Encouraging the Messengers Who Reach Out to the Nations
Photos by Tom Price
“More than ever, I’m convinced that the Lord is reaching out to the nations. I hope you are, too,” exhorted Steve Cyr, pastor of CC La Rochelle, France, at the 2022 Northeast Missions Conference at Calvary Chapel Philadelphia (CC Philly), PA. “I’m thrilled to be here. A friend of mine is taking a picture of you all here; I’m going to show [it to my] church. Everybody’s encouraged that you are praying, that you are involved. It makes all the difference in the world.”
Women enjoy worship at the 2022 CCA Northeast Missions Conference. The one-day event was held at Calvary Chapel Philadelphia (CC Philly), PA, and featured teachings, updates, and prayer requests from experienced missionaries. The 2023 conference, free of charge and open to all, will be held May 20 at CC Philly.
Between teachings by featured speakers, all experienced missionaries from around the world, Steve Cyr was one of numerous missionaries and pastors given the opportunity to briefly address the approximately 300 attendees at the Calvary Chapel Association event. Steve Reeves, CC Philly’s missions pastor, explained: “I try to give as many of the missionaries as possible 5-7 minutes to introduce themselves and their ministries to everyone. I consistently get the most positive feedback for this. It really is a neat time to hear about what everyone is doing and really adds a personal touch for the missionaries themselves.”
Steve Reeves (right), CC Philly’s missions pastor, introduces Pastor Mark Abrams (left) of Calvary Chapel Word of Life in Philadelphia to conference attendees. Mark discussed his “home” mission of reaching youth in the inner city. Mark was one of several pastors and missionaries invited to briefly share their updates and prayer requests.
The missionaries shared their victories and challenges in ministries as varied as their accents; for some, English was not their first language. Conference attendees came from around the world—Europe, Latin America, the United Kingdom, Africa, New Zealand, and the Philippines. Participants from the U.S. also inspired guests with powerful stateside mission updates and opportunities for involvement.
Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. Psalm 96:3
Jed Gourley (left), pastor of Calvary Chapel Tbilisi, Georgia, enjoys a special moment with Mark Walsh, who founded the Calvary Bible Institute in New Zealand. Jed was a main speaker at the conference, and Mark got the opportunity to share with attendees: “Our heart has been, and continues to be, disciple-making wherever we are.”
Breaking the Darkness
They described vast areas with little or no Christian influence and few or no Christian churches teaching God’s Word, where they often face overwhelming spiritual darkness. But most of all, they emphasized prayer—earnestly requesting it and expressing their gratitude for all who have lifted their needs before God.
Pastor Steve Vickery of Calvary Chapel Oxford, England, reminds participants of the United Kingdom’s spiritual heritage, now waning in a post-Christian era. “The truth of God’s Word is becoming increasingly unpopular,” he warned as he urged them to “never underestimate the power of prayer.”
Steve Vickery, pastor of CC Oxford, England, noted that Oxford and the UK have a great historical spiritual heritage. “The situation today is very different. The UK is often described as a post-Christian country, and I think that is very much the case, not too dissimilar [to] here in America,” Steve noted. “The truth of God’s Word is becoming increasingly unpopular. Hostility towards the truth is growing. … [Many] are tempted to compromise the truth of God’s Word.”
He further urged, “Pray. Don’t ever underestimate the power of prayer; [it] changes things. God answers prayer. We need your prayers and a fresh work of the Holy Spirit … to see the Word of God proclaimed so that disciples may be made and people may grow strong—so that they, too, can go forth and make disciples.”
Tony Reyes, who pastors a Calvary Chapel in the Philippines and runs a church planting/multiplication network, emphasizes the need for every Christian to leave behind a legacy of disciples, investing their lives in those of other Christians. “Please pray for us, that God would send us workers. I also want you to pray for God’s leading for you,” he said.
Tony Reyes pastors a Calvary Chapel in the Philippines and runs a church planting/multiplication network. He cited 2 Timothy 2:2 as his motivation: And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. “Please pray for us, that God would send us workers. I also want you to pray for God’s leading for you. 2 Timothy 2:2 is not just for a few people; it’s for every Christian. … Invest your life in the life of another Christian, passing on what you have received from the Lord, making sure he does the same thing—and that will multiply. You will leave behind a legacy of disciples.”
Lucho Garcia, pastor of Gracia Calvary Chapel in Lima, Peru, invites participants to go on mission trips south of the U.S. border. “You won’t believe it. People are so hungry to hear the Word of God,” he revealed.
Lucho Garcia, pastor of Gracia Calvary Chapel in Lima, Peru, declared, “I really love that you’re here—you want to do something with missions. I want to invite you to go on a mission trip … south of the USA border. You won’t believe it. People are so hungry to hear the Word of God.”
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Mary Reyes (far left) and her mother Amber Reyes (center left) show a ministry video to a passer-by. Their father and husband, Tony Reyes, is a Calvary Chapel pastor in the Philippines also called to church planting.
Open to All
The conference is open to all, not just to missionaries, according to Missions Pastor Steve Reeves, who leads the event. “Our heart is that all would come to hear about the amazing things our Lord is doing all over the world,” he said. “The hope is that the missionary who attends will be encouraged and refreshed, for the pastor who attends to make connections with other Calvary missionaries and ministries around the world, and for all to have their vision enlarged for what God is doing and how they can be involved.”
Tom Dickerson (left) of Calvary Chapel Middlesex, NJ, engages with Denny Barger (right). Denny, who heads Dreams Alive, a mission work with Muslims, challenged attendees to listen to the Spirit of God. “Some of you are here and thinking about being a missionary. … There are so many who need the Lord. So let Him send you wherever it is, whether it’s across the street or across the seas.”
Response from past attendees has been positive, Steve added. “Every year we have reports from and conversations with people, perhaps new to the idea of missions, who were encouraged and amazed to hear about things happening in places like Eldoret, Kenya, or Trujillo, Peru, that they had never heard of. And they realized that the Lord has used Calvary Chapels in so many areas to bring the truth of the Gospel.”
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13:2-3
Erna Perez, who regularly attends the missions conference, soaks in the joy of worshiping the Lord.
The 2023 conference will be held at CC Philly on May 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event is free, but registration is requested for lunch planning. Guests can register at ccphilly.org/missions-ministry-registration. The CCA East Coast Pastors Conference will begin the following Monday, May 22, at CC Philly.
You can watch teachings from the 2022 missions conference here: Missions Conference 2022 (ccphilly.org)
Photo Gallery: Missions Conference 2022
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