Southern Baptist Pastor Nelson Price Dies at 94 after Decades of Faithful Ministry

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Nelson Price, a prominent Southern Baptist Convention pastor, passed away on Saturday at the age of 94.

Price served as the lead pastor of Roswell Street Baptist Church for 35 years, growing the congregation to over 10,000 members and making it one of the largest congregations in the SBC, according to an obituary on his life.

Allen Jackson, pastor at the Georgia-based Dunwoody Baptist Church, remembered Price as a "modern-day hero to me and an example of a shepherd."

Jackson also shared that he and Price became friends as adjunct professors at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Price helped his father turn to Christ.

"In 1998, my Dad came to faith, but because of his health, he could not attend church. Dad told me he found a guy on television that he really liked and was watching every Sunday," Jackson explained. "It was Dr. Price, and when I told him about it, he called my Dad personally and welcomed him to his church."

Mike Anderson, longtime friend and senior pastor at Church of the Ridge, told Atlanta News First that Price "was just one of those big spiritual giants."

Richard Land, executive editor of The Christian Post and former president of the SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, remembered hearing Price preach in the chapel at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary back in the 1960s.

"He did a wonderful job, got a standing ovation," Land told The Christian Post. "It became evident that he was going to be a significant pulpit presence in Southern Baptist life for the rest of the century."

He added that Price was "a great man of God" and he was "always gracious, supportive, and helpful" when Land served for the SBC.

In addition to the pastorate, Price also served in numerous leadership roles, including Chairman of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes' National Board of Trustees (1999–2005), president of the SBC Pastors' Conference (1987), and president of the Georgia Baptist Convention (1982–1983). Price also served on the boards of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Louisiana College.

Additionally, Price authored 20 books and hosted a widely watched television and radio program called "Come Alive," the Christian radio station at WFTD l080 AM. He also launched a local ministry called Love Life, Inc., which oversees a pro-life pregnancy care center, and The Clay Home, which serves as a home for unwed mothers.

In 1977, Price preached a sermon to former President Jimmy Carter and his cabinet during Carter's inauguration.

Price leaves behind his wife of 70 years, two children, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Photo Credit: ©Facebook/Tom Melzoni

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.