John Nixon, II was born to John and Januwoina Nixon in Brooklyn, NY. He is the eldest of three children who grew up in a loving pastoral family which required frequent moves. He has lived in 7 states, 9 cities, and 11 houses. His father, Dr. John Nixon, Sr. is currently the pastor of the Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church in Collegedale Tennessee.
Pastor Nixon is a product of Christian education. He attended San Gabriel Academy and Elementary School in Southern California, and South Lancaster Academy in South Lancaster, Massachusetts. He received his Bachelor of
Arts-Theology from Oakwood College in May 2000, and his Masters of Divinity from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University in December 2004.
He is married to the former April Mendinghall. April is a graduate of Oakwood College, with a BA degree in English. She recently received a M.A. degree in teaching from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI.
John met April when she was 13 years old. His father, then a pastor in Massachusetts, was invited to speak at the South Atlantic Camp Meeting. Elder Vanard Mendinghall was the Youth Director at that time and responsible for the invitation. It was while the two fathers were talking that John and April began to notice each other. They dated for 3 ½ years at Oakwood College. Most of their time was spent together on choir trips as both sang in the Oakwood College Aeolians. In December of 2000 they were married at the Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church in Atlanta, GA.
Pastor Nixon was called to pastor his first church by the South Atlantic Conference in June of 2000. He pastored in the Milledgeville and Dublin District in Georgia. There he preached the undiluted Gospel, which won many souls to Christ. He pastored there for two years and then matriculated to the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University.
Pastor and Mrs.Nixon had a life changing experience in July 2001 when they were in a near fatal car accident. It was then that they realized that the Lord still had a great work for them to accomplish. They rededicated their lives in service and devotion to Him after that horrific experience.
It is their hope that as they become a part of this church family God will use them to fulfill His will in the Immanuel Temple Seventh-day Adventist church by spreading the good news of His second coming.
