Marco Güete highlights how Anabaptist-rooted theological education pathways equip Hispanic and Latino leaders for faithful, contextual ministry without leaving their congregations.
Marco Güete serves as director of Hispanic Ministries with Mennonite Church USA. He collaborates with Anabaptist theological education initiatives and is committed to equipping leaders for faithful, contextual ministry.
I still remember conversations with pastors who felt called, faithful and deeply committed to their congregations — yet were unsure where to turn for theological formation that honored their language and their context. Many were already leading churches, preaching weekly, caring for families in crisis and navigating cultural transitions, while carrying a quiet question: How do I grow as a leader without stepping away from the people God has entrusted to me?
As director of Hispanic Ministries, I have seen how accessible, Anabaptist-rooted theological formation can transform individual leaders and entire congregations.
Hispanic leaders attending the 2025 MC USA Biennial Assembly, Greensboro, North Carolina. Provided by Marco Güete.
Across MC USA, this question is shared by many Hispanic and Latino leaders. It is a question rooted not in ambition but in faithfulness. As director of Hispanic Ministries, I have seen how accessible, Anabaptist-rooted theological formation can transform individual leaders and entire congregations.
IBA graduates from El Bálsamo Mennonite Church and other churches from Central Plains Mennonite Conference. Provided by Marco Güete.
Where the journey often begins: IBA
For many leaders, the journey starts with the Instituto Bíblico Anabautista (IBA). IBA was created with a simple but powerful conviction: leaders should not have to choose between serving their congregations and receiving theological education.
In IBA classrooms, leaders, who often attend virtually and sometimes after long workdays, open Scripture together and discover that theology is not distant or abstract. It speaks directly to preaching, pastoral care, conflict and community life. Many students gain confidence as they begin to articulate their faith through an Anabaptist lens shaped by discipleship, peace and communal discernment.
Going Deeper with SeBAH
As that calling deepens, many leaders sense the desire for further formation. This is where the Seminario Bíblico Anabautista Hispano (SeBAH) becomes a natural next step. SeBAH offers certificate-level theological education in Spanish that combines academic depth with pastoral wisdom.
What makes SeBAH distinctive is not only what is taught, but how learning is shaped by community. Students wrestle with Scripture, theology and ethics while remaining rooted in their congregational realities.
IBA students in Uspantán, Guatemala, part of the ministry of Western District Conference. Provided by Marco Güete.
Expanding Vision through AMBS and Continuing Education
Through collaboration with Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS), the Postgraduate Certificate in Theology provides an opportunity for advanced theological reflection while remaining grounded in Anabaptist tradition.
IBA graduates from El Bálsamo Mennonite Church and other churches from Central Plains Mennonite Conference. Provided by Marco Güete.
Alongside this, continuing education plays a vital role in sustaining long-term ministry. Short courses, workshops and cohort-based learning environments create spaces for renewal, learning and peer support.
Formation as a practice of hope
The biblical vision guiding this work is found in Ephesians 4:12: “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” Formation is understood as a communal and spiritual practice, integrating Scripture, prayer, theological reflection and lived experience.
An ongoing invitation
The pathways of IBA, SeBAH, AMBS certification and continuing education are more than programs. They are invitations — to grow, to reflect and to lead with wisdom in a complex world.
Members of College Mennonite Church, Goshen, Indiana, and participants of Hope for the Future 2025. Provided by Marco Güete.
For more information
Subscribe to MenoTicias, the Spanish-language digital magazine from MC USA’s Hispanic Ministries.
Visit ministerios hispanos (Hispanic Ministries) here.
Support the ongoing work of MC USA’s Hispanic Ministries by donating here. Please select “Hispanic Ministries” in the note field.