Since 2012, Michael Nelson, pastor of The House of Peace (Assemblies of God) in Jacksonville, Florida, had served as president of the National Black Fellowship of the Assemblies of God. Following six years of leadership to NBF, Rev. Nelson resigned his position effective October 1.

Walter Harvey, pastor of Parklawn Assembly of God in Milwaukee, was named the new president of NBF. He will build on the success NBF experienced under Rev. Nelson’s tenure.

In this Get Set, we celebrate Rev. Nelson’s service and accomplishments as outgoing president of NBF.

INFLUENCE: What is the purpose of the National Black Fellowship, and what is its strategic vision?
MICHAEL NELSON: National Black Fellowship is a movement of hope that is helping to transform communities by developing and deploying African-American leaders, planting and revitalizing churches, advancing biblical justice, and restoring families.

NBF’s strategic vision centers around eight initiatives that enable us to do the things I just mentioned. Among other things, we want to increase the number of African-American churches by 20 percent in the AG. We’re doing this by targeting the 25 largest urban centers in America and providing leadership to both revitalize and plant churches in those communities.

We are also recruiting, equipping and deploying leaders. And we are engaging the next generation of leaders and providing them ministry opportunities.

How does advancing biblical justice help build the Kingdom?
When African-Americans are healed, they will be used to heal the nations. The world needs the voice of the Church to speak to issues of injustice, prejudice and unfairness from a strong, consistent biblical position.

“We are creating diversity in the AG by making sure people of color have a place at the table.”
— Michael Nelson

What are the ongoing struggles of African-Americans in the U.S.?
African-Americans still face a litany of problems in the 21st century: mass incarceration, gang violence, poverty, drugs, education, single-parent households, unemployment, racial disparity, etc. The statistical data for blacks in urban America is, at best, heartbreaking, but there is hope even in the face of these overwhelming odds.

The National Black Fellowship believes the presence of thriving Assemblies of God churches in at-risk communities will lead to redemption lift. We don’t miscalculate the complexity of the problems that plague our great urban metropolises, nor do we underestimate the ability of our God to use those who are His to address systemic maladies that infest our cities.

Under Walter Harvey’s leadership, NBF will continue to impact urban America by forming partnerships across our Movement that will enable the AG to reap a portion of the immeasurable harvest waiting for us in urban America.

How is NBF making a difference in the Assemblies of God?
When I became president, one of the first things the Holy Spirit said to me was, “Bring the family together.” Revelation 7:9 talks about “every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne.”

We are creating diversity in the AG by making sure people of color have a place at the table in the Assemblies of God — not just as adherents, but also in a leadership capacity across our Fellowship.

NBF sponsored a resolution to add an African-American to the Executive Presbytery. We are helping some districts implement resolutions to include black ministers in leadership. We are bringing more African-Americans into the AG as credential holders and church planters. We are working with World Missions to help more African-Americans become missionaries around the world. We have helped recruit African-American authors and writers for AG publications and books.

We have also diversified our NBF REACH conferences. Nearly 30 percent of the more than 300-plus attending this year’s conference in Cincinnati were Caucasian or another ethnicity.

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2018 edition of Influence magazine.