About the Author

Father Jeffrey Nelson was born and raised in Wisconsin. He attended Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana from 1978-1982, majoring in theology and minoring in vocal music. He graduated from The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago with a Master of Divinity degree in 1986. He earned his Doctor of Theology degree in American Church History from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1997.

Ordained in 1986, Father Nelson served as Associate Pastor of First Lutheran Church in Kearney, Nebraska (1986-1988), Pastor of American Lutheran Church in Fairbury, Nebraska (1988-1991), Pastor to the Campus and Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska (1993-1998), Senior Editor for Youth and Confirmation Resources at Augsburg Fortress, Publishers, Minneapolis, Minnesota (1999-2003), and as a writer and editor for Seasons of the Spirit, an ecumenical, international, lectionary-based Christian education curriculum (2004-2010). He continues to do freelance writing. Father Jeffrey was received as a priest in The Episcopal Church at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Minneapolis, Minnesota in January 2010, where he served as a Priest Associate until being called to serve Church of Our Savior in November of 2010.

Father Jeffrey has three children, Katherine, Anna, and Kurt, and he lives in North Platte with his Yorkies, Lila and Leo. He enjoys reading, music, writing, rollercoasters, movies, board games, and beer.