Salvador Barragan
LIMA, Peru--John McKenna, senior editor in denominational publications, gave the commencement address for 12 Peruvian pastors who were awarded doctor of ministry degrees from the California Graduate School of Theology in Lima July 8.Dr. McKenna serves as president of the school.
The dissertations the 12 pastors wrote began a library for the Lima extension of the Graduate School, ranging in interests from broken families to the theology of immigrant peoples in the world, seeking to mark a new commitment to theological education.
Pastor Salvador Barragan from Mexico City and Pastor Daniel Quintana of Lima attended the commencement exercises on behalf of the Worldwide Church of God.
Dr. McKenna also gave a class in theology at a three-day conference for 150 South American pastors, which a number of WCG members from Lima attended.
In his commencement address, "The Light of the World and the Great I-AM of God," Dr. McKenna congratulated the graduates on the new beginning they had made with this commitment. He characterized it as one rooted in the beginnings the Lord God has made with his creation and the Incarnation of his beloved Son.
"In this light, we may seek with this new beginning to find the healing and reconciliation with God so desperately needed around the world," Dr. McKenna said.
The address was translated by Moises Chavez.
Dr. McKenna also appeared on a cable television network.
The host church of the event is pastored by Humberto Lay Sun. He was joined by his Korean colleagues, Won Yong Shim and Soon Jae Lee.
Along with Chancellor David Kim and his wife, Susan, of the California Graduate School and Dr. Chavez, "the graduates were sent with the Lord's benediction and rich blessings to their various ministries, Pentecostals, Protestants and Roman Catholics," Dr. McKenna said. "One could feel the fresh wind of the Spirit of God with them all."
Mr. Quintana, the Worldwide Church of God Lima pastor, studies with Rev. Lay Sun in the church's pastor training program. He reported that the Worldwide Church of God in Lima has moved from its Miraflores location and now owns a new church home in the suburbs of Lima.
Mr. Barragan said that he felt the Worldwide Church of God would play in the future an ever more active role in attempting to give access to theological education to pastors throughout South America.
With the help of Pastor Kam NN Yong Un and his wife, Luz, in Lima, the conference of 150 pastors provided for the inception of a new class of pastors, from a number of South American countries, including Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay, to begin a new class.
Salvador Barragan
John McKenna
LIMA PASTOR--Pastor Daniel
Quintana (left) with John McKenna
after commencement July 8.
AFTER COMMENCEMENT--From left: Salvador
Barragan, John McKenna and Maria Barragan.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2000