Outdoor Salt Water Pool and Patio Area: Complete with Fire Pit and Grills.
- Complimentary Self-Parking.
- All Studio Suites feature either 1 King Bed or 1 Queen Bed (no rooms have 2 beds), full size sleeper sofa, and full kitchen with full-size refrigerator/freezer, and induction burner-cooktop upon request.
- Dog and Cat friendly.
Event Location
Reliance Church
29825 Santiago Road,
Temecula, CA 92592
Questions? You can reach us at cgn@calvarychapel.com
Local Airports
Ontario Airport (ONT) 52.1 miles from Reliance Church
San Diego Airport (SAN) 59.9 miles from Reliance Church
John Wayne Airport (SNA) 67.6 miles from Reliance Church
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
We are Family Friendly! We will be providing Children’s Ministry for children 3 to 11 years old for a donation of $25 per child.
CONFERENCE DISCOUNTS
- Cross-Cultural Missionaries/Leaders Rate of $100 (working outside North America) Please request a coupon code for this option by sending an email to cgn@calvarychapel.com
- Special Discounted Rate of $50 for Bible College Students! (Student ID Required) To find out more, contact us at cgn@calvarychapel.com.
- Group Discount: A discounted rate of $200 for your team of 5 is automatically generated when you register together online.
BOOK LIST
A curated list of books suggested by our conference speakers and CGN leaders.
Calvary Global Network is a family of churches working together to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, and plant churches.
Resources
CGN invites any resources, organizations, ministries, and/or exhibitors who would like to participate in this year’s International Conference to complete the form below.