Yesterday, Bishop Doug was at St. James (Goshen) where The Rev. Nolan McBride was installed as Curate-in-Charge and The Rev. Deacon Edith Varillas and The Rev. Jerry Acosta were received into The Episcopal Church. We're excited about this step towards developing an intentional Latino/Latina ministry in Elkhart County! Watch the video below to hear from each of them.
Deacon Edith Varillas was ordained in the Anglican Diocese of Peru. She has been serving with the Anglican Church of Peru for almost 18 years. She has served in a variety of ministries, including chaplain at San Mateo Anglican school, leading missions in underserved and marginalized communities, serving at the altar, providing pastoral support, and preparing and mentoring lay ministers in their spiritual and biblical formation. She is deeply committed to restoring the connection between the church and the community.
Deacon Edith Varillas graduated from Gamaliel Biblical Seminary and St. Augustine Anglican Seminary. She is married to Rev. Jerry Acosta, and together they have three children. In her personal time, she enjoys singing, playing the guitar, gardening and hiking.
In March of 2024 she moved to the United States to be closer to family and prayed that she could find a church in Goshen, IN where she could keep serving the Lord and her new neighbors in this new season and the Lord responded by guiding her and Fr. Jerry Acosta into The Episcopal Church. She now looks forward with great expectation to what God has prepared in this country and is ready to keep serving the Lord in this new community.
Rev. Jerry Acosta was ordained as presbyter in the Anglican Diocese of Peru. He has served in various roles including presbyter of the Church of the Ascension, national administrator of the diocese, bishop’s secretary, and member of the diocesan board, faithfully combining pastoral ministry with administrative leadership.
Rev. Jerry Acosta has received his theological education at Gamaliel Biblical Seminary, The Evangelical Seminary of Peru, GMI Seminary of Peru, and through AETAL/Moclam studies. He has also pursued studies in economics and pastoral administration. His calling has led him to strengthen the connection between the diocesan structure and local church communities. He believes the church must walk in order, transparency, and with pastoral sensitivity.
He is married to Deacon Edith Varillas, and together they have two daughters, Jherlly and Stefany, and one son, Steven. Since March 2024, Rev. Jerry Acosta has been residing in the United States, motivated by his desire to be closer to one of his daughters, Jherlly, who has lived in the US since 2015.
