Seeing it Start to End: Pastor Andy Nelson
“I have this plant, but I can’t really see if it grew today… but over the course of a weeks, months, or years, you can see if this plant grew, or at least survived,” Pastor Andy Nelson addressed a group of students.
Pastor Andy Nelson is Morningside University’s campus chaplain. Much like a shepherd, his goal is to tend to the spiritual life of the Morningside community. If faith is important to students, whatever it might look like, his goal is to help them “connect to something bigger than you.”
Pastor Andy worked in a family hardwood flooring business when he was younger. He enjoyed the process of showing up and seeing what the day entails. He appreciates the process of being able to see the start to finish and knowing what he accomplished in between.
Pastor Andy’s knack for seeing things start to end doesn’t begin with plants, and it doesn’t end with physical labor. Instead, he brings faith to the table.
He began cultivating his faith at a young age. His family was super involved with church life and his face became familiar for church-goers. Many people would often ask Andy if he ever thought about becoming a pastor. Through years of discernment, and the pendulum swaying, he became a Pastor.
Faith shapes Pastor Andy’s view of life, death, how to help other people, and life after death. “[Faith] impacts how I live my life,” Pastor Andy said with a smile.
Although he enjoys seeing it start to end, he does admit that “there are days where it feels like all I did was spin my wheels.” He rests assured knowing that weeks, months, or years from now, he may reconnect with a person, and he will see the impact he made.
Pastor Andy is always excited to reconnect with students who he’s worked with in the past. “That’s one of the reasons why I love homecoming so much.”