Hi John,
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants. Psalm 116:15
It is with great sadness that I share with you that Human Coalition’s Vice President of Government Relations and the Executive Director of Human Coalition Action, Reverend Dean Nelson, passed out of this life into his eternal reward.
Reverend Nelson died Saturday surrounded by his wife and children after a heroic battle with cancer. It is truly heartbreaking to lose such a man of God, leader, and friend.
It would be impossible to overstate Rev. Nelson’s contribution to the pro-life cause. He lived this vocation walking in the footsteps of his hero, slavery abolitionist and statesman Frederick Douglass. Like Douglass, Rev. Nelson had the soul of a lion on fire to rescue the innocent from injustice. And, like Douglass, he used his gifts of speaking and diplomacy to win the hearts and minds of leaders and culture to the cause of LIFE.
Reverend Nelson was a stalwart figure of the pro-life movement, a tireless worker for the right to life and a man of humility, strength, and grace. We are immensely privileged to have worked alongside him, and grateful to have known him.
The pro-life movement has been blessed over the years with certain leaders who exhibit extraordinary levels of virtue and an unequaled passion for the mission. Reverend Nelson was one of these heroes. He was a consummate bridge-builder, possessing great patience and grace as he united leaders of churches and pro-life groups around the mission of life. He never stopped or slowed down this work, even during his illness in these last months. He was a true man for others, devoting himself to the service of the most vulnerable.
To know the kind of man that Reverend Dean Nelson was, you don’t have to look any further than a portion of a note from his wife about his passing: “He was lifting his hands to praise God until the very end.”
He shepherded souls in his life and I know that on Saturday afternoon, Jesus the Good Shepherd was there to announce the longed-for words, Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Master.
I join you in grieving the loss of the incredible leader, statesman, believer, and friend who was Dean Nelson. As we mourn together, please pray for Human Coalition and Human Coalition Action, that we may carry on the legacy of rescue and faith that Reverend Nelson modeled to the end.
God bless you,
Jeff Bradford
President
P.S. – If you have a story about Reverend Nelson that you’d like to share, reply with that story to this email. I’d be honored to receive it and share it with his family.
