The Yahweh Shalom Church of the Nazarene in Dominguito hosted a graduation ceremony and ordination service September 3 on the Puerto Rico West District. The graduation celebration was directed by Ruben Fernandez, rector of Nazarene Seminary of the Americas (SENDAS) in Costa Rica. This was the first Puerto Rico West District graduation sponsored by SENDAS.

Six students completed their basic ministerial course of studies and received a Diploma in Christian Ministry: Blanca D. Campos Rios, Glenda Colon Rosa, Marta J. Gonzalez Perez, Mildred Martinez Crespo, Myrna Perez Hernandez, and Jose A. Rivera Vega.

The graduation was dedicated to Frank Mastache, who has pastored for close to 40 years and contributed to theological education, mostly as a professor, during more than 25 years in Puerto Rico and Hispanic churches in the USA.

General Superintendent Jerry Porter, accompanied by his wife, Toni, led an ordination service for those present in the ceremony. He preached the Word of God and challenged everyone to urgently fulfill the mission of Jesus and multiply to make Christlike disciples in Puerto Rico. Porter officiated the ordination ceremony of five ministers, three elders, Blanca Campos, Angel Ramos and Miqueas Torres; and two deacons, Wilfredo Galan and his wife, Carmen "Margarita" Rivera.

In addition to district pastors and family members, a group from the Puerto Rico East District attended, including Superintendent Andrés Hernández and the previous superintendents, Olga Robles, Herson Santa, and Samuel Perez.

"We experienced God’s presence as the Nazarene family in Puerto Rico and we rejoiced in these milestones that were reached by our brothers and sisters," said Ramon Sierra, Puerto Rico West district superintendent. "We all left motivated to continue to work together, fulfilling our mission and to make a reality the annual theme of our district, To the Harvest in the Power of the Spirit!"

--Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica Region