Staff
Pastor: Nelson Harris
Nelson Harris was born in Roanoke, VA to Charlie and Gaynelle Harris. Nelson grew up at Virginia Heights and graduated from Patrick Henry High School. After high school, he attended Radford University where he graduated with a degree in Political Science. He then attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC and graduated in December of 1989. Nelson has also done post graduate work at Princeton and Harvard. Nelson has been the pastor at Virginia Heights since 1998.
nharris@virginiaheights.org
Minister of Youth: Rick Pinkerman
rpinkerman@virginiaheights.org
Ministers to Children: Ricky and Phuong Pinkerman
Phoung Pinkerman:
- Graduated from Salem High School in 2003 and James Madison University in 2007 with a Bachelor in Social Work.
- Worked as a counselor (2007-2008) and clinical supervisor (2008-2011) at National Counseling Group.
- Currently working as an individual and family counselor and clinical supervisor at Family Insight, PC.
- Graduated from Salem High School in 1999 and the Institute of Biblical Studies at Liberty University in 2005.
- Served as Youth Pastor for 3 years and Senior Pastor for 4 years at Seventeenth Street Baptist Church.
p_rpinkerman@virginiaheights.org
Organist/Choir Director: Melia Garber
Melia Garber – holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from West University of Timisoara, Romania.
A native of Romania, Mrs. Garber has won numerous piano competitions, including first prize at the prestigious International Piano Competition in San-Bartholomeo, Italy. She also won MTNA competitions in piano at the state and regional levels and won the Concerto Competition while at the University of Tennessee playing the Liszt Piano Concerto in E-flat Major. Mrs. Garber has performed concertos by Bach, Mozart, Liszt and Grieg with the Philharmonic Orchestra of “Banatul” Timisoara, Romania. She also premiered the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra by Ryan Garber in 2005 with the Salem Choral Society. She has been the choir director, pianist and organist at Virginia Heights Baptist church since 2009, and the accompanist for The Chorus of the Blue Ridge. She has been a lecturer in Piano at Hollins University since 2001.
Melia has enjoyed church music all of her life and believes music deeply contributes to the worship experience ad spiritual growth of a congregation. Melia leads a diverse music ministry at Virginia Heights, consisting of a sanctuary choir, praise ensemble, ladies quartet, and youth and children’s groups. She regularly involves special soloists and guest instrumentalists as a part of the church’s overall music program.
Ministry Assistant: Ken Mundy
kmundy@virginiaheights.org
Web Administrator: John Harris
John is a senior at Radford University studying Criminal Justice. If you need to contact him, please send him an email at jharris866@radford.edu