COHORTS

Brenda Leavenworth is an author and speaker based in Temecula, CA. Her passion is to help women grow in their knowledge and understanding of Scripture as they pursue Christian maturity. She enjoys traveling the globe to share God’s Word and has written several in-depth Bible studies, including her 2016 release of Proverbs 31 study, Far Above Rubies. Brenda holds a master’s degree in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in Christian Leadership from Calvary Chapel University and has joined their staff as an adjunct professor. As the host of When She Leads podcast, Brenda actively and passionately discusses the complexities and realities of leading ministry as a woman. Married to Ted Leavenworth, who serves as the Senior Pastor of Reliance Church, together they share three adult children and ten grandchildren. Brenda currently serves and loves her community as the Director of Women’s Ministry at her home church.

Krista and her family live and serve as missionaries in the Amazonian region of Brazil in Belem, Para. She and her husband Kyle have been married for 20 years. They have two sons Aidan and Liam. She and her husband planted Calvary Chapel Belem where Kyle is the pastor and Krista serves as the women’s ministry leader and leads the Proverbs 24:11 ministry (a ministry dedicated to individuals involved in human trafficking and prostitution).

Meka Buffington serves with her husband, Bill Buffington, the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Inglewood. They have been married for over 25 years, have four young-adult children, and one grandchild. Their older son was diagnosed with autism as a toddler. Providing biblical support and encouragement to families touched by special needs is a ministry that is close to her heart. Meka holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Education Leadership. She is the Director of Women’s Ministry and leads the Children’s Ministry. Meka has a passion for teaching God’s word, discipling women to grow in their relationship with Christ, writing Bible curriculum for children, and training servants/leaders to plant the seed of God’s word in the heart of young ones.

Grace is a Bible teacher and ministry leader in Las Vegas, Nevada. Las Vegas has been home for the last ten years, with nine of those years having been spent planting and establishing Paradise Calvary Chapel with her husband and lead pastor, Timothy Warholic. Prior to moving to Las Vegas, Grace and Timothy spent ten years in Eastern Europe, with the large part of that time church planting in Croatia. Grace and Timothy also have five children, ranging from eight years old to sixteen. Grace is passionate about studying, understanding and teaching scripture; she is currently finishing her last year of studies to obtain her Master’s in Advanced Biblical Leadership at Western Seminary, and hopes to continue with an emphasis on original languages and ancient Near Eastern culture. Grace leads the women’s and children’s ministries at Paradise Calvary, she also helps with counseling, discipleship and leadership development. The last five years she has enjoyed teaching 9th grade Old Testament Survey and Worldview at a private Christian school where her children also attend. Besides enjoying the normal day to day family life, Grace loves traveling with her husband (especially to encourage friends and missionaries), coffee and reading.

Rosemary lives in Longmont, Colorado, where she serves as the leader of the Women’s Ministry at White Fields Community Church, where her husband, Nick, serves as Lead Pastor. They have four wonderful children; each having a unique testimony of God’s grace in their lives. Growing up in Oceanside, California, Rosemary is a first-generation American, which made life an adventure and caused her to grow in appreciation for the USA. She came to know the Lord at the end of high school, and started attending Calvary Chapel in Vista, California, where she had the privilege of serving the Lord as a youth group leader. She then spent 14 years serving as a missionary in Hungary, church planting with Calvary Chapel. Rosemary enjoys hiking, running, cooking, traveling, gardening, teaching the Bible, and most of all: spending time with family.

Kelly Bell has been married to Brian, Senior Pastor of Calvary Murrieta, for 39 years. They have two children and five grandchildren. Kelly is the Director of Women’s Ministry and has a passion to see women grow in their faith and become doers of the Word. She is a teacher, a writer, and the author of a Bible Study series called “Reasons to Rejoice.” Kelly oversees their Justice Ministry and has a passion to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, ensuring justice for those being crushed.” (Proverbs 31:8-9). She volunteers with various other community organizations such as ICA, Rebirth Homes, and the Murrieta Food Pantry. Kelly loves to run, cycle, hike, read, eat, play with her grandkids, travel, go to the beach, and find ways to share Jesus with her world!

Jasmine is an Army National Guard veteran, mom of two, and wife who loves to spend time with her family and friends. She loves to watch cooking shows and download recipes she will never make! Her real passion is teaching children about their Heavenly Father and watching them grow in their relationship with the Lord. As the Director of Calvary Kids, she oversees and coordinates 75 volunteers over four services throughout the week. She aims to lead fairly and consistently while modeling leadership for her teen and adult volunteers. From VBS to Christmas plays to summer events, she strives to keep all Calvary Kids engaged in fun activities that point them to Jesus and knowing Him better.

