Nazarene Seminary of the Americas (Seminario Nazareno de las Américas, SENDAS) celebrated graduation November 5 as 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 via live streaming from Panama, Ecuador, Mexico, and Costa Rica.

The graduation was dedicated to Ezekiel Juanta Diaz, one of the first SENDAS students in the 1970s, and Celia Sara Perez Mejia, who served at SENDAS as a missionary twice throughout her career. Diaz established the Church of the Nazarene in Tibas, where he remained at the same church for 45 years until he passed away in 2015. Mejia, who served SENDAS along with her husband, Miguel, passed away in July.  Both families received plaques in memory. 

A distinguished service award was presented with appreciation to Miguel and Irene Garita, missionaries on the Mesoamerica Region who serve SENDAS professors in family care.

Harold Segura, regional director of Church Relations for World Vision, shared a message about the life of Moses, encouraging everyone to obey God without excuses. Mexico Field Strategy Coordinator Jorge Baños awarded the diplomas to the graduates, and a prayer of consecration was led by Costa Rica Central District Superintendent Sirlene Bustos.

--Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica Region