This page highlights one seminary student a month, featuring photos and prayer requests from the student.
2010 STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
MARCH: Federico Ramirez
Federico is the pastor of the "Eben-Ezer" Methodist Church in southern San José. He is new to the ministry, having been ordained last year, but he did not hesitate in enrolling at the Seminary as soon as his ministry began.
Federico asks for your prayers for a new evangelism initiative his church has begun in their community of Hatillos, which is a sprawling working-class area with many needs.
APRIL: Juan Manuel Barrantes
Juan is the pastor of the "Nueva Canaan" Methodist Church in Juanito Mora, a community on the central Pacific coast. He is in his second year of ministry at the church, after having been a lifelong Methodist layman.
Juan invites you to pray for a continuing construction project at his church, as well as for his ongoing efforts to attain his high school equivalency diploma.
Former Students of the Month:
YOCSER GODOY
Yocser is an administrator and assistant to the pastor at the "New Jerusalem" Methodist Church in Tamarindo, in the far southern region of Costa Rica. He is in his first year in this position, and this is also the first year he has studied at the main seminary.
Yocser asks that you pray for his family, that the Lord would continue to bless and protect them. He also requests your prayers for his church's building project, that the Lord would provide funds and labor to finish their new sanctuary.
BERNARDO RODRIGUEZ
Bernardo is the pastor of the "Prince of Peace" Methodist Church in San Buenaventura, on the southern Pacific coast. This is his third year as a pastor, after serving many years as an active layman in other churches. This is also his third year of studies at the central seminary.
Bernardo asks that you pray for his family, for their health and their participation in the church's ministries. Please pray also that the Lord may continue to affirm his calling and awaken his church to a greater level of service.
MAUREEN BADILLA
Maureen is in her first full year of studies at the Seminary. She is a lay leader at the church in Las Juntas de Abangares, in northwestern Costa Rica, She serves as a lay preacher and the leader of the women's group.
Maureen asks that you pray for her studies, her ability to remain in Christ, and her church's service.
GARY CUADRA
Gary is in his second year of studies at the Seminary and is a member of the younger generation of lay students that have arrived in the past two years. He works at the Methodist Bookstore in Alajuela and plays drums in his local church's praise band.
Gary asks that you pray for his studies, for the youth in his church, and for the Lord's guidance in his life.
VICTOR CEDENO
Victor is the pastor of "Mission and Life Methodist Church" in El Tigre de Sarapiqui. He has been a Christian for fourteen years and a pastor for almost three years.
Since 2006 Victor has studied at the central Seminary, where he has excelled as one of our brightest and most dedicated students.
Victor asks that you pray for God to continue to grow his church and to protect his family.
IVANNIA RIVERA
Ivannia is an associate pastor at the Methodist church in Puerto Viejo, in northern Costa Rica. She is married and has three children, and has been in the Methodist Church for a little over a year.
In her local church, Ivannia preaches, gives counseling, and helps lead the Methodist Women's group. She has also studied at the main campus of the Seminary since March of this year, after completing several courses at the regional level.
Ivannia asks for your prayers for her family's finances, as well as for her family's spiritual growth and unity.
MARVIN DURAN
Marvin is a lay Methodist from the town of San Ramon. Because there is no Methodist church in his town, he travels on the weekends to Zona Fluca to help lead worship at the church there.
Marvin has been in the Methodist Church for two years, and during that time he has simultaneously studied at the Seminary and at the Methodist University, where he is working towards a degree in psychology. He also helps direct the computer lab.
Marvin asks for your prayers that God would guide him in decisions about his life and his work.
DOUGLAS NAVARRETE
Douglas is the pastor of the Methodist Church "El Redil" (the sheep-fold) in Puerto Viejo, in north-central Costa Rica. He has been a minister in the Methodist Church for two years and he is in his second year as a seminary student. He rejoices that God has recently answered his prayers for a computer, which was donated by First United Methodist Church in Gulfport, MS.
Douglas asks for prayers for the growth of his congregation's ministries, and for he and his family's continued health.
