BELL GARDENS, CA (December 12, 2007) – During a three-hour exuberant celebration on Saturday, more than 90 graduates were honored as part of commencement ceremonies at Centro Hispano de Estudios Teologicos (CHET). Ed Delgado also was installed as the school’s new president, a former graduate was installed as the new chaplain, and outgoing president Jorge Maldonado received special recognition.
The 14th graduation service in the school’s history was held in the sanctuary of Primera Iglesia del Pacto (First Covenant Church), the site of the school’s main campus. The Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) training center for Hispanic ministers works in partnership with North Park University and operates several extension sites in the United States as well as Mexico and Colombia. The Colombia school already has held its graduation ceremony, and the center in Mexico will hold its commencement this Saturday.
All together, a record 154 students received 159 certificates, degrees or diplomas representing four programs – Basic, Ministerial, Licenciatura (Bachelor in Christian Ministry degree), and Lay Family Counseling. Sixty-six graduated from the basic program, seven from the ministerial, one from the bachelor of ministry, and 85 from family counseling. Several of the people graduated from more than one program.
To read the inspiring story of Flora Graterol, please see A Dream Fulfilled. To see additional photos from the graduation ceremony, visit Record CHET Class.
The sanctuary of the Bell Gardens church was filled to overflowing as more than 300 people watched students graduate. Danny Martinez led worship and Roberto Ghione served as master of ceremonies. Both are graduates of CHET and are doing graduate work at Fuller Theological Seminary. Martinez is pastor of Covenant Church of the Redeemer, a multiethnic church plant. Several graduates have attended North Park Theological Seminary.
Delgado says that in addition to graduating the largest class ever, another sign of the school’s success was the presence of leaders from several evangelical denominations. “They come to recruit our students,” he explains.
Many of the graduates are like Maritza Medina, a mother of three and full-time social worker with Orange County, California. She earned her certificate for completing the school’s two-year, 30-hour Basic Program. Medina now teaches courses in the program.
Medina initially attended classes with her husband, Oscar, simply to further their knowledge. Now the couple plans to continue their education at the school. “We found out God has some calling for us; we’re just not sure what it is yet,” she explains.
Delgado was installed by Donn Engebretson, executive vice president of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Delgado said he is thrilled to return as president of the school where he served from 2000 to 2005 as dean and vice-president. Since then, he has worked in the ECC Department of Church Growth and Evangelism as director of evangelism and prayer.
Special music and a drama were part of a tribute for Maldonado, who also delivered the graduation message – the top photo was taken as Maldonado was addressing the graduates . The drama depicted all the people that Maldonado would meet in heaven because of the work he has done in guiding the school for the past 14 years and his ministry elsewhere. Maldonado and his wife, Noris, are moving to Spain to work as short-term missionaries with the Department of World Mission.
Delgado (lower photo) concluded the ceremony by offering a benediction and blessing to graduates.
To listen to two video segment from the CHET graduation ceremony, select from one of the three categories below, based on your computer situation, and click on one or both of the links. The first segment shows Donn Engebretson, executive vice president of the Evangelical Covenant Church, declaring Delgado as the new president of CHET. The second video clip shows the musical tribute to Maldonado as the retiring president of CHET.
