Pastoral Training with Reformed Roots
What began as a small effort by several CRC members in South Florida has developed into a pastoral training program that’s equipping Hispanic ministers in and outside the United States. The Luke 10 program launched as a joint initiative of Resonate Global Mission, Consejo Latino, and Revelation University, along with the support of the CRCNA’s Candidacy Committee.
“Luke 10 has been a journey of growth and formation through our Hispanic lens as Reformed believers,” explained Rev. Dr. Gianni Gracia, pastor of Vida y Esperanza CRC, president of Revelation University, and one of the Luke 10 program’s original advocates. “It offers holistic education to equip men and women for ministry, with the vision that they will become laborers ready for the harvest.”
Inspired by Jesus’ words in Luke 10—“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (v. 2)—the program seeks to provide comprehensive training for Hispanic ministers, especially those preparing for ordination as commissioned pastors under Church Order Article 23 of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. The curriculum covers 11 key subjects, including Scripture, doctrine, church history, and expository preaching – all grounded in a strong Reformed worldview.
Accessible, Deeply Rooted Formation
“Luke 10 is not just another academic program; it’s a response to the real need in Hispanic immigrant communities for pastoral training,” said Gracia. “Most of our students come from Venezuela and the United States, but we also have students from other Spanish-speaking countries, many with a pastoral calling but without access to formal theological education.”
Thanks to the support of Revelation University, Resonate Global Mission, and various CRCNA classes, the program has remained affordable. The church and partner agencies cover 75 percent of the cost (USD $2,050), while the student pays the remaining $600 interest-free in monthly payments of $50.
To date, 71 Venezuelan students have graduated, and 13 churches have been planted or strengthened through this initiative. In the U.S., 48 graduates—many now church planters or active congregational leaders—have emerged, including Mac Soré (pastor at Vive Church in Milwaukee, Wisc., and local mission leader in the U.S. Midwest with Resonate), Dario Méndez (pastor at Ebenezer CRC in Berwyn, Ill.), Fernando and Guadalupe Carranza (Kadosh Emmanuel CRC in Houston, Tex.), and Pastors Rubén and Sandra Aguilar (Sembrando Vida CRC in Vista, Calif.).
A Vision beyond Borders
Each story reflects the program’s deep impact, said Gracia. One example is Carmen, a Venezuelan student who temporarily lost her vision due to a brain tumor but continued studying with the help of her children, who read her materials aloud. She has since regained her sight and remains committed to her calling. “I won’t give up my prophetic role,” she said after completing her expository preaching course.
Amaury Castillo, another Luke 10 student and now director of technology and distance learning coordinator at Revelation University, shared, “Luke 10 was a turning point for me. I came from a background where I never had access to Reformed doctrine. This program opened my mind and gave me the tools to serve.”
Official Recognition and Ongoing Expansion
Luke 10 is officially recognized by the CRCNA’s Candidacy Committee as a valid pathway for pastoral training. While it does not grant a university degree, it provides a ministry certificate with academic value, thanks to partnerships with institutions such as the Association for Hispanic Theological Education (AETH). The 33 credits earned through the Luke 10 program may be transferred toward associate or bachelor’s degrees at other institutions such as Grace Christian University and Western Theological Seminary.
A new English-language module is under way, which has the potential to reach more than 2,000 people across multiple countries, said Gracia. This initiative was inspired by Pastor Joe Strong along with his congregations—Amor Viviente CRC (Bellingham, Wash.) and Iglesia Vida Nueva CRC (Mount Vernon, Wash.). Together they have funded tuition for dozens of Luke 10 students, making theological education accessible to many. Currently 36 students are actively enrolled.
People behind the Mission
Luke 10 has been supported by deeply committed individuals since its beginning: Marco Avila, Eastern U.S. regional mission leader with Resonate; Dr. Narciso Hilario Montas and Rev. Iris de Jesús, directors of Revelation University; faculty members such as Rev. Dr. Harold Caicedo, pastor of El Sembrador CRC in Fontana, Calif., and Rev. Mirtha Villafañe, local mission leader, East Coast USA, with Resonate, who receive a stipend, not a salary, for their service; and Rev. Susan LaClear, director of the CRCNA’s Candidacy Office, said Gracia.
Answering the Call
Due to the challenges of migration and the sociopolitical realities faced in several Latin American countries, not everyone called to serve the Lord has access to formal education, let alone education in Reformed theology.
Luke 10 is more than an educational program, however. It is a movement of faith, an open door for people who, despite obstacles, feel called to serve and prepare for ministry from a Reformed perspective, said Gracia. “Every face that walks through that door carries a story of obedience, sacrifice, and hope,” he said.
This program not only equips but also transforms, he added. “There’s a patient, dialectical process, a conversation and change in worldview, when pastors from different backgrounds integrate into the CRC,” said Gracia. “The covenant theology, the Reformed liturgy, the love for reading – all of it is planted little by little, and it bears fruit.”
The goal for Luke 10 in 2025, said Gracia, is ambitious but within reach: to raise USD $20,000 to continue providing scholarships and expand the program to new regions.
“This program is bringing hope,” concluded Gracia. “We are seeing not just churches planted but also families and communities transformed by the gospel. When we invest in training a pastor, we are investing in the future of the kingdom.”
