Roberto Escamilla

Roberto Escamilla (born 1931) is a United Methodist pastor, teacher, denominational leader, translator, and hymn writer whose ministry has linked evangelism, worship, preaching, and Hispanic church life. He earned the Master of Sacred Theology degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 1955 and served as a clergy member first of the Rio Grande Conference and later of the Southwest Texas Conference.

Escamilla's ministry has included local-church service as well as teaching and denominational work. Perkins has recognized his long service as an instructor in its Course of Study School, where he taught subjects including evangelism, worship and the sacraments, and preaching, and also served as worship coordinator. In retirement from itinerant ministry he continued serving as minister of evangelism at First United Methodist Church in Ada, Oklahoma. Perkins honored him as a Distinguished Alumnus in 2013, citing the unusually broad scope of his service to the church and his work across linguistic and cultural boundaries.

His hymnological work reflects the same bilingual and cross-cultural concerns. Hymnal sources credit him with English translation work for Spanish-language congregational songs and with original stanzas for “Pues si vivimos,” known in English as “When We Are Living.” His contributions belong to a broader United Methodist effort to make Hispanic worship resources available within English-speaking and bilingual congregations. As pastor, teacher, translator, and worship leader, Escamilla has helped connect theological education with the practical language of congregational prayer and song.