Judson's Spanish-English Ministry completion ceremony set for May 19

Judson University will host the fourth Celebration of Program Completion of the Spanish-English Ministry Studies program at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19, in Herrick Chapel, 1151 N. State St. in Elgin.

Ten students will participate in this unique ceremony.

This program was created in collaboration with several churches throughout Elgin and the Chicago area, and it provides significant leadership training to lay leaders in predominantly Hispanic churches. Those students who complete the 14-course program over a two-year period then participate in this culminating event.

This is the fourth graduating SEMS class, and 47 students have graduated from this program to date. Dr. Ben Manso serves as the volunteer coordinator and founder of the Spanish-English Ministry Studies (SEMS) program, which started in 2010.

The program falls under the Leadership Development Group, the consulting arm of Judson's Division of Professional Studies.

While the SEMS program does not offer academic credit to students, it provides church leaders with an opportunity to take weekly ministry and biblical education courses for a nominal fee per course. The classes are held either at a local designated church in Chicago or on Judson's Elgin campus and are taught by Spanish-speaking instructors, who often have doctorate degrees and extensive ministry experience.

Those interested in enrolling in the next SEMS cohort should contact the Rev. Ben Manso, program director, at primeraiglesia1994@att.net.