The Nelson'sPicture of Nelsons

Both Gordon and Estelle were born in Rockford, Illinois and graduated high school there. They were married in 1952.

From 1953 until 1958 Gordon attended Lincoln Christian College and Seminary, Lincoln, Illinois. He graduated in 1957 with honors. During this same period they had two student ministries. One at Calhoun, IL. and the other at Nevins, IL.

In 1958 they answered the call to minister to the young church at Janesville, Wisconsin. After serving at Janesville for 7 years, they volunteered for missionary service to South Africa. They left for South Africa in March of 1965. For the next eleven years they served as missionaries in Cape Town and Kimberley with their primary duty teaching Leadership Training at the "grass-root" level.

In 1976 they returned to the USA. They served as ministers to their home congregation in Rockford, IL. until 1979. That year they moved to Belleview, FL to serve as the first ministers to the new congregation there until 1983.

Since they still had a love for Africa, they answered the call in 1983 to go to the country of Malawi where they once again were involved in Leadership Training. After 8 years in Malawi they returned to South Africa and relocated in East London where they remained until this May of 2001.

Returning to the States they received the challenge and call to a new congregation, the Southwest Christian church in Ocala, FL. There they ministered until February 2006. God blessed their ministry and the congregation grew both spiritually and numerically. And a lovely new church building was erected.

Shortly after that, the Nelson's joined North Citrus Christian Church with Gordon serving as the Minister and Estelle as the Secretary. Since that time, the church has grown and been blessed in many ways.

Gordon and Estelle have four children, eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.