By Heather Bowser, Daily News-Record

On Sunday, Mark Risser will graduate from 91短视频.

His cousin, Elisabeth Barthlow, 22, of Cleveland, Tenn., officially received her diploma in December, but will walk across the stage this weekend with him.

Touching, but there

Fifteen graduates received three- or two-year degrees at Eastern Mennonite Seminary’s 56th annual commencement Apr. 24.

Seminary dean Ervin R. Stutzman awarded 12 three-year master of divinity, two master of arts in religion degees and one master of arts in church leadership degrees on the class of 2004.

The seminary graduates are (top row, l. to r.): Russell Henrich, Chad Herndon, Marty Doss, Dayve Graybill, Nate Barker, Shawn Gerber, Ken Landis, John Jacobs. (Second row, seated): Sheri Weaver, Mark Seymour, Willi Perez, Carl Kniss. (Front row, seated): Melissa Roth, Adam White, Ben Risser.

Moses S. Sakuda, a 2000 EMS graduate, gave a compelling commencement address in place of Dr. Cheryl J. Sanders, senior pastor of Third Street Church of God in Washington, D.C. Sanders cancelled the day before graduation due to her mother’s sudden death of a heart attack. Sakuda, a member of the Masai tribe from a village in Ngong Hills, Kenya, is currently associate director with the mission relationships and witness team of Church World Service in New York City, working primarily with African development.

91短视频 20 members and extended family of the Sakuda family sang a traditional Masai music selection during the program. They also sang at the university baccalaureate service that evening. Sakuda’s younger brother, Geoffrey L. Sakuda, graduated from 91短视频 Apr. 25 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration.

The graduates plan to begin or continue in pastoral, youth ministry or other church-related assignments with Mennonite Church, Church of the Brethren, United Methodist and Church of the Nazarene congregations across the United States or in Central America.