We designed the practical aspects of Calvary International Training Institute (CITI) to help you grow in your relationship with Christ and to equip you to be an effective leader not only in a North American context, but you’ll be prepared for ministry internationally as well. CITI is a one year program divided into trimesters. In each session, you will focus on a distinct area of study, broken up into two main aspects: 1) Academic, and 2) Practical. With this strategy, we will help to equip you for success in ministry, whatever your gifting and abilities may be.
Equipping the next generation of church planters and Christian leaders.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Our heart at CITI is to create close and meaningful relationships between CITI leaders and you, to EQUIP you for the work of the ministry, in order to strengthen the Body of Christ.
Our commitment is to fulfill the great commission – making disciples, and one of the key components of discipleship is building strong, healthy, Christ-centered relationships.
The leaders of CITI are not only mentors with real world church planting and foreign missions experience, but we are your partners and co-laborers for His kingdom. CITI is a ministry of Reliance church, a community with a vision to lead people to know, love and serve Jesus.
We created CITI to foster growth in all three of these areas, with an emphasis on serving Jesus. If you believe that the Lord has called you to a deeper walk in His service, whether that be church planting, foreign missions, or serving as a lay-leader in your local church, CITI can help you become better equipped to fulfill that calling.
Kyle Fox has been involved in full time, bi-vocational ministry since 2009. In 2014 after selling their business, his family set out as full time missionaries. They spent a short stint on a sailing catamaran in Southern Florida and the Bahamas, home schooling thier two boys and preparing for their first assignment. In 2017 they planted Calvary Belém in Northern Brazil, in the state of Pará. Kyle and his wife have started a number of ministries under Calvary Belém ranging from human trafficking/prostitution ministry, refugee care, coffee shop ministry and a number of different forms of street outreach. During their eight years in Brazil, It was a joy and honor to regularly teach at the bible school in the south of the country. Kyle is passionate about teaching and equipping the next generation of missionaries, church planters and leaders. His heart is to be used by the Lord to preach the gospel, and strengthen the body of Christ.
Get to know Pastor Kyle!
What is your role at Reliance Church?
I’m the Director of Discipleship & Missions here at Reliance church.
Describe your job in five words?
Edifying the Body of Christ.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a Navy Fighter Pilot or a Garbage Collector.
Coffee, Tea, or Soda?
Coffee
Go-to worship song?
At the moment, my go-to worship song is “Is He Worthy?” by Andrew Peterson and Ben Shive
Who has had the most influence in your spiritual life?
My pastor of our home church in Colorado, Ed Taylor.
Food you can’t live without?
Taco Bell
Which Bible character would you most likely to be best friends with?
I would want to be friends with Joshua (Moses’ successor) because I admire his courage, his faithfulness and his obedience to the Lord.
Favorite Quote of all time?
“When I thought that God was hard, I found it easy to sin; but when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could have rebelled against one who loved me so, and sought my good.” -Charles Spurgeon
What is your hope for Reliance Church?
My hope for our church is that we honor the Lord, that we are pleasing to Him. I hope that we grow deeper in our relationship with the Lord and with one another. I also hope that the Lord will use Reliance Church to send countless workers out into the field because the harvest is great.
Josh Lazo is the Facilities Lead, responsible for maintaining the church property and helping ministries facilitate Bible studies and events, as well as the Director of the Young Adults Ministry. Joshua is a graduate of Calvary Chapel Bible College and has served in Junior High, High School, Young Adults, and Educational Ministries.
He and his wife Michaelah have one little girl, Keziah, and are expecting another daughter, as well as four children in Heaven that they are eagerly waiting to meet. Their chief aim is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
Get to know Josh!
What is your role at Reliance Church?
Facilities, Operations, Young Adults, and Discipleship! A little bit of everything!
Describe your job in five words?
I clean all the mess
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A Reformer
Coffee, Tea, or Soda?
Coffee, specifically any iced latte.
Go-to worship song?
Changes by season, but right now it’s “Delight in the Lord” by Liturgical Folk and Josh Garrels
Who has had the most influence in your spiritual life?
God, then myself, but as far as a different living person, then Matt Chandler.
Food you can’t live without?
Specialty fries. Carne Asada, Chicken Tikka Masala, Bulgolgi, etc.
Which Bible character would you most likely to be best friends with?
Either Paul or Apollos
Favorite Quote of all time?
“The most important thing about you is what you believe about God” -A.W. Tozer
“Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him for ever.” — Larger Westminster Catechism
What is your hope for Reliance Church?
To see a community that fully desires and pursues God above all else, and bringing His Kingdom by making disciples, and loving the people around them.
Ted Leavenworth is the Senior Pastor of Reliance Church in Temecula, California. He has been in Christian service for over 30 years and holds a Master’s degree in Applied Biblical Leadership from Western Theological Seminary.
Pastor Ted has a heart for church planting – leading two church plants in Southern California and facilitating the establishment of many others both nationally and internationally. Ted serves as a Director on several church boards and on the executive team of Calvary Global Network focusing on leadership coaching and pastoral mentoring. He also co-hosts The Leadership Collective Podcast, exploring the “nuts & bolts” of church leadership.
Pastor Ted and his wife Brenda were married in 1985 and together, they have three adult children and ten grandchildren.
Get to know Pastor Ted!
What is your role at Reliance Church?
Senior Pastor
Describe your job in five words?
Equipping saints for ministry work (Ephesians 4:12)
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A police officer…then later a Firefighter/Paramedic (Like Johnny & Roy on Squad 51) – That’s a TV series from the early 70’s for the younger crowd
Coffee, Tea, or Soda?
Coffee – All. Day. Long.
Go-to worship song?
How Great Thou Art / Rattle / I Speak Jesus
Who has had the most influence in your spiritual life?
My Parents / Pastor Chuck Smith / Pastor David Guzik / Pastor Dave Shepardson
Food you can’t live without?
Sushi
Which Bible character would you most likely to be best friends with?
Peter
Favorite Quote of all time?
“The difference between where you are and where God wants you to be is the painful experience that you refuse to endure.” — Craig Groeschel
What is your hope for Reliance Church?
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” — 3 John 1:4
Shirley Ruiz is the Church Administrator at Reliance Church. Her position entails managing the church office and its staff, as well as assisting ministry leaders with organizational facilitation. Shirley previously served as the Youth Ministry Administrator at Revival Christian Fellowship for 5 years. Before that, Shirley was the CFO for Family Business in Washington for 5 years.
Amazingly, Shirley has successfully balanced her time to be a homeschooling mom for the past 12 years. Shirley has been married to her husband, Mike, since 1989. They have four children: Niko, Dominic, Susie, and Alex.
Get to know Shirley!
What is your role at Reliance Church?
Church Administrator
Describe your job in five words?
Manager of the spinning plates
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Office Manager or a Softball Player
Coffee, Tea, or Soda?
Duh – Coffee
Go-to worship song?
“O Come To The Altar” by Elevation Worship
Who has had the most influence in your spiritual life?
PT and Brenda
Food you can’t live without?
Popcorn
Which Bible character would you most likely to be best friends with?
Deborah
Favorite Quote of all time?
“Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” — D.L. Moody
What is your hope for Reliance Church?
That the people of Reliance would grow to know, love and serve Jesus in a well grounded biblical fashion. Forming strong friendships while loving and serving our community.