Northeast Missions Conference Set for May
Photos by Tom Price
Join the free Northeast Missions Conference at Calvary Chapel Philadelphia on Saturday, May 16. Meet missionaries and pastors from all over the world and hear what God is doing through His Church; spend time meeting and mingling directly with the missionaries and hearing firsthand about their ministries.
In 2025, Igor Shepyeta (center), who coordinates CC Philly’s mission work in Ukraine, explains the volatile conditions in Ukraine during its three-year war with Russia. Far right is Pastor Alex Yuditsenko, a Ukrainian Calvary Chapel pastor and military chaplain attending the conference for the first time.
The international gathering at Calvary Chapel Philadelphia, PA, on a May weekend in 2025 felt like “home” to Pastor Alex Yuditsenko, a Ukrainian pastor and military chaplain. He was in the United States for just one week to attend the Northeast Missions Conference.
In 2022, he and his church in Berdyansk, Ukraine, found themselves under Russian occupation for four months. “He kept doing the Lord’s work there,” explained Igor Shepyeta, a native Ukrainian who represents CC Philly’s mission work and support in Ukraine. However, after Alex was warned that the Russian secret police were about to arrest him, he, his family, and part of his church were forced to flee.
Rick Barnett (left), pastor of Calvary Chapel Okinawa, Japan, and his wife, Kristy, worship at the Northeast Missions Conference in May. Approximately 450 people attended the annual event at Calvary Chapel Philadelphia, PA.
It took three years for the seasoned war veteran to get a visa to attend the conference. “This year, finally, he got to come to America for the first time and see the faces of the people who had been praying for him. There were tears in his eyes,” Igor recounted. “He walked around in his military fatigues, talking to people in his broken English, thinking, It’s thousands of miles from home, but this is like my family. I got to see Alex, my brother-in-arms and brother-in-ministry, being so blessed by the Lord and this conference.”
(Left) A Ukranian man is holding a copy of a Calvary Chapel Magazine covering Ukraine after the beginning of the war. (Right) Steve Reeves, CC Philly’s missions pastor, addresses the enthusiastic crowd to lead off the Northeast Missions Conference.
Worship at the event took on an international flair as well. Igor, other Ukrainians, and his daughter helped lead one session, singing in their language as words were posted in English on the screen. “We were all singing the same words to our Lord in worship. They were songs everyone knows, but we all sang together. The Lord made it really special for us,” Igor joyfully exclaimed. A similar session was held in Spanish.
Igor noted Isaiah 40:31: But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. “We are like those who hope on the Lord, and we are renewed in His power through this fellowship and encouragement.”
Connection, Refreshment, & Reinforcement
CC Philly Missions Pastor Steve Reeves explained that the conference reaches several audiences. “First, for the missionaries, I hope that it’s a time of refreshment, encouragement, and connection. I love seeing them connect with each other. Sometimes they only see other missionaries at events like this. There are even relatives serving separately on the mission field who only see each other here, so it’s a blessing to see them fellowshipping together.”
Steve continued, “For the general Church body, it’s good for us to be recentered on the Gospel and to hear the amazing things that God is doing all over the world that aren’t in the forefront of our minds.” The conference is also good for that person who already has a heart for missions. “There are people who are maybe sensing that call from the Lord or praying through that. They can meet with missionaries and see if the Lord continues to open those doors and confirm that desire in their lives.”
Juliana and Jenevieve Moon, daughters of Pastor Arron and Vicky Moon of Refuge Fellowship CC in Chiang Mai, Thailand, excitedly engage with a conferencegoer.
Highlights of the annual conference are the two sessions given to the missionaries, offering them five to seven minutes to introduce themselves and share what the Lord is doing—opening opportunities for prayer. Steve highlighted one attendee who revealed last year the severe potential snag he had encountered in adopting a daughter. “So we all prayed for them last year. Then this year, he shared that just the day before the conference, he’d gotten word that she was going to officially be his daughter.”
Main session speakers were Rick Barnett, pastor of Calvary Chapel Okinawa, Japan; Cory Kilgus, pastor of CC Trujillo, Peru; and John Samara of Ananias House Ministries, which offers pastoral training, schools, and relief in the Middle East and North Africa. Missionaries flocked to the annual event from North, Central, and South America; Africa; Asia; and Europe, representing at least 30 ministries.
Igor and other Ukrainians lead a special worship session in both English and their native tongue.
A New Church in Chile
Three young adults attending the event left more encouraged and confirmed in their zeal for their upcoming church plant. Julián and Hope Cota and Jordan Moffatt, who left in August to plant a new Calvary Chapel in Concepción, Chile, were bolstered by the enthusiastic support.
