On June 27, the auditorium at SEMISUD was filled beyond capacity and then some as the proud parents, friends, pastors, and church members of graduating students watched on.  Out of the eight different programs of study that SEMISUD offers, more than 70 students graduated.

We are especially proud of our students from the Transcultural Studies Program (the one Bobby directs) who graduated. Jeanneth of Ecuador graduated with honors and also received the prestigious Missionary of the Year award.

Jeanneth served her four month practicum in Mozambique last year where she worked with a local church in a desperately poor community in benevolence outreach ministries.  Her heart and passion is to return to this community and poor out God’s love in visible and tangible ways for the remainder of her life.  Please pray for her as she tries to raise her support to return.

A couple from Guatemala graduated with honors as well.  They have studied and worked hard in preparation for their future work with the Muslims in Istanbul, Turkey.  They have answered the call to go and labor for Jesus in one of the hardest mission fields imaginable. Please pray for God’s grace and mercy to be with them and their ministry as they go into the enemy’s territory to proclaim the lovely name of Jesus to those who have never heard the Gospel.  (Due to the dangerous work they face in their future, we chose not to publish their names.)

Karina of Ecuador graduated and left immediately after graduation to return to Ethiopia.  All I can say is that working with the women and children in a refugee camp Ethiopia “messed her up!” … but in a good way.  Her heart has burned with passion to return and continue her ministry unto the least of these ever since she returned to Ecuador. Praise God, she was able to raise her support in short order and will be serving the King of Kings in a place as close to hell as one can get on earth.  Please pray for God’s guidance and protections as she ministers to the women and children who have been displaced and who suffer violence, rape and other horrors on a daily basis.