Pastor Diego Silva was ordained to the gospel ministry Sabbath, May 15, at a special service at Chapel Oaks Church in Shawnee, Kansas.
Silva was born in Brazil where he attended Sabbath school regularly with his grandmother. He immigrated with his mother and sister to the United States when he was six and attended public schools. During his junior year in high school, he reconnected with his Adventist family in Brazil and consequently gave his life to Jesus. During his senior year, he sensed a call to ministry and enrolled at Hartland College where he studied theology and met his French-Canadian wife, Melissa.
After completing their undergraduate ministerial training, they founded a lifestyle center and discipleship school near Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and served there eight years. After returning from Brazil in 2013, Diego served at Hartland College as the chairman of the Religion Department and taught theology courses. Diego pastored a two-church district in Eastern Montana from 2016-2018 and has been serving as young adult pastor at the Chapel Oaks and Lawrence Churches since 2019. Diego completed his Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Andrews University in March of 2020.
Diego and Melissa have two children, Abigail and Caleb. They have been on a 14-year journey in ministry together and have loved every moment. They have traveled on most continents, serving in pastoral and educational ministry. They are passionate about teaching God’s Word to young adults and sharing the beautiful picture of God revealed in the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. They believe the Seventh-day Adventist message presents the most attractive and biblically accurate picture of God and are excited about the adventures that God will call them to in the years to come.
