Our Pastor

Pastor Nelson was born in Pearisburg, VA to Nathaniel and Lue Nelson as one of what would be 11 children. As a young child he was raised in a devoted Christian home where he and his siblings were taught to love and fear God. At a very young age, Pastor Nelson was stricken with asthma but by the grace of God and a sister who knew how to pray, he was delivered and healed. Even then, God had a calling on his life!

At the age of 8, the family moved to Northern Virginia where Pastor Nelson attended Alexandria Public Schools. He met his wife Saundra at the age of 17 and they were later married. Out of this union came two daughters and one son, Buffie, Tenia, and Larry J. As his family was serving God, he tried to out run God but we all know that when the Lord speaks, you MUST listen. After coming down with an illness that could not be explained by him nor doctors, he knew, he had to run to the Savior. As a result, he committed his life to the Lord at the age of 30. Attending Highview Park Christian Assembly, under the tutelage of the late Pastor James A. Reid, he began to study God’s Holy Word and apply it to his life. He also attended Liberty Bible College. As God moved in his life, so did he in the ranks of the church, first as a deacon and then as a Minister. 

In 1998, heeding the call from God to preach the Word, Pastor Nelson started New Hope Trinity Bible Church (NHTBC). NHTBC began meeting at the Merrifield Center in Merrifield, Virginia until the congregation began to grow and more space was needed. The church then begin to meet in the multipurpose room at Luther Jackson Middle School for about 7 years until God blessed them with a building in September 2007 located in Chantilly, Virginia. 

Pastor Nelson has proven to be a true man of God. He is a great Shepherd, a man of integrity, love and is devoted to equipping his people to study the word of God. He often say’s, no one in New Hope will be lost and not know they are because the true, living and powerful word of God is taught there.

Over the years, he has become the Father, Counselor, Granddad and friend to many.