Smerdis Fuentes, whose ministry focuses on helping young people find faith and belonging, was ordained Aug. 15, 2026, at Piedmont Park Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. He serves there as associate pastor for youth and young adults.
For Fuentes, listening is an important part of being a pastor. His ordination biography describes a desire to walk alongside people through every season of life, especially young people wrestling with questions of identity, faith and purpose.
He knows what it means to drift from God. Raised in Miami by his Cuban mother, Fuentes grew up with her example of faith and sacrifice. As a young adult, he stepped away from that faith. An encounter with Jesus at age 21 changed the direction of his life and led him toward pastoral ministry.
At his ordination, Pastor Michael Halfhill delivered a message titled “What God Sees.” Virgil Covel’s charge called Fuentes to care tenderly for those entrusted to him and to teach plainly enough for children to understand.
Fuentes earned a bachelor’s degree in biblical pastoral theology from Antillean Adventist University in 2017 and a Master of Divinity from Andrews University in 2021. His graduate studies included chaplaincy and youth and young adult ministry. Fuentes began ministry in Grand Island in August 2021, one month after marrying his wife, Ilka Judit.
Together they share a commitment to creating welcoming spaces where people can grow spiritually. The couple are expecting their first child in December 2026.
