Seminario Anabautista Latinoamericano (SEMILLA) reported in its November newsletter about pastors and leaders among Central American Anabaptist churches who died of COVID-19 this year.

Lino Castro was pastor of the Mennonite church in Sabá, Honduras, and a graduate of the licensure (the highest degree level) in SEMILLA’s Bible and theology program.

Pedro Ruiz was director and professor at the Mennonite Biblical Institute of the Evangelical Convention of the Brethren in Christ of Nicaragua. He was a former member of SEMILLA’s Board of Directors and a graduate of its bachelor’s degree program in pastoral theology.

Concepción Villeda was a pastor and past president of the Guatemalan Evangelical Mennonite Church, IEMG. A student and teacher at SEMILLA, she was the first director of the CASAS Spanish School.

Ismare Rite was a pastor in the United Evangelical Church of Mennonite Brethren in Panama and was Cacique (tribal leader) and president of the Wounaan People in Panama. Rite graduated from SEMILLA’s bachelor in theology program.

Luis Felipe Estrada was a pastor and president of the Evangelical Convention of the Brethren in Christ in Nicaragua.

Santiago Chocoj was a pastor and director of the Biblical Institute of the Kekchí Mennonite Church (Iglesia Nacional Evangélica Menonita de Guatemala, INEMGUA), in San Pedro Carchá, Alta Verapaz. He was also a graduate of SEMILLA’s bachelor in theology program.

The seminary provides theological education for 13 Anabaptist conferences in Central America and Mexico.