Latin American Seminary Student Scholarships
Future Seminarian
By designating your gift to “where needed most”, you will be helping a new student to attend one of the seminaries in Latin America!
Jorge Marcelo Rivas – El Reformador Seminary, Dominican Republic
Marcelo is from Talca, Chile and was not born into the Lutheran faith. He studied English and also Cultural Management at San Tomas University (Talca, Chile). After graduating, he held a number of jobs in the business world. When Talca was affected by an earthquake in 2010, the Lutheran Church undertook disaster-response work in the region. Marcelo’s then-financé, Vania, was impacted by the Gospel and came to faith, and soon brought Marcelo to church. He also became a Christian, and since then they have dedicated themselves to serving the Lord. Marcelo and Vania are married and have two children.
Nicolás Aller – Concordia Seminary, Buenos Aires, Argentina
graduating high school, Nicolás earned a degree in Nicolás is a fourth year seminarian (in a 6-year program of studies). He is a member of San Pablo Lutheran church in Coronel Suarez, Buenos Aires province. After computer and systems analysis, and worked in that field for two years. He also attended a music academy and played the violin in an orchestra. Nicolas has three siblings, and is the first of his family to study for the ministry.
Franco Sebastián Gies – Concordia Seminary, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Franco began his seminary studies in 2017. He hails from Puerto Madryn in the Patagonia region of Argentina, where his father serves as a pastor. Rev. Hugo Gies and his wife Lorena also operate the Emanuel Home for Children as a part of the ministry of the congregation. In high school, Franco was an excellent student as was also selected as a member of the all-regional Basketball team for the Chubut province. Franco wants to follow in his father’s footsteps as serve as a pastor.
Elián Pérez – Concordia Seminary, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Born in Jacinto Arauz, La Pampa, Argentina, Elián began his seminary studies in 2017. He worked his way through high school, and is continuing that pattern by working to pay his own seminary tuition. Elián is the first from his family to study for the ministry. He lives in Santa Rosa, La Pampa, with his parents and two brothers. While at the seminary, he works as a computer technician and also at an auto parts store.
Concordia Seminary, Buenos Aires, Argentina is a confessional Lutheran theological institution of the Lutheran Church of Argentina (est. 1905). It began operation in 1942 in rented quarters, and the first six students were graduated in 1944. In 1948, the Seminary moved to its current facility in the Jose L. Suarez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. The Seminary’s mission is to offer theological preparation in order to form pastors and lay leaders who have the skills needed to faithfully serve God, the church, and society. In addition to pastors, the seminary also prepares deacons, deaconesses, and lay leaders through its on-site and internet-based programs. The property is also home to a parochial school, and to Concordia Lutheran congregation.
El Reformador Seminary, Palmar Arriba, Santiago, Dominican Republic is the confessional Lutheran theological institution of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod serving the Latin American region. Opened in August 2017, the mission of the seminary is to “form servants of Jesus Christ who teach the faithful, reach the lost, and care for all”. In addition to seminary classroom space and a residence hall, the property also houses a parochial school, conference facilities, and a Lutheran Disaster-Response / Mercy center.