ANDREA DOMINGUEZ
Andrea is currently the Children's Education Coordinator for the Limon/Heredia district of the Methodist Church. She has been in this position for the past year and has been a Methodist for the past eight years. Although she already has a Master's degree in education, she began studying at the Seminary this year to improve her theological skills and her service to the Church.
Andrea requests your prayers for her upcoming trip to Florida, where she will participate in an international children's ministry conference. She also desires prayer for strength in her daily work and ministry.
JULIO CESAR MENDEZ
Julio is the pastor of the San Pedro Methodist Church, which meets in the gymnasium at the central Seminary. Julio has been in ministry for seven years, and two years ago he and his congregation joined the Methodist Church. He has studied at the Seminary since March 2007, and he is one of our brightest students.
Julio asks for your prayers regarding the church's installations, as well as for the raising up of committed lay workers.
GEOVANNY CAMPOS
Geovanny is the pastor of Manantial de Vida ("Springs of Life") church in Horquetas de Sarapiqui, in north-central Costa Rica. Geovanny has been active in the Methodist Church for 9 years, but has only been a pastor since the start of 2007. He began his courses at the Seminary in March of this year.
Geovanny asks that you please pray that God would grant him wisdom and strength to lead the people placed in his care. He also asks for prayer for his family, for their unity, and for their financial situation.
GABRIELA AZOFEIFA
Gabriela began her studies at the Seminary in March. She is an active laywoman at La Trinidad Church in Ciudad Neilly, in southern Costa Rica. In addition to being a Sunday School teacher, she also coordinates the worship dance team and performs in a mime ministry. Gabriela is one of several non-pastor lay leaders who have been able to attend Seminary this year thanks to donations from the United States.
MARTHA MARCHENA
For the past two years, Martha has been the pastor at Villa Bricena in southern Costa Rica. She first began her studies at the regional seminary center in Ciudad Neilly, where Will taught her for two years. Due to her excellent studies and leadership skills, she was then named as a pastor and granted a scholarship to study at the central seminary each month. She is one of the few full-time female pastors in the Costa Rican Methodist Church.
Martha asks that you please pray for her pastoral work and for strength in her studies. She especially asks for wisdom and courage in leading her congregation.
ALFONSO SEGURA
For the past five years, Alfonso has been the pastor of the Methodist Church in La Campina de Osa, in extreme southwestern Costa Rica. Alfonso has always impressed the professors and other students with his faithfulness in attending seminary, despite his financial situation and frequent health problems.
Alfonso asks that you please pray for the life of his church, and for a new evangelistic center they are setting up in Playa Zancudo.
EDDIER CORTES CHAVARRIA
Eddier is the pastor of the Methodist Church in Carillo, Alajuela, a church with about 150 members. He has been a pastor for four years. Eddier is also one of the Seminary's brightest students, and he will be graduating from the Seminary later this year.
Eddier's church is in the midst of building a new sanctuary. He asks for your prayers in financing the project and in receving grace from the city authorities, who have made obtaining permits a difficult task.
FELIPE BARBAS
Felipe is a young man that we have known since our arrival in Costa Rica. He is an active member of the San Isidro church, where we used to live, as well as a dedicated musician. He works with our friend and fellow missionary Wil Bailey on UMVIM construction projects in southern Costa Rica. Last year, however, Felipe decided to pursue his interest in seminary education. Now he works with Wil Bailey three weeks a month and also attends the central seminary on a scholarship from several churches in the US.
Please pray for this bright, dedicated young man, that God may show him ways to serve the church even more.
HONORIO PEREZ
Honorio is a member of the Cabeca indigenous tribe and he lives and works in the Chirripo sector of the Carribbean slope. He has led a small Methodist community for several years, and just completed his first year of seminary studies. This is a great accomplishment considering that he is still perfecting his Spanish. Honorio travels a great distance by foot and bus to arrive at seminary each month, and his dedication is an inspiration to many of his fellow students.
Honorio asks that you please pray for the life of his church.