John Williams Nielson

John Williams Nielson
About This Author

John W. Nielson attended Eastern Nazarene College where he received a BA in religion in 1989. He received a Masters of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary in 1993 and was ordained as an Elder that same year. He then received the Doctor of Ministry degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary in 2013 where is dissertation was called, Developing Practices of Corporate Lament for the Local Parish.

Prior to joining the faculty of Eastern Nazarene College, Dr. Nielson served as the Lead Pastor of the Melwood Church of the Nazarene in Upper Marlboro, Maryland (on the Mid-Atlantic District) for over 24 years. Prior to this assignment, he served the Worship Pastor at St. Paul’s Church of the Nazarene in Kansas City, MO

Currently Dr. Nielson serves at Eastern Nazarene College where he serves as Program Chair for the Department of Religion and Culture, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology, and Music Director for ENC Music. He has a passion for ministerial preparation, worship, and a particular focus on developing practices of corporate lament. He also enjoys music, reading (and listening to audio books), and spending time with family.

He and his wife Amy have three daughters, Bethany (and a son-in-law, Ben), Kathryn (and a son-in-law, David) and Jenna.

In addition to the resources below, Dr. Nielson also has developed the following resources:

A website of lament resources: www.sacredsorrow.org

A Facebook of lament resources: The Sympathyzing Tear