The graduation ceremony for the Nazarene Seminary of the Americas was held on October 28, 2017. It was the final activity of the theological conference entitled Called which was held in the auditorium on the SENDAS campus.
There were eighteen students who graduated from their respective programs this year, with ten of them attending the ceremony. They represent eight countries including Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Peru, Bolivia and Spain. Those who were unable to travel to SENDAS for the ceremony because of the great distance were able to connect by live streaming.
The graduates chosen to give words of thanks were the Superintendents of the districts of Costa Rica Central, Rev. Sirlene Bustos, and of Nicaragua Central, Rev. Maria Antonia Ponce. They are two of only eight female district superintendents in the global Church of the Nazarene. You can read more about these exceptional women here.
The message was brought by Dr. Carlos Saenz, the Mesoamerica Regional Director. He reminded the students to always base their pastoral work on Luther’s main points: Sola Scritura (Scripture alone), Sola Fide (Faith alone), Solo Gratia (Grace alone), Solus Christus (Christ alone), Soli Deo Gloria (To the glory of God alone).
The graduates’ names and countries by program:
Diploma in Christian Ministry (Course of Study)
Del Cid Ortiz, Alcibiades, Panama
Prados Nunez, Dilberto, Panama
Garcia de Zamora, Elida, Panama
Ruiz Moraga Flor Isabel, Panama
Bachelor’s Degree in Theology with Concentration in Pastoral Theology
Ruiz Bonilla, Edgar Jose, Costa Rica
Bustos Salazar, Sirlene, Costa Rica
Elizondo Urena, Maritza, Costa Rica
Master’s Degree in Religion with Concentration in the Mission of the Church
Rivera Oblitas, Xalixto Marcial, Peru
Master’s Degree in Religion with concentration in Church Development
Garcia Cardenas, Joab Ernesto, Mexico
Ajata Laime, Ladislao, Bolivia
Daza Chambi, Macedonio, Bolivia
Castro Bueno, Joel, Spain
Ramirez Acosto, Liliana, Mexico
Master’s Degree in Religion with Concentration in Family Counseling
Hernandez Amador, Martin, Nicaragua
Ponce Espinoza, Maria Antonia, Nicaragua
Galan Crespo, Wilfredo, Puerto Rico
List y Turruco, Mercedes, Mexico
Angulo Carpio, Yerlyn Ivannia, Costa Rica
If you would like to see more photos of this event, you may view them on the Facebook page for the Nazarene Seminary of the Americas.
After the ceremony, the graduates, families and friends celebrated by sharing a meal together. From the central campus in San Jose, Costa Rica, we congratulate each graduate on their great accomplishment and encourage them to continue serving the Lord as He leads.