Pastor Yesela Unkuch Jempekit became the first woman of the Awajún ethnic group to earn a Bachelor of Theology degree from the Church of the Nazarene during a graduation ceremony held on 7 December 2025. This event marked a significant milestone, highlighting the contribution of women from the Awajún group toward pastoral ministry.
Pastor Yesela grew up in the native community of Supayaku, located in the district of Huarango, province of San Ignacio, Cajamarca region. In 2017, she married Pastor Jhoan Geyser Ocampo Chávez, and together they have a seven-year-old son, Johan Maxwell Ocampo Unkuch.
Currently, Pastor Yesela serves by teaching two courses at the branch campus of the Seminario Teológico Nazareno Nuevo Horizonte, located on the banks of the Marañón River in the district of Imaza, in the Amazonas region. Her ministry takes place in an intercultural context, directly contributing to the theological formation of new leaders in the Amazon.
Alongside her academic work, she has contributed to the translation works of the Church of the Nazarene Manual and the children’s Bible materials, respectively, into the Awajún language, currently used in the district. She also faithfully serves as treasurer of the Peru Amazonas Church District, demonstrating a comprehensive commitment to the church’s mission and administration.
The graduation ceremony was a time of gratitude, celebration, and recognition of Pastor Yesela’s calling, perseverance, and testimony of faith. As a church, we thank God for her life and her family, and we celebrate this historic step that strengthens the mission of the Church of the Nazarene, affirming indigenous women’s leadership and advancing the gospel in the Peruvian Amazon.