East Lothian church prepares to welcome newly ordained minister

An East Lothian church is today welcoming a new full-time minister who is resolute that the unchanging Christian message of hope, love and purpose is as "powerful and pertinent as ever".

Alastair Stark will be ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament and inducted to Belhaven and Spott Parish Church in Dunbar at 7pm.

The service promises to be a joyful occasion and will be attended by his proud family, friends, colleagues he trained with and members of the Presbytery of Lothian and Borders.

"Being ordained as a Church of Scotland minister, for me, is the greatest privilege, because I feel that I'm exactly where God wants me to be," explained Mr Stark.

"I first sensed that I was being called to this vocation 10 years ago while working as a member of Ministries Development Staff (MDS) for five congregations in Glenrothes and Leslie in Fife, which I loved.

"Most of my work at the time was focused on youth and children's work in local churches and schools, and I spent my Sundays visiting the different churches in the area.

"Whenever given the chance to preach during this time, I felt a mix of peace and excitement that stayed with me throughout the preparation and delivery of each sermon.

"Each time, I innately knew that I was being compelled to do more of this, to learn more of God's word, and to bring hope and the assurance of God's love wherever I went."

Experience

Mr Stark is 34 and married to Jenny with whom he has two children, Ruaridh, 7, and Isla, 3.

He grew up in St Andrews in Fife and was a member at Hope Park and Martyrs' Parish Church, which is now called St Mark' Church.

Mr Stark worked as an MDS from 2014-2018 then went on to work at Fife College for a year as a guidance adviser, mostly involving one-to-one appointments with students.

He then moved to the University of Dundee to take up a role to encourage fair access to higher education.

In 2021, he left to study Divinity at the University of St Andrews, a three year course that he said firmly spoke of saying "yes to God and stepping out in faith".

Mr Stark spent his probation at Wellesley Parish Church in Methil, Fife, under the supervision of Rev Gillian Paterson.

"My journey to this point represents many years of encouragement, support and prayers from many special people," he added.

"My rich training experience with the Church introduced me to the joy of Christian ministry, where I had the privilege of seeking to bring joy, comfort, purpose, and hope into people's many and varied circumstances, showing them that they are known, loved, and restored to fullness by God in Jesus Christ.

"As I become minister of Belhaven and Spott Parish Church, my aspirations are to continue serving the good people of this amazing community in the same way.

"Only God knows exactly how this will happen, but I can't wait to find out."

Hope

Mr Stark said his journey through life so far has been "immeasurably blessed" but not without challenge because his wife was diagnosed with stage four mouth cancer in 2021, four weeks after giving birth to Isla.

She underwent three operations before having her tongue removed in March 2022.

"News of Jenny's diagnosis, especially so soon after Isla's arrival, came as a real shock to us," said Mr Stark.

"Initially, I was worried about being able to continue in the immediate term on my calling to ordained ministry.

"But we experienced the most incredible groundswell of love and support and from every direction.

"I've learned how God works through even the most difficult times to cultivate perseverance, character, hope, and empathy – all of which are essential for ministry."

Mr Stark said his wife was prepared for the outcome of never being able to speak again.

"In what we consider a miracle, she defied medical expectations, learned to talk and eat again, and even returned to her career as a primary school teacher for our final couple of years in Fife," he added.

"People sometimes ask me whether these events affected our faith, but I can honestly say that they made us even more aware of God's closeness and love.

"Had I known all this was ahead, I may not have considered it the right time to leave a career behind to train for ministry, but, thankfully, God takes the longer view than we do, and I can see now that I was exactly where I had to be."

Mr Stark said his experiences throughout training, including university, placements, probation and the programme of events and conferences, have equipped him for the "privileged task" of being a minister.

"Even if the greatest thing I've learned is to sometimes expect the unexpected, and even if we can't possibly be equipped for every task, we are enabled by God's grace.," he added.

The Church of Scotland continues to go through significant change to adapt to new ways of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ in the second quarter of the 21st century.

But Mr Stark is optimistic and hopeful about the future.

"The world continues to change at an ever-increasing pace, in how people interact and in how they see their place within society," he explained.

"I strongly believe that the Church's unchanging message of hope, love and purpose is as powerful and pertinent as ever.

"That we are made with, and for, a purpose, that we are created, loved, and are more than just temporal matter.

"Amid all the changes and struggles of this fraught planet, Jesus Christ, and his love for everyone, is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

"Each person is on their own unique and special journey, and I'll always be delighted to welcome them to join us as we take our next steps together, knowing and trusting in all things that God is good."

In his spare time, Mr Stark enjoys listening to and playing music, walking along the beautiful east coast, learning new things and spending time with his family.