United to Recognize Jorge Ochoa with Honorary Doctor of Divinity
LUBBOCK, TEXAS, June 1, 2017 — United Theological Seminary will award Rev. Dr. Jorge Ochoa with an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in recognition of his passion for discipleship and devotion to mentoring leaders and pastors across conference lines. Dr. David Watson, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean, will present the degree on June 8, 2017, during Northwest Texas Annual Conference 2017.
Rev. Dr. Ochoa serves as the Director of Church Development and Hispanic/Latino Movement in the Northwest Texas Annual Conference (NWTX) of The United Methodist Church. In this position, he has been integral to the development of and continued success of United’s Hispanic Christian Academy (HCA), which seeks to impact the local church by equipping and training Hispanic/Latino leaders in regional partnerships.
Guided by Rev. Dr. Ochoa’s vision to train Certified Church Planters, the Academia Cristiana Hispana (HCA) partnership with the NWTX Conference has inspired the multiplication of 46 Hispanic/Latino cell groups within the conference.
“He has demonstrated exceptional leadership through innovative means to reach the Hispanic/Latino community, outstanding work in church growth and commitment to form bridges to the non-Hispanic community,” says Dr. Kent Millard, President of United.
Rev. Dr. Ochoa is a native of Peru. He received his Master of Theology from the Peruvian Methodist Seminary and a doctorate in International Relations from the Catholic University in Argentina. He was the first Hispanic/Latino pastor to receive the Harry Denman Evangelism Award from the Northwest Texas Conference in 2010 and was nominated for the award again in 2016. He has coordinated dozens of evangelistic events, including “Operation 100,” “Connect with Jesus” and “Redeemed by Grace.” He also founded the Evangelistic Leaders School, an intensive program that trains leaders in evangelism in the NWTX Conference.
About the Hispanic Christian Academy / Academia Cristiana Hispana
United’s Hispanic Christian Academy is a three-year online program taught entirely in Spanish and designed to train lay pastors, church planters and lay leaders. Offering courses in Bible, Theology, Church and Mission, and Ministry, the program provides a robust and foundational training to equip Hispanic/Latino leaders for ministry in the Church.
About United Theological Seminary
United Theological Seminary is a graduate professional school of The United Methodist Church offering masters and doctoral theological degrees and continuing education with programs offered on campus and online. United’s goal is to prepare faithful, fruitful leaders to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
