AU SOTCM Announces Ministry Education in Spanish Leadership
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Anderson, Ind. — Anderson University and the School of Theology and Christian Ministry have announced Ramón Rivera as the director of ministry education in Spanish and Agustin Ruzak as the graduate assistant for the program.
Rev. Rivera has been integral in the planning and creation of AU’s new efforts to serve the church with ministry education in Spanish. He has been a student in AU’s Master of Divinity program and was integral in helping AU to understand the needs of the Concilio Hispano of the Church of God.
Ordained since 2015 by the Church of God, Rivera has served in ministry since 2008 as a church planter, lead pastor, and Christian radio management and marketing prior to coming to this new role.
“Dr. Gilbert Lozano and I were hopeful that Ramón would sense the call to fill this role once we received the Lilly Endowment Pathways grant,” said Dr. Nathan Willowby, dean of the School of Theology and Christian Ministry. “He has strong relationships across the U.S. in the Church of God and the Concilio Hispano, while also bringing a marketing background and ability to connect with the broader Spanish-speaking church world through his experience in Spanish Christian radio.”
“I look forward to the way he will dream, lead, and guide us to serve Spanish-speaking pastors and lay leaders well through the offerings we are able to provide for ministry education.”
Rivera has also earned an MBA and M.S. in management from the University of Miami.
“As a master’s theology student, one of my prayers was that God would open a door so that the education I was receiving in English could be made available to my fellow pastors in Spanish,” said Rivera. “I love serving God, and I believe the most effective way to respond to God’s call is to be ready and well-prepared. After years of this prayer, God answered me and blessed my life, being part of the logistics and direction of this new chapter for our university.”
Ruzak is a student in the Master of Divinity program and is serving as the graduate assistant for our ministry education in Spanish programs. He comes to AU from Argentina. While there, he earned an advanced degree in theology counseling from the Daniel Warner Institute, as well as a degree in accounting and CPA from Argentine University for Business Studies.
“We are excited for the ways Agustin sees our vision to expand AU’s ministry preparation offerings to those in Latin America, and we are hopeful that he will help us to make connections in partnering ways with the Daniel Warner Institute,” said Willowby.
In Argentina, Ruzak worked in a family printing business. He also served as a pastor in a Church of God congregation and professor of New Testament at the Daniel Warner Institute.
Anderson University is on a mission to educate students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 60 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 20 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult and graduate programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized among top colleges for its business, computer science, cybersecurity, dance, engineering, nursing, and teacher education programs. Anderson University was established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God.