Reverend Richard Nelson
THE FIRST-BORN OF SEVEN CHILDREN OF PEARL NELSON AND THE LATE
JAMES RICHARD NELSON, JR., DEACON RICHARD NELSON WAS BORN IN
NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT ON MARCH 21, 1952. HE IS THE HUSBAND OF
DEACON EDITH MILDRED EDWARDS NELSON AND THE PROUD FATHER OF
TWO CHILDREN, GARRETT DREW, AGE 15 AND ELISHA RENEE, AGE 11. HE
HAS ONE SISTER, SHARON DIXON, THREE BROTHERS, RONALD, PERRY,
AND DANIEL, AND TWO PREDECEASED BROTHERS, WILLIAM AND KENNETH.
RICHARD WAS EDUCATED IN THE NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
UPON GRADUATION FROM RICHARD C. LEE HIGH SCHOOL, HE
MATRICULATED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT. STORRS CAMPUS
WHERE HE STUDIED SOCIOLOGY AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT. HE HAS BEEN
EMPLOYED FOR TWENTY YEARS WITH THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AS A SUPERVISOR, WORKING
WITH EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED CHILDREN, AGES 6-18, AND FINDS THE
JOB TO BE CHALLENGING AND REWARDING.
DEACON NELSON WAS SAVED IN JANUARY, 1988 AND WAS BAPTIZED ON
FEBRUARY 7, 1988, BY REV. DR. PHILLIP CHARLES JOUBERT, SR. AT
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTH NORWALK, CONNECTICUT. IN MARCH
1989, RICHARD BECAME A CHARTER MEMBER OF NEW LIGHT MISSIONARY
BAPTIST CHURCH AND RECEIVED INTO THE FULL MEMBERSHIP ON JUNE 4,
1989.
RICHARD SERVES AS DIRECTOR OF THE NEW LIGHT BOYS CHOIR,
LAYLEADER OF THE NEW LIGHT MEN’S CHOIR AND LAYLEADER OF THE
MEN’S FELLOWSHIP, COORDINATOR OF THE NEW LIGHT BOY’S FORUM,
CONGREGATIONAL COORDINATOR FOR THE NEW LIGHT DOUBLE HONOR
SHEPHERD’S FELLOWSHIP/PASTORAL RELATIONSHIP FELLOWSHIP,
DIRECTOR AND CAMERAMAN FOR THE NEW LIGHT CASSETTE TAPE AND
VIDEO MINISTRY, SUNDAY CHURCH SCHOOL AND CHILDREN’S BIBLE STUDY
INSTRUCTOR, AND MANY OTHER AREAS OF CHURCH LIFE. HE HAS
ACCOMPANIED PASTOR JOUBERT ON TWO FOREIGN MISSIONARY TOURS
TO THE WEST INDIES, BARBADOS, TRINIDAD, TOBAGO, PUERTO RICO, AND
THE BAHAMAS AND WAS BLESSED TO BE USED OF GOD IN PREACHING
THE GOSPEL.
DEACON NELSON RECEIVED THE CALL TO PREACH IN 1991, AND AFTER
MUCH PRAYER AND FASTING, AND FAITHFUL AND CONSTANT SUPPORT OF
HIS PASTOR, ACKNOWLEDGED HIS CALL TO THE GOSPEL MINISTRY.
RICHARD IS A GRADUATE OF THE BLACK MINISTERS CERTIFICATE
PROGRAM AT THE HARTFORD SEMINARY IN HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.