Faith Wake is a worship leader and artist who loves Jesus, people, single origin coffee, and traveling. Born into a ministry family, Faith grew up as a Third Culture Kid in California, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Theology and is a perpetual student of God’s presence and leading in the life of His Church.

She has actively served as a worship leader in different ministry contexts and denominational spaces since 2004 and has over ten years of experience as a graphic designer, social media strategist, and photographer.

Faith and her husband Thales currently serve with Reliance Church and REVO Collective out of Temecula, California. They’re committed to going where God sends, carrying the Gospel wherever they go, cultivating community with other Christian artists, and building a beautiful life with their son Thomas and dog-daughter Ahsoka.

Lynne Kelly is a pastor's wife, missionary, and church planter currently leading Women's ministry at WestChurch, Florida. She has been in full-time ministry for over 20 years. Lynne and her family spent ten years in East Africa planting CC Kampala. It was during that time that God grew in her a love to see women grow in their relationship with Jesus. She has a passion to see women succeed wherever God has called them, balancing their family and ministry. Lynne has been married to Brian for almost 25 years; they have three grown children. She also works in real estate and loves hosting a party for any occasion.

Janie was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, one of four children. Her parents were missionaries in Brazil. She accepted Jesus as her Savior when she was 18 years old while on a date with Justin. They have been married 55 years and have 5 daughters. Their fourth daughter Ashley is in heaven. They have 9 grandchildren, 3 boys and the other 6 are girls. Janie loves teaching God’s word and encouraging sisters in the Lord.

Janice currently serves as the Women’s Director of “Growing in Grace” at Transformation Calvary in Rancho Cucamonga. She is married to the Senior Pastor Jim Orate, where together they have been serving for 40 years. They have four adult children and six grandchildren. Janice is passionate about teaching and seeing women grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. She also loves to encourage Pastors wives and women in leadership as they serve the women in their communities. Janice loves spending time with her grandchildren, her husband and friends. She also enjoys walking, Pilates, the beach, the mountains, coffee and looking for opportunities to share the love of Jesus.

Rachel Neglia is a pastor’s wife and mother to three. Originally from Southern California, Rachel has been living in Cork, Ireland since 2004, when she and her husband Mike moved there to serve with Calvary Cork. As pastors wife, Rachel has served in various ways throughout the years, leading worship, childrens ministry, and Bible studies. Currently, Rachel leads the women’s ministry team and the hospitality ministry, and enjoys discipleship and encouraging women in their pursuit of God. In her free time, Rachel enjoys gardening, reading, baking cakes, and flower arranging.

Shirley Ruiz is the Church Administrator of Reliance Church in Temecula, California with over 30 years of ministry experience. Her duties span from church finances, Human Resources, and church law with a passion for effective and accurate record keeping, church structure, and assisting pastors to carry out their vision. Shirley also serves on the Women’s Ministry Board. Shirley and her husband Mike were married in 1989 and together they have four adult children and two grandchildren.

Robin has been involved with Calvary Chapel and Calvary Chapel Schools community, currently serving in the Financial Department in Costa Mesa, California. A graduate of Calvary Chapel Bible College (Class of 2003), she has spent over two decades contributing to the college's serving in both Finance and Human Resources, along with teaching Biblical Hebrew I and II, Ruth and Esther, Women in Church History, Song of Solomon, and Proverbs 31.

Years ago, her son's simple yet profound reminder to ‘Cast all your cares on Him' transformed her life. This revelation inspired her to lead a life of service, marked by her involvement in various ministries, including greeting, audiovisual support, bulletin preparation, Middle School Ministry, and Women's Ministry.

As a single woman, Robin's unwavering commitment is to Christ and His kingdom. Her dedication to living a Christlike life guides her in all aspects of her service.

Tami Peña has served faithfully in the children’s ministry at Reliance Church since 2009 as the Reliance Kids’ Director. Tami has extensive experience in her position, as she has served over 20 years in children’s ministry leadership. She loves Jesus and His kids. Fittingly, Tami became a Christian at the age of 4 while attending a Vacation Bible School. She has carried with her a lifelong passion to help children know and to serve Jesus.

Becky Dente has been a missionary in France since 1997. She and her husband served under a French pastor for five years in Nice until 2002 they moved to Paris to plant a Calvary Chapel. Having a heart for women’s ministries, and particularly women on the field she’s hosted numerous women in ministry conferences in France over the years, and has taught both locally and internationally.
She has four beautiful children, a wonderful son in law and one darling granddaughter. Half live in the US and half live in France. She finishes her Masters at Western Seminary this year.