Founder & Staff

Bishop Joel Nelson, a native of New Roads, Louisiana, was licensed to preach in 1981 and ordained in 1982 by Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Lanham, Maryland. He served for sixteen years as the founding pastor of New Jericho Community Church in Laurel, MD, and spent five years as a pastoral counselor, serving on the Board of Directors for the Prince George’s Pastoral Counseling Center.

In 1999, he joined the staff of the Fredericksburg Baptist Association, supporting over fifty churches in the region. During that time, he played a key role in revitalizing struggling congregations and planting new ones. On April 22, 2010, he and a team of faithful leaders launched New Destiny Baptist Church, where he served as pastor for seven years.

Bishop Nelson is the author of Discovering the 3EEE, a practical guide to spiritual growth that centers on exalting the Savior, equipping the saints, and evangelizing the sinner. He is passionate about making disciples who make a difference.

He is married to Ethel Louise Nelson of Orange, Virginia. Their son, Kevin, resides in Prince George’s County, Maryland.