Celebrating the 2024 Graduating Class of the NAM Hispanic Bible Institute
You Did It!
By Jaime Hernandez
I was in my office printing the final pages in my logbook for this honorable task the Lord Jesus has entrusted to me. I was reflecting on the wonderful weekend we had just experienced, and at that moment, a message arrived on my phone. It was our dear sister Bethany Douglas from the North American Ministries office. With great enthusiasm, she shared how blessed NAM Director Dr. David Crowe felt for having participated in the same celebration. “Wow!” was all I could express.
What happened that weekend?
Saturday, December 14, 2024, we celebrated the graduation of the 2024 class from the Hispanic Bible Institute. Seven young people from four states enrolled to receive intensive biblical, theological, and ministerial training. Allow me to share a brief overview of each.
Isaac and Susie Hernandez came from Primera Iglesia Bautista Libre in Elkhart, Indiana. Isaac has always been a great support to his father and pastor, playing instruments, leading worship, helping with the youth ministry, and participating actively in the maintenance and remodeling of his church. Susie speaks little Spanish, but in her initial presentation, she said, “I am here to get prepared to serve God alongside my husband,” and she achieved high grades throughout the course!
Aaron and Jehdiah Martínez came from FWB Iglesia Nueva Vida in Rupert, Idaho. Both are pastor’s children, and they have been fully involved in all areas of ministry in their church from a very young age: playing instruments, leading worship, discipling young people, teaching children, and promoting their church on social media. They have done everything with excellence.
Rafael Gadiel Martínez came from FWB Iglesia Nuevo Comienzo in Catoosa, Oklahoma. Alongside his parents, who are missionaries, Gadiel has served in various ministries within the church, playing instruments, leading worship, and preparing other young people to do the same. With his great talent for photography, Gadiel captured magnificent moments throughout the course.
Alexis J. García came from FWB Iglesia Fe, Esperanza, Y Amor in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. His parents brought him to the church when he was three years old, and they have remained there to support their pastor. Alexis has also served from a very young age in the worship ministry, as a youth leader, and in any task needing to be done in his church. He participated enthusiastically in every class, trying to absorb as much as he could from each professor, always thinking about sharing it when he returned to his church.
Daniela Hernandez came from FWB Iglesia Conquista in Greenville, North Carolina. From a very young age, she became a great collaborator in her father’s ministry. Besides leading worship and teaching young people and children’s Sunday School classes, she has always shown great initiative in evangelizing and discipling new believers. To this day, she plays an important role in the church and institute office work.
They did it!
They are only the first fruits of this magnificent work the Lord has replanted. Without a doubt, these young people are part of a new generation of ministers God will use powerfully in the future. They have all returned to their churches and are willing and ready to serve wherever the Lord needs them.
We want to express our deep gratitude to the pastor-teachers who dedicated their time to come and teach. We also express gratitude to NAM leaders David Crowe and Rick Bowling, who did not give up until the Institute was restarted; to Pastor Gene Williams and Parkers Chapel FWB Church (home to the Institute), for the love they demonstrated every day of the course; to my wife Abi, who with the tenderness of a mother, often prepared delicious meals for students and professors.
But our gratitude also extends to all the pastors and members of each church within our great Free Will Baptist family, who have been sensitive to the Lord’s voice to support this heavenly vision with their prayers and offerings. Yes, each one of you did it!
Our mission continues. We have already begun working to recruit students for the class of 2025. And we can all be part of this mission the Lord has given us to prepare Hispanic laborers to serve in His harvest. So, when we stand before His presence, we can hear Him say: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
About the Writer: Long-time church planter Jaime M. Hernandez is the director of the North American Ministries Hispanic Bible Institute at Parkers Chapel in Greenville, North Carolina. In addition to overseeing the Institute, he and his family are planting Iglesia Conquista at Parkers Chapel. To learn more, visit institutobiblicohispano.com.
