Larry & Nell Reece

Senior Pastors Biography

(Click the links below for pictures and/or more information)

Larry & Nell Reece were born & raised in South Louisiana, about 45 miles from New Orleans. They were both raised in Catholic families and attended the Catholic Church.

After first meeting in 1968, Larry & Nell were married in 1972 in the Catholic Church after a four-year engagement. They have a daughter named Amy, a son named Larry II, and a granddaughter named Marita.

In January of 1973, Larry & Nell were born again & baptized in the Holy Spirit at First Assembly of God Church in Houma, Louisiana. They were saved on the Sunday morning of the first day the new building was opened, the first people to be saved and water baptized in the newly built sanctuary, which is still being used today by First Assembly of God in Houma, Louisiana.

Soon they became tithing members of this church and faithfully attended all services. They served God and began to study the Word of God, which then began to cause their lives to change. Larry was inspired to join the Gideons, and he began to distribute Bibles in hotels, doctor’s offices, and during a visit to the Louisiana State Penitentiary, as well as soul winning on the job. He also witnessed to his family and friends.

During this time was when the Charismatic Renewal fell upon this church. In 1974 the  senior pastors (Rev. Nolan & Janice Akers) of First Assembly of God Church were led to leave the Assemblies of God organization and start (in a public school auditorium) a new Charismatic non-denominational church with over 300 (mostly) new and (some) older Christians. After leaving the Assemblies of God Church, the attendance of the Assembly of God Church (over 300 people) actually remained the same as before Rev. Akers left. God began to work miracles in both churches during this transition period.

Larry and Nell felt led by the Holy Spirit to leave the Assembly of God Church and support Pastor Akers and this new church. They became one of the first tithing & founding members of the new Charismatic church, called Grace Christian Fellowship located in Houma, Louisiana. From day one they were actively involved and faithfully attended Grace Christian, nearly every service, function and Bible study that was available to them.

The Holy Spirit fell on Grace Christian in a mighty way and many signs, wonders and miracles began to happen as God began to move. There were many new converts, causing the church to quickly grow to over 650 people in attendance. Many of these people became members of the church and are still serving God today and several are in the ministry.

Many great ministers came to Grace Christian and ministered on a regular basis including a local evangelist, Jesse Duplantis (who had his first speaking engagement there when he began his full-time ministry – Larry and Nell were in that meeting), and also to name a few, Kenneth Hagin, Jr., David Ingles, Ben Kinchlow, Joe Jordon, Roxanne Brant, Vicki Jamison-Peterson, Capt. John Levier, Howard & Vestal Goodman, The Happy Hunters, Mike Murdock, Jim Clark, Dave Roever, Judson Cornwall, Iverna Tompkins, Sue Curran, Dr. Fuchsia Pickett, Georgian Banov & Agape Force, Music Machine, Charles Greene, Jim Cole, Dr. Wilfred Kent, Marvin Gorman, Mr. Pentecost, Dwight Thompson, G.B. McDowell, Joe Nash and many others.

In a few months after this new church began, the church purchased over 50 acres of land and built a new facility seating over 650 people. A new gymnasium, Christian bookstore and a Christian ACE school were also built as well as a new building housing a 24-hour intercessory prayer center. A Bible College began and an in-house extensive Ministry Training Program in the Church (which Larry & Nell attended both) was started also. They also attended a short intense time of training called “The School of The Holy Spirit”, taught by Rev. Joe Jordan. Larry went through over a year of intensive intercessory prayer training for intercessors, in an advanced school for intercessors that was established in the church.  Through the years Larry has over 6 years of Bible School/College training that was within the churches that he was a part of.  He also taught many times in those Bible Schools/Colleges.

For several years, Larry & Nell were mentored personally by their Senior Pastors for ministry and Larry began to teach in many weekly church bible studies, home groups, the bible school, and later ministered regularly in the main church services on Sunday mornings and Sunday nights. Larry would spend many hours weekly and daily for several years going into the church and the church’s prayer room and interceding and was an intercessor before God for the church and the many people that needed help. God would wake him up many times at night to intercede for others and the church.

In addition to working in the church, Larry began to regularly minister (with his Pastor’s permission) in several (local area) charismatic Catholic meetings for over a year on a weekly basis. Many of these beautiful Catholic believers were saved and touched by God and began to visit the church and then later became members.

Rev. Akers sent Larry to teach and lead worship each week in 2 different home group Bible studies, located 15 - 20 miles away in different locations. Larry faithfully attended and taught weekly until the meetings grew beyond the homes into meeting halls and once established these meetings were turned over to the local hosts of the groups who later became Senior Pastors of their own churches that were initially built by these home groups. These two churches increased thru the years to over 200 people each. Larry helped his Pastor to mentor these leaders during that time.

