Following Jesus to Seminary: Elorm Ocansey, MDiv – Student Profile
October 2, 2025
As a child marching away from morning assembly at his Christian school in Ghana, Elorm Ocansey and his classmates sang, “I have decided to follow Jesus.” That refrain became the script for Elorm’s life, most recently leading him to New Brunswick Theological Seminary.
At age 12, Elorm immigrated with his family to the United States. Passing through various schools, he made his way to Rutgers University. As a communication and media studies major there, he often parked in the Seminary parking lot, not knowing anything about NBTS. Four years after graduating from Rutgers, Elorm enrolled at NBTS. He wanted to increase his capacity to serve God and earn an MDiv so he could become a chaplain in the National Guard.
The son of a pastor, Elorm has always been committed to a life of ministry. He believes strongly that ministry is a Sunday-through-Saturday proposition, one that is closely tied to advocating for justice. “We pray for the needs of the saints, and the manifestation of God is not restricted to the halls of the church,” Elorm says. “I want to be a tool for implementing the kingdom of God, here and now.”
A key arena of Elorm’s service is housing justice. He believes that everyone should have access to affordable housing—a share in the abundance of American life. Deeply inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Elorm has advocated for racial justice and society’s responsibility to care for the poor.
As a housing access organizer for Fair Share Housing Center in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Elorm helped connect people in need of housing with entities seeking to meet those needs. Now he continues to build community partnerships through the Elorm Ocansey Ministry Foundation.
“Attending NBTS has affirmed my call and equipped me for service,” declares Elorm. In each Seminary course, he learns things he didn’t know he didn’t know—“regular revelations,” he calls them. Elorm is inspired by his professors, “a wonderful mix of individuals committed to righteousness.” His support crew includes the staff at Sage Library, who assist Elorm with research and textbook acquisition.
Based on his Seminary experience, Elorm has become a volunteer recruiter for NBTS. “This space is so nurturing,” says Elorm. “You don’t have to come as a finished product. Here you can grow into your calling in this wonderful community of those seeking to be doers of the Word.”
Elorm’s theological education has deepened his commitment to community development consulting and faith-based political organizing. These roles combine his gifts, his passions, and his growing theological knowledge: “I want to realize the kingdom by being a good neighbor and inspiring others to do the same.”