Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends gathered at the Family Church near 海角在线鈥檚 (海角在线) campus on April 1, 2026, to celebrate Dr. Bernie Cueto鈥檚 20 years of service at 海角在线.听
Cueto, or 鈥淧astor Bernie,鈥� has听impacted听generations of students听and colleagues听through his roles听as campus pastor and听associate professor of听biblical and theological studies.听At a special chapel service,听several听former and current students and colleagues听took the stage to听celebrate his impact and share memories, including听one of the people who hired Cueto in 2006.听
Early Memories听
鈥淭wenty years ago, I was both dean of the听School of听Ministry and vice president for religious life听and was听charged with听the听responsibility of recruiting听a campus pastor,鈥� said听retired faculty member听Dr. Ken Mahanes. 鈥淚 remember we asked [Cueto] to speak in听chapel,听and听I remember听Dr. Joseph Webb鈥檚 evaluation following Bernie鈥檚 sermon. His听assessment听carried a lot of weight听with me听because he听taught communication here at 海角在线 and he was, at the time,听president of the听Academy of听Homiletics.听
鈥淗ere鈥檚 what he said to me: 鈥楰en, given the opportunity, there鈥檚 an outstanding preacher inside that young man, just waiting to come out.鈥� Well, Bernie, after 20 years, I鈥檓 still waiting.鈥�听
After the laughter subsided, Mahanes moved on to more sentimental comments.听
鈥淏ernie is both an outstanding preacher behind the pulpit and an excellent teacher behind the lectern,鈥� he continued.听鈥淪tudents are drawn to you and your preaching. You clearly communicate deep truths from God鈥檚 Word, interspersed with helpful illustrations and sometimes a wickedly delicious sense of humor.鈥�听
A Transformative听Impact
Double 海角在线 alumnus Juan Rocha followed Mahanes on stage to share his stories of Cueto鈥檚 transformative mentorship, both through their individual relationship and through Cueto鈥檚 leadership of a 6 a.m. discipleship group called 鈥淵oung Guns.鈥� Rocha shared how Cueto鈥檚 lessons on honesty, faith, accountability, and stewardship were driven home through his integrity, demonstrated both in his professional demeanor and personal life.
鈥淵our effort, your prayers, your intimacy with God,听[and]听your intentionality with students is living water for this whole 海角在线 community,鈥� he said. 鈥淕enerations听that听have come听throughout 20 years have been profoundly blessed because of the work of your hand.鈥�
The chapel service closed with a video compilation of dozens of former students听who celebrated听Cueto from afar听by recording their听gratitude and听favorite memories. Several mentioned that Cueto officiated their weddings.听
鈥淓very year that I get to be a campus pastor and professor, I鈥檓 amazed听at God鈥檚 faithfulness to allow me the privilege of teaching His Word and preaching it,鈥� Cueto shared afterward. 鈥淭o do it as a career, to do it full-time, that听doesn鈥檛听pass over me, that blessing.”听
Counseling Pastors and Students听
During the past 20 years, Cueto has also served as a church consultant, itinerant minister, and church planter. In addition to his work at 海角在线, he is the teaching pastor for Family Church (Gardens Campus), where he helps lead and train preachers across 19 campuses. As a preaching coach and consultant, he equips preachers to communicate God鈥檚 Word with greater clarity, confidence, and competence by refining their skills and sharpening their delivery.听
Most of all, his legacy shows his听passion for seeing God transform lives through the power of His Word. When asked what advice听he鈥檇听give to students, Cueto said,听听
鈥淎lways put [your] relationship with Jesus Christ first in [your] life. He says, seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all these things will听come to pass. And in the context of that passage,听He鈥檚听saying, hey,听don鈥檛听be anxious,听don鈥檛听worry about what听you鈥檙e听going to eat, what听you鈥檙e听going to wear 鈥� put first the kingdom of God.听
鈥淪o听I would encourage [you] to always put God first in [your] life, career, degree, major, relationships; everything else just falls into place.鈥�听
Learn more about 海角在线鈥檚 School of Ministry at听/academics/schools/ministry/.
