Meet our Staff and Students for 2023!

We are proud to launch our fifth annual Calvary School of Missions summer program! This six-week intensive program includes teaching and training on cross-cultural ministry, cultural immersion, church planting, God’s heart for the nations, and the current state of the unreached.

CSOM Staff

Pastor Tim and Jenn Pappas

Pastor Tim is our on-the-ground Director of Students, providing pastoral oversight and wisdom to the students as they experience the ups and downs of life on the mission field.
Jenn will be supporting her husband and leadership with the students who come to CSOM with her gift of love and hospitality.

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Acacia

Acacia will be serving as the financial director for CSOM 2023. She is excited to be volunteering at CSOM this year, to walk alongside the students as they begin to understand the call of the Great Commission to the Unreached mission field! 

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Macey Lee

Macey is a former School of Missions student and a current intern with Saving Grace World Missions. She is looking forward to serving alongside the leaders and students this summer. She will be helping organize the children’s ministry programs, as well as be available to the students’ needs as they seek the Lord and learn more about the importance of reaching the unreached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

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CSOM Students

Bethsaina Leaf

Bethsaina Sanon Leaf is from Haiti. She moved to California with a new family when she was 13. She knew that she wanted to do missions since she was 5. She had to pray about it because it was a big calling that she wasn’t sure she wanted to do for the rest of her life. She kept praying that God would show her what He wanted her to do. She then attended a missions conference and that was where the Lord showed her she should attend the School of Missions.

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Barek Brzezinski 

Barek (Bear) Brzezinski gave his life to Jesus Christ when he was 6 years old and was led by his older brother in prayer. He has grown up in the church, having known the presence of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God in his life for as long as he can remember. Recently, after graduating from Liberty University with his undergrad, he was led by the Lord to Calvary Chapel Saving Grace, where he has felt called to attend the School of Missions. His heart is to serve the Kingdom of God, spreading the gospel message to wherever he is called.

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Alani Rangel

Alani grew up in the church and came to know Jesus at a young age. Through many hardships growing up, she was left with a void that needed to be filled. Soon, she learned that only God could fill that void. During a short mission trip to Haiti, she fell in love once again with the gospel. God woke her up and opened her eyes to see the need people have for Jesus. This brought her to the school of missions, knowing that the world has that same void that she once had, which can only be filled by Jesus.

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Jacob Meza

Jacob Meza is 18 years old. He attended Calvary Chapel Westgrove since he was a newborn, however, he faced many challenges growing up due to family, disabilities, and addiction. This pushed him away from giving his life to God. It was July 9, 2022 when he first felt love and joy from the presence of God. From August 17, 2022 to May 19, 2023 he attended bible college to learn more about God. He now has a desire to share the gospel with everyone, especially the unreached, which brought him to the School of Missions.

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Leslie Armstrong

Leslie grew up without knowing God. As a young adult she was given the Gospel message and even though she felt the tug of something on her heart it wasn’t until she was at an ultimate low point that she reached for God. From there, God has built her up to better understand His calling. Leslie took a mission trip to Honduras and really saw how God can work through her to share the Gospel message. This led her to the Calvary School of Missions to learn more about missions and The Great Commission.

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Sterling Elmasri

Sterling was born and raised in Fontana, California for 19 years before moving to North Carolina with his family. They shortly joined Calvary Chapel Lake Norman after moving. On July 18, 2021, Sterling truly gave His life to the Lord and decided to follow Him with all that he had. Later, during a conference Sterling picked up a pamphlet mentioning Rosarito but thought nothing of it, he then met 2 missionaries who attended School of Missions in Rosarito as well and encouraged him to pray and see what the Lord has for him. After one Sunday the Lord brought confirmation to Sterling to attend School of Missions. 

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Mayra Solorzano

Mayra was born in Bogota, Colombia, but was raised most of her life in Texas. After about 18 years of living a life for herself, she finally met and accepted Jesus Christ in the comfort of her own room at the age of 30. Life since then has not been the same for her. Traveling to Tijuana, Mexico a couple times with a church, she knew the Lord was working in her heart for her to pursue ministry. Her goal is to continue to seek the kingdom of God and make disciples of all nations, with the help of CSOM.

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Caleb Sanchez

Caleb was born May 21, 2003 in Redlands California. He grew up in a christian home and eventually got saved in 2021 during his junior year. In 2022, Caleb decided to go to Calvary Bible Institute. During his time at Calvary Bible Institute, he attended the purpose of the church class, which Pastor Trent teaches. It was at this time where the Lord put a desire for Caleb to go to the unreached people groups and share the gospel.

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Evie Hoganson

Evie surrendered her life to Jesus in 2018. She has been journeying through the hills and valleys called life with a hunger for more of God and a passion to make His name known wherever she is. Her passion to share God’s love comes from experiencing His life-changing  power to be oh so sufficient in her weakness. CSOM is an open door in Evie’s pursuit for a mission-minded lifestyle. She is excited to see the goodness of God continue to write a story in and through her life.

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Hannah Thode

Hannah’s heart was captivated by the Lord at the end 2020 which is when she gave her life to Him. As Hannah matured in her faith, she realized the urgent call on everyone’s life to go to all the nations and make disciples. As Hannah noticed the need in other countries for the freedom the Gospel gives, she was encouraged to let go of fear and live in obedience to the Lord. Hannah went to Nepal for her first ever mission trip in March of 2023. There, she found she has a heart for the lost and forgotten.

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Michelle Casillas

Michelle surrendered her life to Jesus Christ in 2011 and over the next few years she had the opportunity to serve on various missions trips. From 2016-2018 she served in Haiti where she experienced God’s providence and faithfulness. The Lord used these trips to open her eyes to spiritual poverty, and His Word to break her heart for the lost. Having a heart for discipleship and bringing the gospel to the unreached, Michelle is praying to be a part of God’s Kingdom work in the 10/40 window.

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Marcelo Ramos

Marcelo Ramos serves full time in the northern region of Mexico at Calvary Monterrey where he’s being prepared to follow God’s calling to ministry and to the mission field. In his home church, Marcelo teaches Bible studies to adults and children, as well as serving in missionary trips, youth group leadership and evangelism. In 2020, God called him to commit completely to Him in his servanthood and prepare him to fulfill the Lord’s great commission. God is now calling him to continue his preparation at Calvary School of Missions where he is willing to learn about intercultural missions, church planting and God’s work in the nations. He’s most passionate to share God’s mercy and love through his Son Jesus Christ and serve Him wholeheartedly.

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