​Sameed spent most of his life debating against the idea that Jesus is God. Growing up Muslim, he wanted to change the world for Islam, until he came face-to-face with Jesus. He now serves the one true king and loves sharing about how Jesus has changed his life!

Pastor Victor Nogueda is the lead pastor of Ascend Church and Director of Chi Alpha at Bradley University, with over 20 years of ministry experience. Originally from Acapulco, Mexico, he has lived in Peoria, Illinois for more than two decades, serving both the local church and campus community. He and his wife, Patricia, have four children and a deep passion for sharing the love of Jesus.

Sayaka was born and raised in Chiba, Japan, and came to SIU Carbondale as an unsaved undergraduate international student. After 4 years of attending the Japanese Bible Study in SIUC Chi Alpha, she got radically saved and discipled through Chi Alpha. She became a full-time pastor to serve in SIUC Chi Alpha and the local Assemblies of God church since 2011. Aside from her passion to see people changed by the power of the Gospel and the nations worship Jesus, she loves sports, food, and travel! 

​Kudzai was born in Zimbabwe and came to the knowledge of Jesus Christ as his Lord and savior in January 1995. He attended Southern Illinois University where he got involved with Chi Alpha Campus Ministries and felt God’s call to full-time ministry and also met his wife Paula. They have two sons and are passionate about Jesus, the lost and seeing the Nations discipled for His glory. Kudzai serves as the Chi Alpha Campus Ministry director at Southern Illinois University and John a Logan college and he is also an associate pastor at Calvary Campus in Carbondale, Illinois.