In May hundreds of people celebrated the graduation and assignment of the class of 2008. If you happened to be in attendance at any of the events that week you may have heard the happy tones of Spanish-speaking voices. Many family members and friends of Gonzalo Delgadillo and Nelson Encarnación, graduates of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary through the Cristo Palabra de Vida Training Program, were on hand to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Under the direction of Professor E. Allen Sorum, the Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI) coordinates several satellite training programs that exist to assist men with their pre-seminary and seminary training. One such program is Cristo Palabra de Vida, the Spanish language arm of the PSI.

Delgadillo resides in El Paso, Texas, and was ordained on June 1 at Christ Our Redeemer. He will continue to serve as director of Spanish publications for WELS Multi-Language Publications, a position he has held since January 2006. Though he now resides in west Texas, Delgadillo began his theological studies with Pastor Mark Goeglein in Orlando, Fla., while attending Risen Savior—the same church that his fellow PSI graduate, Encarnación, calls home.

Delgadillo had been an active member and leader in the WELS church in Bogota, Colombia, prior to his move to Florida.

Pastor Encarnación came to WELS after taking seminary courses with another church body. Discontinuing his studies because of theological concerns, Nelson was searching for a church home firmly rooted in God’s Word. He found that home at Risen Savior in the flock of Pastor Steven Blumer.

“When Nelson came to our congregation, I don’t think he was originally searching for ways to get into the ministry with us, but it soon became apparent that he was a strong candidate with great people skills and dynamic speaking ability,” says Blumer.

Having served Risen Savior as a Spanish evangelist, Encarnación is now serving as associate pastor. He was ordained on Sunday, July 6. We wish both men and their families well as they continue to serve their Savior.

Sarah Malchow, communication coordinator at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, is a member at Calvary, Thiensville, Wis.