Called From Mexico

HOMETOWN: Mexico City, Mexico PROGRAM: 2nd year M.Div.

by DIEGO ROMÁN

Marcos Mercado, an elder at my home church, Iglesia Berith, back in Mexico City, had just come back from the US. He had spent a few months with his daughter in California and used this time to take the Greek IIII courses at Westminster Seminary California. He was quite impressed with the high academic standards, the knowledge and Christian character of the professors, and spoke wonders of the library. He ended his panegyric with an invitation: “I want to help other people go there. If you are interested, I’ll help you with the process.” He also wanted to teach what he had learned, so he began translating Dr. Baugh’s Greek Primer.

At that time the offer seemed to me more like a dream. Just living expenses alone went far beyond what I could pay; my wife, Esther, was finishing her Ph.D.; and I had a stable job teaching music, conducting, and playing the piano at Iglesia Berith. I would sometimes meet Marcos in the aisle of Iglesia Berith and he would insist, “They have scholarships…. You might find churches that can help you.”

At the time I also served as professor and academic dean at Seminario Teológico Reformado de México (STRM), a Bible institute in Mexico City. Marcos soon started teaching Greek there. I had never taken Greek, so I signed up for the course. Marcos was teaching with Dr. Baugh’s Greek Primer (although in a year-long course, it was a much more relaxed pace) and translating a lesson per week. But Esther had a difficult pregnancy, and we had to go to the hospital for check-ups every two days. Thank God, our first son, Bernabé, was born healthy, but I had to quit the Greek course after a couple of months.

My interest in Reformed theology and the intersection

“I answered: 'Why are you trying to stop me? If God wants me there, He will provide.'”

with my own profession had led me to Iglesia Berith and to its pastor, Dr. Gerald Nyenhuis. I had taken several courses with him, which I complemented with other courses at the STRM. So now, I asked for support from Berith to study full-time at a seminary in Mexico and prepare for pastoral ministry. However, because I had been the church pianist for more than a decade, they thought I would be misusing my gifts or confusing my calling. I was quite disappointed. In Berith’s history, no one who wanted to pursue further theological education had ever been rejected, and I needed the support of my local church to be accepted into any seminary.

Soon after that, in June 2018, came Dr. Charles Telfer, former professor in Biblical languages at WSC. He was teaching a course on Isaiah at the STRM on Marcos’ invitation. Dr. Telfer was staying at the home of an American missionary and professor at the STRM, David Gifford; but David was unable to drive Dr. Telfer around, so I offered. I did not only enjoy the course but also many conversations. I shared with Dr. Telfer my disappointment and desire to study, and he encouraged me to apply to Westminster.

So I registered again for Greek I and started preparing everything to come to WSC. The process of application was great. Mark MacVey, WSC Vice President for Enrollment Management, was kind, helpful and encouraging. And as soon as I got the admissions letter, I sent an email to Berith’s consistory. I informed them that I would be quitting in June to go to WSC and asked for their financial support. But again my request was rejected. I went to my pastor Pedro Arcos, tearfully asking why I had been the only one in the history of our church wanting to pursue further theological education that had been rejected (and twice). He first questioned my calling. Then he told me it was very expensive to live in the US, that I would put my family in risk, lose my job and my belongings. But I answered: Why are you trying to stop me? If God wants me there, He will provide. He told me how when he studied, many people had promised to help him, but the money never arrived. But Pastor Pedro, seeing both my pain and resolution, promised my petition would be reconsidered.

Praise God, a month later we got a scholarship, their support and the support of other church members and churches, both in Mexico and the US. So, in June 2019 we drove 1,800 miles from Mexico City to Escondido, California, with most of our belongings (a few books, clothes, toys, and basic kitchen utensils) in our car trunk.

We have been at WSC for a year and a half. We have made friends, found a home church, and a helpful and beautiful community in Westminster Village (WSC’s on-campus housing). And our second son, Esteban, was born in September 2020. We have found WSC to be an ideal environment to flourish. Listening to the lectures, asking hard questions, disagreeing and agreeing passionately, reading primary sources, writing papers, and discussing theological problems with both professors and students has been challenging and enlightening. Even if I disagree, I can see that the faculty and staff love the Lord and His church. And Marcos was right, the library is great. I am amazed at how many incredible people work to make the WSC dream possible (including professors, staff, board members, and donors). A team using their unique callings and gifts to further the education of reformed ministers, missionaries, academics, and lay leaders. WSC is a prime example of theological education coming to its fruition.

As a Dean in Mexico I realized that, although there were many “seminaries” in the city, none could provide the training that the capital needed. At STRM we had no staff, almost none of the professors had the equivalent of an MDiv, our library was tiny and outdated (with no good encyclopedias, lexicons, or Old Testament commentaries), and the students had a very poor educational background (some had barely finished high school and had never read a whole book in their lives, not even the Bible). I know this is the case with many other developing countries. WSC is the kind of seminary you only dream of.

“It truly has been a blessing to live in the midst of other families and to study alongside people who have a deep love for Christ and his Church.”

After seminary I want to pursue further studies and become a pastor-scholar. I want to engage the biblical text deeply, defend the truth, refute error, engage contemporary thought, teach, write and research, but also preach the gospel with passion and tenderly care for the flock. And for this I know of no better seminary training than Westminster Seminary California.

Like Marcos, I want many other Mexicans to come here and profit from this wonderful institution. I also dream that I can help build a seminary in Mexico City where you can find at least a glimpse of the quality of WSC. I am grateful for the opportunity to study here and to share my experience, and I pray God will continue to use WSC as a bastion of truth.

Pray for WSC

GRADUATING SENIORS

Please pray for WSC’s graduating seniors as they seek placement to begin their ministries.