ABOUT US / SOBRE NOSOTROS

The Bible's stories are our stories. Therefore, the purpose of Mygration Christian Conference is to approach the conversation of immigration from a Biblical perspective, by exploring the stories of immigration found in the Bible and reflecting on how these stories can inform, challenge, and empower the Latino/a immigrant community in New England. Our hope is that this conference may serve to provide a space for self-reflection, civil dialogue, and theological engagement for all those who attend. We invite you to join us as we seek to shed new light and perspective on God's heart for the immigrant.

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Las historias de la Biblia son nuestras historias. Por lo tanto, el propósito de esta conferencia es abordar la conversación sobre la inmigración desde una perspectiva bíblica, explorando las historias de inmigración que se encuentran en la Biblia y reflexionando sobre cómo estas historias pueden informar, desafiar y empoderar a la comunidad latina en Nueva Inglaterra. Nuestra esperanza es que esta conferencia pueda servir para proporcionar un espacio para la auto-reflexión, el diálogo civil y la exploración teológica para todos los que asistan. Lo invitamos a que te unas con nosotros mientras buscamos arrojar nueva luz y perspectiva sobre el corazón de Dios para el inmigrante.

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SPEAKERS / CONFERENCISTAS

DR. DANIEL CARROLL RODAS

Keynote Speaker

Dr. M. Daniel Carroll R. is the Blanchard Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton Graduate School. He is half-Guatemalan and was raised bilingual and bicultural. In his youth, he spent many summers in Guatemala and later taught at El Seminario Teológico Centroamericano in Guatemala City for thirteen years. He is the author of the book, Christians at the Border: Immigration, the Church, and the Bible, and has been involved in Hispanic churches teaching on the Bible and immigration for many years. He is married to his wife Joan, and has two married sons and three grandchildren. 

PATRICIA SOBALVARRO

Session Speaker

Patricia Sobalvarro migrated from Guatemala at age eleven to be reunited with her family. She graduated from Boston University in 1996 with a dual bachelor’s degree in Economics and in International Relations. In 2004, she received a Master’s Degree in Non- Profit Management from Cambridge College. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of Agencia ALPHA, a grassroots non-profit organization and social ministry of Congregation Lion of Judah. Annually, Agencia ALPHA serves over 1,000 clients (mostly immigrants) through their accredited legal program, multi-city citizenship program and community organizing initiatives seeking to improve the quality of life of immigrants living and working in Massachusetts.

REV. ISAIAS RIVERA

Session Speaker

Isaías Rivera has served as an Associate Pastor at Congregation Lion of Judah since 2009. Before moving to Massachusetts, he pastored churches in Puerto Rico and New York City. He has traveled to Guatemala and Mexico as an advisor for student groups from Gordon College. He received an M.Div. and Th.M. in Preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and is currently working on a Doctor of Ministry at Western Theological Seminary. He is currently involved in pastoral care, prison ministry, pastoral counseling, discipleship and the ministry of men. He is married to his wife Vivian, has a daughter, two sons, and 2 grandchildren.

DANIEL MONTAÑEZ

Session Speaker

Daniel Montañez was born in Visalia, California. He works as an Admissions Representative at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and serves as pastor of the young adult ministry at Congregation Lion of Judah in Boston, MA. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Mary’s University, a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a Master of Sacred Theology from Boston University School of Theology. Daniel’s calling is to build bridges of hope and reconciliation within the Latino/a community and church in the United States.

REV. SERGIO PEREZ

Panelist

Rev. Sergio Perez is the Senior Pastor of Harvest Ministries of New England, a dynamic congregation focusing on practical teachings related to vision, family, the power of prayer, unity and stewardship. From 1980 to 1982, he attended Centro de Estudios Superiores in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and earned a degree in Business Administration. Since 2011, he was appointed as the President of the Fellowship of Hispanic Pastors of New England (COPAHNI), in Boston, MA. In 2013, he joined the Board of Directors of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC). He is married to his wife Johana, and has two beautiful children.

DAMARIS VELASQUEZ

Panelist

Damaris Velasquez is originally from Guatemala. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology specialized in Family and Community Services from Cambridge College. She is the co-founder and Director of Programs at Agencia ALPHA, where she advocates for the integration of new immigrants in the economic, social, civic and cultural life of Boston. She is the Director of Immigration Issues at COPAHNI, a network of 50+ evangelical churches throughout New England with the mission to strengthen the Christian Church and provide support to pastors in the areas of leadership, education, youth, evangelism and immigration issues. Damaris is married to Yorick Velasquez and lives in Natick, MA.

DR. JONATHAN CALVILLO

Panelist

Jonathan Calvillo is the Assistant Professor of Sociology of Religion at Boston University School of Theology.  His scholarship centers on the sociological study of religion, immigration, and race and ethnicity, especially among Latinx populations.  Dr. Calvillo has served as a fellow in the Latino Protestant Congregations project, a national study examining the beliefs and practices of Latino Protestant congregations. Dr. Calvillo is a Southern California native of Mexican descent.  He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Irvine.  He has been involved in ministry within Latinx and multi-ethnic communities for the past two decades.  He and his wife Nani live in Boston with their three children, Kalea, Mahalia, and Jonathan.

PAULA SUÁREZ

Panelist

Paula Suárez was born in Colombia and immigrated to the US at 5 years old. With God’s favor, she has learned to blaze through the challenges immigrants face growing up in a foreign country. She recently graduated from Salem State University with a Bachelors in Mathematics, a concentration in Education, and a minor in Psychology. She is currently working on completing her Masters in Education in hopes of becoming a High School math teacher. She is committed to using her experience to spark the potential inside students that face similar adversities and empowering them to find their value and voice.

OUR SPONSORS /
NUESTROS PATROCINADORES

This conference was made possible by the generous prayers and financial support of the following organizations:
Esta conferencia fue posible gracias a las oraciones generosas y el apoyo financiero de las siguientes organizaciones:

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