Prestonwood celebrates connection with Southwestern Seminary in Escuela de Ministerio certificate program

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Prestonwood Baptist Church celebrated its partnership in ministry and Christian education on Aug. 31 at the Plano campus, as the church announced that its School of Ministry in Spanish Certificate in Church Ministry is now awarded by the seminary.

“It is our privilege to be a part of this exciting opportunity, and it’s really the next step in  this important partnership between Southwestern Seminary and Prestonwood,” President David S. Dockery told the congregation, adding Southwestern is honored by the “opportunity to prepare them in their call to ministry, to equip them in their spiritual gifts, and to direct them to a certificate and even degree programs in days to come.”

The Escuela de Ministerio, Español, or School of Ministry in Spanish, began in Feb. 2024, as church leadership, including Gilberto Corredera, pastor of the Spanish services at Prestonwood and a Southwestern alumnus, saw a need for scripturally grounded training among their Spanish-speaking lay leaders and others called to ministry. The program, which includes nine courses, began with about 50 students, and today has 180 students enrolled.

“Today is a very exciting day for me, because for so many years I’ve been working to try and equip more leaders and pastors and people who are called to be in ministry,” said Corredera. “… We are so excited, because the best is yet to come. Now we can train people from our own church, our nation, and also internationally, to serve the Lord and to fulfill the Great Commission.”

Danyela Diaz assists in the School of Ministry and in an interview said the program was a response to “the growing need for biblically grounded and practically equipped leaders in the local church and beyond,” and the desire for the program to include “theological instruction and hands on experience.”

The courses cover topics such as biblical counseling, hermeneutics, evangelism and discipleship, Christian doctrines and Baptist distinctives, and introductions to the Old and New Testament. The Certificate in Church Ministry can be completed in one to three years, depending on the course load.

“I’m really excited about the new partnership we have with this certificate,” Provost Madison Grace said at the event that Southwestern leadership attended. “We want to make sure that people that are called to ministry can help churches grow and send out the Gospel to the uttermost. This partnership is only going to help that much, much further.”

Diaz said the certificate being awarded through Southwestern recognizes the academic value of the training it brings to students who are originally from numerous Latin American countries and are seeking sound doctrine.

“This is an incredible opportunity for us with partners like Prestonwood and Prestonwood en Español,” said Chandler Snyder, vice president for institutional relations. “Not only are we blessed with incredible graduates and partners like your pastor here, but we’re excited to train in partnership with you the next generation of faithful ministers.”

Those interested in learning more about participating in this certificate program can visit the Prestonwood website here and contact Terry Coy, associate professor of theology and director of Language Programs at Southwestern.

Increasingly in recent years, Southwestern has partnered with Prestonwood and its pastor and Southwestern alumnus Jack Graham. Currently, Southwestern supports students involved in an internship program at the church and the newly opened Prestonwood Pregnancy Center is located on the seminary’s campus.

Graham encouraged his congregation to continue to pray for Dockery, Southwestern Seminary leadership, and the students that are a part of the new endeavor.