From 29 June to 2 July 2026, two consecutive activities took place in Panama City. On June 29 and 30, the rectors met with the Field Strategy Coordinators (FSCs) and the Regional Director Jimmy De Gouveia. Subsequently, on July 1 and 2, the rectors and their wives participated in a spiritual retreat.
The purpose was to strengthen collaboration between those who lead the region’s mission strategy and the institutions responsible for training pastors and leaders. The meetings included representatives from eight theological education institutions in the Mesoamerica Region. Seven rectors attended in person and one participated virtually.
“We sat down at the table to talk and see how we could get closer to achieving goals together, such as increasing the number of students,” De Gouveia explained.
The participants also learned about and discussed the region’s vision, assessed the current state of theological education, and analyzed how to appropriately project them in the coming years.
“We feel inspired to be an integral part of this movement,” said Rubén Fernández, rector of UNINAZ.
Bonnie Perry, general editor of the Church of the Nazarene, presented initiatives to expand access to Nazarene literature in Spanish and French, which includes the translation of theological, biblical, and discipleship resources, as well as the training and promotion of writers in the region.
Likewise, Erika Chaves, regional coordinator of Missionary Mobilization, shared opportunities for theological institutions to collaborate in the preparation and mobilization of a new generation of missionaries through the global movement La Causa.
“Theological education is vital, and its success depends on collaborative work,” said Carlos Cordero, strategy coordinator for the Mesoamerica North Field. “The experience in Panama was a model that should be repeated and replicated.”
Following the meetings, on July 1 and 2, a spiritual retreat was held for the rectors and their wives, focused on rest, worship, fellowship, and holistic care.
Samuel Pérez Rivera shared on the topic of “Ministerial Stress and Physical, Emotional, Relational, and Spiritual Exhaustion,” while Arminda Rivero led the worship service. The regional director offered a biblical reflection during one of the devotionals.
“During the rectors’ retreat, we had the opportunity to be challenged in our spiritual lives, not only to care for our relationship with God, but also for our physical and emotional well-being,” said Ely Camas, rector of IDNMS, Mexico. “It was also a time to reflect on the responsibility of the work we do in training new ministers, people with a holy character and a passion for evangelism.”
The sessions strengthened the relationship between the regional strategy and theological education institutions and renewed the commitment to continue training leaders prepared to serve the mission of the Church in Mesoamerica.