Life Story

Pastor Odiles Nelson

My Foundation of Faith

I was born into a Christian family. At the age of 10, during a summer youth Bible camp, I accepted Christ as my personal savior. I began teaching children during school holidays, a passion that started during my primary school studies. I grew up in the Eben-ezer Baptist Church in Borgne, Haiti, and later moved to Cap Haitien for high school.

A Spiritual Homecoming

After my studies in Cap Haitien, I moved to the United States. From the very first day, I found a home at First Salem Evangelical Church & Community Center. I loved the church and was baptized there alongside my girlfriend, Luciana. We were later married at First Salem, and our four children were dedicated to the Lord God in the temple there.

The Call to Plant a Church

After some time, for various reasons, my family and I moved from Miami, Florida, to Roswell, Georgia. At the time, there were no Haitian churches in Roswell. After about four to five months, I met a Haitian pastor who was planning to plant a church in the area. We discussed our plans and exchanged phone numbers. Three months later, he called to tell me he had found a space in an American church.

We met, created flyers, and distributed them in the area. We started a Sunday church service on November 16, 1997, with 28 people. From 2000 to 2022, we made three missionary trips with the Mistpa Church in Haiti.

Fulfilling a Purpose

After five years in Georgia, I returned to Miami and to my original church, First Salem Evangelical Church and Community Center. My late pastor, Cedeon Olibrice, encouraged me to attend seminary, which I have done. Today, I am Ordained Pastor Odiles Nelson, and God has blessed me with the opportunity to serve as the spiritual leader of First Salem Evangelical Church and Community Center.