The Nazarene Seminary of the Americas celebrated the annual graduation on November 5th. It was a very special time in which eight students received their diplomas in the presence of their families, friends and the SENDAS faculty. Thirteen other graduates were not able to attend the service in Costa Rica, but had the opportunity to follow the service by live streaming. The graduates are from four countries: Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador and Mexico.
The graduation was dedicated to two very special people. Rev. Ezekiel V. Juanta Diaz, one of the first SENDAS students in the 70s, established the Church of the Nazarene in Tibas as part of his ministerial practice. He remained at the same church for 45 years until the Lord called him to His presence in 2015. The family of Rev. Juanta received the plaque in his memory.
Mrs. Celia Sara Perez Mejia was a missionary at SENDAS two different times in her career, along with her husband Miguel. She passed into the presence of the Lord in July of 2016. Her family received the plaque in her memory.
This year, a distinguished service award was given to Miguel and Irene Garita. They serve as missionaries on the Mesoamerica Region in the ministry of Family Care. They are SENDAS professors and their years of service in ministry are appreciated.
Two of the graduates expressed their thankfulness to God, the faculty and their families for helping them to arrive to this important day: Guiselle Abarca Ureña and Ramona L. Harris Zamora. They are both graduates of the Diploma program.
Dr. Harold Segura, Regional Director of Church Relations for World Vision, shared the message about the life of Moses, encouraging everyone to obey God without excuses.
Miguel Angel Mejia Perez shared special music with the hymn In the Garden. Many of the congregation enjoyed singing along.
Dr. Jorge Baños awarded the diplomas to the graduates. The prayer of consecration was led by the Superintendent of the Costa Rica Central District, Rev. Sirlene Bustos.
These are the SENDAS graduates for this year:
Diploma in Christian Ministry
Abarca Urena, Guiselle
Amador Alfaro, Orlando Manuel
Armas de Del Cid, Kathia Maribel
Cedeno Espinoza, Angel Eliecer
Del Cid Ortiz, Edilberto
Del Cid Ortiz, Jorge Luis
Del Cid, Gilberto
Diaz Guerra, Erick Eduardo
Harris Zamora, Ramona Leonor
Morales Morales, Marcos Aurelio
Olivares Castillo, Williams
Ortiz Caballero, Esilda
Quintero Gonzalez, Denis Ariel
Sanchez, Eric Ariel
Serracin Aguirre, Elidus Iveth
Bachelor Degree in Theology with Concentration in Pastoral Ministry
Monge Sanchez, Elizabeth
Nunez Rivas, Alejandro Nelson
Bachelor Degree in Theology with Concentration in Child and Adolescent Development
Solano Navarro, Guido
Master Degree in Religion with Concentration in Church Mission
Torres Mora, Jose Vicente
Master Degree in Religion with Concentration in Family Counseling
Rodríguez Gomez, Angel
Rubio Lajas, Blanca Patricia
After the ceremony, the graduates, families and friends enjoyed the reception, celebrating the accomplishments and sharing future plans.
If you would like to see photos from the 2016 Graduation, you can view them on the SENDAS Facebook page.
From our central campus in San Jose, Costa Rica, we send our most sincere congratulations to all the graduates for this year. It is a great privilege to be a part of ministry and theological formation for those who are serving the Lord with love and passion.