“I got to know many pastors and missionaries from all over the world and got to hear their stories—how the Lord is moving not only in Chile but in many different places,” shared Julián, who will serve as pastor. “They were very interested, asking us, ‘Why Chile?’ and how the Lord worked in each of us to start a work there. We received a lot of advice and are excited to see that this is much bigger than us. There are more people now who are praying for the work and want to be involved. Some pastors have already planned to send some mission teams to Chile.”
His wife, Hope, proclaimed, “Any time I get to hear other missionaries speak, it’s a reminder of the call that God has placed on our lives, of why we’re serving the Lord.” Teammate Jordan further reflected, “It’s really refreshing to be able to zoom out and see how big our God is because He works in so many places and yet works so intimately and personally in each of them.”
Igor (right) enjoys a light moment with fellow Ukrainian Marat Kurbanov of London City Mission.
A Work of Prayer
All three are graduates of Calvary Bible Institute Peru, headed by Cory Kilgus; all served as interns there before answering the call to Chile. The fledgling church planters are standing firmly on the legacy of many years of prayer as the Lord establishes the first Calvary Chapel in one of Chile’s largest and most influential cities.
“The Lord has shown us that this a work of prayer,” Jordan stated. “A CC pastor in Peru has been praying for this city for the last 10 years; the pastor before him has been praying for around 40 years. Our team has been praying for the last three or four years. This has been a huge encouragement for us to continue to be in fervent prayer for the city and be expectant of the things that God will do.”
From left to right, Jordan Moffatt, Hope Cota, and her husband Julián Cota talk with Danielle Kilgus of CC Trujillo, Peru. The trio started a new CC church plant in Chile.
By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of the far-off seas. Psalm 65:5
Julián, a native of Mexico, added that the team will rely on that support. “Calvary Chapel pastors throughout Chile now are praying for this work. They want to be involved in what the Lord is doing. They know their country better than I do. It will be good to talk to them, have a relationship with them—their advice will be very necessary for us.”
Facing the Challenge
They know the mission field will be challenging. “It’s a very important city historically and economically—where Chile’s independence was found,” Hope noted. Yet it’s run-down and graffiti is abundant. “A lot of people are hurting, who are lost and blinded to the truth of who Jesus is, and to the Gospel. We want to reach them with the love of Jesus, that they would get to know that there’s a God who loves them and has a purpose for their lives. Julián’s vision is to disciple people in the love of Christ and to show what it’s like to walk in a living relationship with Jesus Christ.”
Concepción is a university city, considered post-Christian, Julián observed. “Students are taught to stand for what they believe to be right. They protest in favor of communism, feminism, abortion rights, the LGBTQ agenda, and against Israel. And the universities and government reinforce this spirit of protest.” He wants to change the students’ perspective: “We know that they are courageous and have a lot of passion. We would like to direct their passion to Christ.”
Kit and Ream Carson (right) of A Heart for Wisdom School in Takeo, Cambodia, share encouragement with Arron Moon and his daughter.
University students seek meaning and something to stand on, Jordan related. “We know that the only firm foundation is the rock of Christ. The only purpose we find is in our Creator.”
Students smoke marijuana, sold outside university doors, and government commercials have openly boasted helping thousands of kids between ages 3 and 17 to start transgender procedures, Julián grieved. “For all of these kids who are going through these changes, their bodies are going to be destroyed. They’re going to reach this place of hopelessness and will need Christ and someone to share the Gospel with them.”
“I [Jesus] am the light of the World. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12b
They began their ministry by establishing relationships, dedicating the first months to evangelism, outreaches in the city, and university prayer and Bible study groups, Julián confirmed. They recently started holding services. “Also, there are a lot of immigrants living in Concepción—Peruvians, Venezuelans, and Haitians. We want this church to be a home for them, too.” Hope summarized, “This city and these people have always been on God’s heart. There are a lot of unknowns, but with that comes the excitement—we’re going to see how God does this. We recognize that we can’t do it, but He can, and we know that His grace is going to be sufficient for what awaits us.”
Lydia Rodriguez leads the Spanish worship set.
2026 Northeast Missions Conference
On Saturday, May 16, join missionaries and pastors from all over the world to hear what God is doing through His church; spend time meeting and mingling directly with the missionaries and hearing firsthand about their ministries. Don’t wait to register for this free conference to be held at Calvary Chapel Philadelphia.
Thank you for reading! If this story inspired you, we invite you to partner with us in continuing the ministry God started over 27 years ago. We appreciate your prayerful consideration in joining us to reach more souls for Jesus.
Calvary Bible Institute is a one-year program designed to equip those who are called to serve the Lord in full-time ministry. Visit CBI's website to learn more about their programs at calvarybi.com
© 2026 Calvary Chapel Magazine (CCM). All rights reserved. Articles or photographs may not be reproduced without the written permission of CCM. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.® Used by permission.