Honoring a Life of Care
OCTOBER 24, 2025
The Rev. Jesús Márquez Student Emergency Fund
McCormick Theological Seminary is grateful to announce the renaming of our Student Emergency Fund in honor of a beloved alumnus, teacher, and friend: the Rev. Jesús Márquez, MDiv ’13. In recognition of the profound impact Rev. Jesús’s had on our learning community—and in keeping with McCormick’s mission to form leaders in scholarship, faith, and care—the fund will now be known as the Rev. Jesus Marquez Gaytan Student Emergency Fund.
ABOUT THE FUND
Administered by the Office of Student Services, the Student Emergency Fund provides swift, compassionate support to students facing urgent or unexpected needs. Renaming the fund in Rev. Jesús’s honor reflects who we aspire to be: a community that responds to crisis with solidarity, dignity, and love.
HONORING REV. JESÚS
Faculty and staff chose to honor Rev. Jesús because he:
Embodied our mission and values. He lived the commitments at McCormick’s heart: rigorous study, practical ministry, and spiritual formation.
Served students with extraordinary care. As an adjunct in Experiential Education and Field Studies, he mentored with compassion and wisdom, modeling justice, community, and cross-cultural ministry.
Left a legacy of faith and learning. At the time of his sudden passing on March 21, 2025, he was pursuing doctoral studies at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
Naming the fund in Rev. Jesús’s honor ensures his legacy of compassion, solidarity, and student support continues to shape McCormick’s life together.
A PUBLIC WITNESS OF GRATITUDE
The renaming was formally announced during McCormick Days 2025, where Rev. Jesús’s beloved family joined our community in person. In a moment of shared remembrance and celebration, they received an official proclamation in his name — presented by Dr. Jina Kang, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, and Rev. David W. Watkins, III, Assistant Dean of Student Services and Support — launching the newly named fund. This embodied blessing honors his ministry of presence and invites all of us to continue that care for students in urgent need. Our heartfelt thanks to the entire Márquez Gaytan family for allowing us to honor Jesús in this way.
GRATITUDE AND PROMISE
We give thanks for the many ways Rev. Jesús’s faithful ministry of teaching, care, and presence has shaped our lives and this community. And we give thanks still, for the ways his spirit continues to weave and hold McCormick—and his family—together. His memory abides here, held tenderly and with deep gratitude, blessing all who were touched by his life.
JOIN US IN CONTINUING REV. JESÚS’S MINISTRY OF CARE
Your gift to the Rev. Jesus Marquez Gaytan Student Emergency Fund directly supports McCormick students in moments of urgent need—honoring Rev. Jesús’s legacy through tangible acts of compassion.
Make a gift today: Donate to the Rev. Jesus Marquez Gaytan Student Emergency Fund (choose the Student Aid Fund in the dropdown below).
Prefer to give by mail or designate a recurring gift? Contact the Development Office for options.
Together, we can carry forward Rev. Jesús’s ministry of presence—ensuring that every student is seen, supported, and sustained.