Left to Right: David Boshart, José Guerra, Yanira López, Luis Tapia, Sandra Montes-Martínez, Violeta Ajquejay-Suastegui, Zaraí Gonzalía, Liliana Potes-Echeverry, Mario Rocha Iglesias, Alva Pérez Gonzalez, Haroldo Nunes, Marco Güete.
Written by Marco Güete
Ten Hispanic students, all active pastors, graduated May 3, from the new Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies program offered by Hispanic Ministries of Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS). The commencement was held at AMBS, Elkhart, Indiana. The graduates are the first cohort to complete the program, launched in 2023.
The fully online program – the first Spanish-language Graduate Certificate in Theology offered by a seminary of MC USA and Mennonite Church Canada – is designed to provide professionals, congregational leaders and bivocational pastors with a strong foundation in theological and biblical study.
Honoring the first cohort
“One of the greatest gifts of this program has been studying alongside a diverse community of leaders whose stories, struggles, hopes and ministries reflect many of my own experiences,” said Sandra Montes-Martinez, associate conference minister for MC USA’s Western District Conference and one of the graduates. “Learning in a space where we could fully understand one another, contribute from our own realities and grow together has been deeply enriching.”
“Learning in a space where we could fully understand one another, contribute from our own realities and grow together has been deeply enriching.”
The other graduates are:
- Leticia Cortes Castro
- Manuel Arturo Garcia Noriega
- Jose A. Guerra
- Yanira E. Lopez
- Fernando Loyola Servin
- Haroldo Sergio Martins Nunes
- Alva Perez Gonzalez
- Liliana Potes-Echeverry
- Mario Rocha Iglesias
“Participating in the graduation ceremony of the first cohort … has been an immense privilege. It allowed me to recognize more deeply part of my calling in the work of the Lord,” said Zaraí Gonzalía, a professor in the program.
“I am deeply grateful to AMBS for its openness to collaborate and for its partnership with Hispanic Ministries of MC USA,” said Marco Güete, director of Hispanic Ministries and visionary behind the new program. “Their commitment to offering this program in Spanish, with a Hispanic faculty, has made a profound impact in the lives of these leaders and the communities they serve.”
The Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies represents a growing pathway for Hispanic leaders seeking accessible, high-quality theological education grounded in the Anabaptist tradition.
“I am grateful for Marco’s passion for the church and his commitment to educating Hispanic pastors for service in local congregations,” said Michael Danner, MC USA associate executive director of Church Vitality and denominational minister for Church Safety. “This program is another example of how Marco and Hispanic Ministries of MC USA, are providing affordable, accessible and effective education for persons at different places in their ministry.”
“This program is another example of how Marco and Hispanic Ministries of MC USA, are providing affordable, accessible and effective education for persons at different places in their ministry.”
A pathway for deeper learning
The 21-credit-hour certificate program consists of seven online courses to be completed over two-and-a-half years. Graduates are then eligible to enroll in AMBS’s English-language master’s-level programs.
“Our hope is that this certificate is not an endpoint, but a beginning — that these graduates will continue as lifelong learners and, in time, pursue further study, including full master’s degrees,” said David Boshart, president of AMBS. “The church is strengthened when its leaders are formed in ways that are both accessible and deeply grounded, and today we celebrate a powerful sign of that formation at work.”
“This program is more than an academic achievement,” affirmed Montes-Martinez “It is a testimony of what can happen when institutions listen to the needs of leaders who are already serving in the field and create opportunities for theological education that is contextual, accessible and meaningful.”
Both MC USA Hispanic Ministries and AMBS look forward to continuing and expanding this collaborative effort in the years ahead.
About Hispanic Ministries
Hispanic Ministries programs MC USA also include Instituto Bíblico Anabautista (IBA – Anabaptist Biblical Institute) and Seminario Bíblico Anabautista Hispano (SeBAH – Hispanic Anabaptist Biblical Seminary). These programs offer biblical and theological education resources in Spanish to pastors, leaders and congregations in the following academic areas: high school, university, continuing education and faith formation. These Spanish-language programs train men and women for Christian ministry.
Engage with Hispanic Ministries
Hispanic Ministries also produces a podcast, Un Momento de Anabautismo, and a monthly digital publication, MenoTicias, with news, articles and chronicles.
Empower future leaders
Support Hispanic Ministries to empower future Anabaptist leaders through transformative partnerships with Mennonite schools, such as this, that cultivate faith, wisdom and a commitment to service.