Today we’d like to introduce you to Craig Nelson
Hi Craig, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My Grandparents were from Nebraska and Michigan. My Mom from Pennsyvlania, but I grew up in Latin America. I grew up in Costa Rica, the child of ex-pats, and what some call a Third Culture Kid. Third Culture Kids have parents from one culture, but they grow up in another, and end up belonging to neither completely. This is the experience of many immigrants in this Country, but I experienced in living abroad.
I came back to the United States for college, and lived in New York State. Not the City, but south of Buffalo. So I grew up in an urban environment in Costa Rica, and a rural one in the US. My first real job was working in Human Resources in Waco, TX. I loved the opportunity to help people manage health care issues, retirement issues, conflict. And I loved hiring people. Firing people, not so much.
Wanting to continue in Human Resources, I took a job with the Missions arm of the United Methodist Church, But they had me work on an immigration program in Florida. That brought us to Miami, where we have lived on and off for about 30 years. After three years of schooling in Atlanta, GA, we came back to Miami, and South Florida generally, and have lived here ever since. I love asking people where they are from, because odds are, if I haven’t lived there, I’ve visited there. And I love to hear the stories.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In some ways I feel like I have tripped upwards throughout my life. Opportunities have just presented themselves, I have not planned them, and don’t deserve them. On Graduation Day from college, I had no idea what I was going to do. My girlfriend, now wife, had planned her next move six months in advance. Not me. On the steps of the hall where graduation was held, the Dean of Students called out to me and offered me a two year position. I tripped forward. I could give multiple examples of that.
Amidst the tripping in my life, there have been challenges. My Dad died when he was 62. His dad had died when he was 72. I connected those dots and figured I would die at 52. When I was 50 I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer. The first oncologist said I had about 6 months to a year to live. It looked like my math was right. That was 11 years ago. Modern medicine, change in diet, and the grace of God have brought me “safe thus far” as the hymn says.
When you have a diagnosis of Stage 4 cancer, the diagnosis never leaves you. They may say they can’t see the cancer, but they never say it’s gone. So two years ago I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon cancer. I went through the traditional surgeries and chemo for that, and they tell me I am free of that cancer. I’m still tripping forward!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a pastor. After that two year stint in college, I became a Director of Human Resources for a finance company. I loved that work, the field that the company was in however, was volitile. I eventually felt the call to become a pastor, and have been doing that for the last 30 years.
I don’t know that I specialize in anything, every church that I have served has demanded particular talents that I have sought to hone. Because I grew up in Costa Rica, and hence grew up speaking Spanish, I have had a soft spot for immigrants, and for the creation of churches for ethnic minority folks. People prefer to worship in their personal love language, and I get that, and have sought to aid in that.
That sensitivity led our denomination to ask me to be a District Superintendent. Not unlike a superintendent of schools, I oversaw 83 churches in Monroe, Dade and Broward Counties. We started new churches, and I sought to encourage the ethnic minority churches in those counties. We saw growth at an institutional level, unlike the rest of the Methodist church. I was proud of that, and delighted in watching individuals from all walks of life strive. Institutions only grow when people grow.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I don’t know about risks. But I do think that we should take advantage of all opportunities. We should say yes to things. Too many of us are offered something new, and we say no. So when the opportunity to go sky diving came up, I recruited some guys to… not die alone. When the invitation came to to get certified for scuba diving, I was all in. When I could afford one, I bought a motorcycle. I’ve gotten to an age when jumping on a trampoline is terrifying instead of inviting. But still, I love to go mountain bike riding, jet skiing, taking groups of people to the Middle East, and the rest.
Pastors in my denomination tend to live in housing provided by the church. Hence, when we retire, we are homeless. Several years ago my wife and I jumped into real estate for retirement purposes. I think every pastor should do the same. But the risk adverse amongst us keep us away from doing what is most prudent. Again, I don’t know that I am a risk taker, I just think this Country offers us all kinds of opportunities that we should take advantage of. And be hopeful. And grateful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fumcbocaraton.org
- Facebook: First United Methodist Church of Boca Raton
