Remembering Dr. Ed Nelson
From the Ed Nelson Evangelistic Association Facebook page:
“Absent from the body… present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8
On March 9, 2022 at 6:33 am, Edward John Nelson entered eternity. The God he served his entire life has finally called him Home. He fought the good fight, he finished his course, he kept the faith. We praise the Lord for the 98 years He gave us with Dr. Nelson. He was a husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, brother, uncle, friend, mentor, and more. And to many of you, he was simply “Pastor” — the under-shepherd of the flock, the preacher of the Word, the man who walked with God and showed others to do the same. He will be missed, but we know we will see him again because of the Savior Jesus whom he loved and served.
Check the Ed Nelson Evangelistic Association page for updates on services.
When I was a student at BJU, Dr. Nelson was a frequent guest speaker. I recall enjoying his messages at Bible Conference (and buying the tapes). When I was home in the summer I would replay the tapes while driving (or with headphones while weeding my mother’s garden). I loved the zeal for the Lord and the Lord’s work that I heard from Dr. Nelson.
Some years later, my wife and I were missionaries with Baptist World Mission. I was in Denver for meetings, staying in the mission house of South Sheridan Baptist Church. Dr. Nelson contacted me and took me to lunch. I’ll never forget his interest in a young missionary. I know others knew him better, but I thought of him as a friend of preachers. Such an encouragement.
A few years ago, I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Nelson about the ministry. I posted the interviews on Proclaim & Defend. You can find links to the transcript below. Unsurprisingly, some of Dr. Nelson’s friends have located them already, thanks to Mr. Google. I thought it would be appropriate to make them a little easier to find.
Dr. Ed Nelson On The Ministry In His Own Words
Dr. Ed Nelson On Church Planting
In 2019, we at the FBFI awarded Dr. Nelson our “Torchbearer Award.” He bore the torch a good long time, and has entered his rest. We praise the Lord for his faithful service and his friendship.
2019 Torchbearer Award – Dr. Ed Nelson
You can get Dr. Nelson’s autobiography here: A Sinner Saved by Grace
— Don Johnson
Don Johnson is the pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
Ed Nelson was truly one of a kind. When I first met him in the summer of 1961, I had the privilege of spending a day with him going to see Charlie Homsher, the founder of Neighborhood Bible Time and checking out a Sunday School bus for sale.
I was with him many times after that, but it was that day that was most defining. I was a 19 yr old college kid and he fellowshiped with me like I was a colleague in ministry. Some of that was because he knew of my dad who had been killed 3 years earlier. But, like many other wonderful men, he nurtured and discipled me.
During that summer of 1961 we learned that Ed had preached in the old town of Dillon, CO. He was opposed and subsequently left the town and did the biblical thing — he shook the dust off his feet and declared God’s judgment on the town. That old town is now at the bottom of the large Dillon Reservoir.
Years later when Ed was preaching an evangelistic meeting for us in St. Paul. I suggested to him the need for an easily accessible preacher’s meeting for the Midwest. He took the leadership and founded the Mid-America Baptist Fellowship. That idea ultimately launched the formation of the FBF Regional meetings.
I also had the privilege of being at South Sheridan the night he came back from his first trip to Eastern Europe. This was several years before the Iron Curtain came down. His message to the church was dynamic. I will never forget the burden and vision that he transmitted to the church that night.
He was also on the Executive Committee of AACS when I was Executive Director. I prized his advice, support and service to me and the association. He was always a great encourager. Precious legacy.