Stories

My name is John Nells. I am the district superintendent of the Southwest Native American District, and I’ve been on this board approximately 28 or 29 years. I go back quite a bit, first as a Native American representative, and along the way progressed to being elected to the general assembly to serve on this board for the past several years.

I am district superintendent of the Southwest Native American District, which is an ethnic district covering the states of New Mexico, Arizona, and part of California. When I became president of the board at Nazarene Indian Bible College in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we established a special relationship with NBC. We were close, and we continued the relationship regarding student development. There were times when I had students that I really inspired and encouraged, and I even brought them to Nazarene Bible College campus in Colorado Springs. When they made an agreement with me as their D.S., I would pull up my trailer, load up their belongings, and take them to the campus of NBC in the surrounds of Colorado Springs, with the agreement that four years later I would come back with that trailer, pick them back up, and take them to a church where I would be assigning them. So, these were the types of relationships that I had with them, and for a period of six or seven years, I had about one graduate a year while we were on campus at Colorado Springs. So, it has been a wonderful relationship as we have developed our relationship with Nazarene Bible College.

One of the precious moments that I have in my life is of all the years I have given as a churchman and as a leader of Native Americans. I got my doctorate in 2008 through the board voting that I receive it, and my honorary doctorate has been through NBC, and I cherish those moments. So, thank you, NBC, for investing in me. That’s why I’ve been a board member for all those years. I’m committed.

And I would say thank you to NBC for their valuable contribution to my life and my ministry; I will be forever grateful. Thank you, NBC.