Nelson has been the pastor of Virginia Heights since 1999, having previously served two other churches as minister. Interestingly, Virginia Heights is the church where he grew up and now considers it a privilege to be “back home” serving a congregation that has meant so much to him in his life. He is a graduate of Radford University (B.A., cum laude) and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (M. Div.). He also has done post-graduate study at Princeton Theological Seminary and with Harvard University. In addition to his pastoral duties,  he is an adjunct faculty member at Virginia Western Community College where he teaches in the areas of religion and philosophy.

He is also a published author, having written for several religious publications (Growing Churches, The Student, Living with Teenagers, The Deacon, The Religious Herald, Church Administration)and now is the author of nine books on the region’s history (Roanoke in Vintage Postcards, Virginia Tech, Roanoke: Then & Now, to name a few) . Various essays have been aired on public radio, WVTF.  As a former mayor of Roanoke, he remains involved in the community through service on local boards notably the Historical Society of Western Virginia, the Grandin Theater Foundation, and the Hotel Roanoke Conference Center Commission. He has also received numerous community awards recognizing his contributions to the life of the city. A father and husband, he knows the spiritual challenges facing today’s families and weaves that experience into his calling.