June 3, 2002
Two earn HPU's certificate in Spanish
___EL PASO--Two El Paso men have become the first to complete the certificate in ministry and Christian leadership program of Howard Payne University entirely in Spanish.
___Abel Cardenas and Javier Armengol completed the course requirements at Howard Payne University's El Paso Center.
___Although not the first certificate in ministry graduates, they are the first to complete the program entirely in Spanish. Howard Payne now offers certificate courses in Spanish in El Paso, Harlingen and Laredo. The courses are offered in English-only in Corpus Christi, Midland, San Angelo, Waxahachie and Weatherford.
___"As the Hispanic population grows throughout Texas, it is vital that Texas Baptists continue to invest in training for our Hispanic pastors and leaders," said Andrea McKenzie, director of the El Paso center. "The Baptist General Convention of Texas makes this possible by assisting our students with the ministerial tuition assistance program."
___Armengol is a member of Iglesia Bautista Bethel in Juarez, Mexico, where his father is pastor. He is a deacon, youth leader, Sunday School teacher and plans the church's annual prayer workshop.
___Cardenas attends Congregacion Hispana, a mission of First Baptist Church of El Paso. He is assisting the interim pastor, Josué Valerio, in preaching, visitation and in development and implementation of a cell-group ministry.
___"Howard Payne has been the answer to my prayers to the Lord to train me in order to respond to his call," Cardenas said. "The Bible study has helped me have a closer relationship with the Lord, to love him more and serve him better. The friendships I have developed with my classmates and the professors and sharing our experiences have helped enrich my life and ministry."
___The typical student in Howard Payne's 18-credit-hour, entry-level certificate program has experienced a call into ministry, is older, works full-time and desires to provide ministerial leadership to a church organization. The courses offered provide basic preparation and equipping for ministry service, but also are designed to allow for continued study toward the associate degree in ministry or the bachelor of arts degree in Christian studies.
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