Pastor's Corner


Rev. Dr. Joseph Oniyama

 

  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reverend Dr. Joseph Oniyama, is a native of Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. He accepted Christ’s offer of salvation at age of 13.

In the 1980’s, Reverend Oniyama worked with Youth for Christ Liberia, where he served as counselors’ coordinator, radio program producer and community club leader.  He joined the Providence Baptist Church in 1983 and served as junior church director until his departure for the United States in 1988.

In late 1988, Reverend Oniyama joined Calvary Baptist Church in East Orange, New Jersey, and over several years served as Sunday school teacher, VBS director, deacon, and youth minister. In October 2001, Reverend Oniyama was called by Calvary Baptist Church to become their 8th Pastor.

Reverend Oniyama serves as a member of the Board of Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Missions Convention. He has led several delegations of youth and adults on mission trips to China, England, Jamaica, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, Ghana and Liberia. 

Reverend Oniyama currently serves as the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) United Nations Representative in New York.  He is a member of the Board of the Healthcare Foundation of the Oranges, a member of the East Orange Clergy Association and a recipient of the prestigious Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Grant program in 2005.

He is a graduate of the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where he received the Master of Divinity degree and the winner of Reverend Edward Lodwick Prize for Excellence in Preaching at the Seminary. He received the Doctor of Ministry degree in Preaching from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts.

Reverend Oniyama is married to Teresa Oniyama, and is the father of one son, Jonathan.