Stalham pastor’s joyful ordination service

Rev. Jeremiah Otieno, assistant pastor at Stalham Baptist Church, was ordained at the church on Sunday 24 May in a joyous and colourful service. Tony Rothe reports.

Jerry arrived in Stalham from Kenya back in 2017 with his wife, Simone, and daughter Elsa, having trained for Christian ministry at The London Seminary. The plan was for a one-year appointment as Pastoral Assistant at Stalham Baptist Church.

Nine years later, Jerry is now Assistant Pastor at the church with a role that includes pastoral care and outreach, particularly with the younger generation. He has been undergoing training at Spurgeons college, and the ordination service marked his status as a ‘fully-fledged’ Baptist minister.
 
The Rev Gordon Hindmarsh conducted the ordination and preached from 2 Timothy 3:14 to 4:2. The service was described as a joyous occasion in a packed church, with people from several nationalities attending, and lots of people from various areas of the Stalham community as well as friends and relatives from Germany.
 
Jerry describes how much the day meant to him: “During my ordination on Pentecost Sunday, I was deeply moved as I shared how the African proverb ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ resonated more powerfully than ever. I looked out at the faces of family and friends who have been such an important part of my journey, and I realised that the ceremony was never just about me. It was a heartfelt tribute to everyone God has brought into my life who has helped shape who I am.
 
“Growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, facing poverty and losing my parents early on, meant that I needed all the help I could get to navigate life. Life hasn't always been easy, but God has always been good, weaving each struggle and helper into a story of His purpose and grace. This ordination isn’t just a personal milestone; it’s a celebration of the love of my “village” and the faithfulness of God.
 
“Over the years, I've felt held—strangers shared what little they had, friends saw potential that I couldn’t see, and mentors poured time into a broken boy in need of healing. Each of these wonderful people was a 'villager' that God sent to support me. Today, I want to publicly thank them and say, ‘your labour was not in vain.’"
 
Jerry is clearly held in high regard by the Stalham community as he was also awarded the ‘person of the year award’ by the local town council earlier in May.
 
Rev Ron Skivington, Stalham Baptist Church’s pastor, said “It was a brilliant service with a standing ovation from everyone there when his ordination was completed.”
 
The service can be viewed on the church’s facebook page.
 
Visit stalhambaptist.org.uk
 
The photos are courtesy of Stalham Baptist Church.

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