In 1979, Larry was fully ordained into the ministry by God through his Senior Pastor and the church. During this time Larry was not on paid staff, nor was paid for serving in the ministry. Nell served as a teacher and supervisor in the Christian school for several years and did not accept any income for her service. Larry had a full time job outside of the church and always faithfully tithed and gave from their income.

In 1979, after eight months of prayer and after consulting with their Pastor, Larry & Nell decided to obey the call of God to full-time ministry with Teen Challenge in Pennsylvania. Larry, Nell and their daughter Amy then moved to Rehrersberg, PA to work at the Teen Challenge Training Center (God’s Mountain). Larry was finally in the “full-time ministry” and on staff at Teen Challenge as a counselor and welding/plumbing instructor. They lived and ministered there for one year and then returned to Louisiana at the end of 1980 in order to help Larry’s Mom. During this time at Teen Challenge, God used them in a mighty way, mentoring and ministering to hundreds of troubled young men and boys. Larry also traveled for Teen Challenge and took speaking engagements (with the Teen Challenge Choir) in Pennsylvania and Upstate New York Churches representing the Teen Challenge Training Center and to raise funds for the Center.

While on staff at Teen Challenge, Larry & Nell attended a small church called The Worship Center in Lititz, PA, in which the senior pastor was a recent Rhema graduate. This was (and still is) a Word of Faith type church, affiliated with Rhema Bible Training Center and the late Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin, Sr.. Today that church is a much larger church that is now located in Lancaster, PA. You can visit their website at http://www.worshipcenter.org/about/30.cfm.

Upon leaving Teen Challenge, the Director (Reginald Yates) installed Larry as the Louisiana State Representative for the Teen Challenge Training Center and he was authorized to speak in all Louisiana Churches on their behalf. He also authorized him as an official referral ministry for Teen Challenge.

In 1980, Larry, Nell and Amy returned to Louisiana. Once they returned they attended their home church (Grace Christian) and continued in the ministry at the church. Larry began to assist the Senior Pastor and would regularly teach and preach in the general services as well as weekly home groups and other meetings. He functioned in the pastoral ministry and counseled in the church and also was responsible for several areas of ministry in the church – worship leader, Sunday school superintendent, Cub Scout Master, youth ministry, children’s ministry, tape ministry, sound man, bookstore, security, performing weddings, funerals, etc.

In 1981 the senior pastor of the church became involved in the founding of a large multi-denominational and multi-church Jesus Festival (called “Jesus 82”) held at the local convention center. Larry was the representative for the Pastor and the church. He chaired the committee for all the advertising and fundraising for that first event. Over 2,000 people attended the Jesus ’82 Festival (with an area wide population of fewer than 100,000 people – representing several cities) at the convention center. Larry helped to raise over $50,000 in cash donations for funding that first event. The Jesus Festivals successfully continued for several years to become an area wide annual event. In 1984, Larry was voted in as the Chairman of the Board and served in that position for a period of time. Many people were saved and healed in those meetings. Some of the speakers for the Jesus ’82, Jesus ’83, & Jesus ‘84 Festivals were Evangelist Jessie Duplantis, Christian Comedian Mike Warnke, Pastor Charles Green, Pastor Frank Bailey, Catholic Evangelist Kerry Bush, Pat Robertson when he was running for President, Keyboardist and singer Randy Cutlip (from the rock band “3 Dog Night”) and several other well known guest ministers.

In late 1982 Larry and Nell noticed a change in doctrinal beliefs and teachings in their home church. This caused them great angst and concern due to their personal doctrinal convictions and the church regarding those doctrinal changes.

They maintained great love and respect for their pastors but after much prayer, God directed them to leave the church, which was a very difficult decision to make. Even today, Larry and Nell have a great love and respect for Rev. Nolan and Janice Akers. They feel that Pastor Akers was the greatest Pastor they have ever known, and a true Apostle of the Faith, and was privileged to serve under their awesome ministry and leadership. Rev. Nolan and Janice Akers were graduates of Southwestern Bible College of the Assemblies of God. Their area of training was in education and both obtained their Masters degrees. At that time, Pastor Akers was under the covering of their Pastor who was Rev. Judson Cornwall.

Once leaving their home church of 9 years and after much prayer, God began to deal with Larry and Nell about starting a new church. They obeyed God and started a church called The Worship Center. This new church began in a home with 12 people and then moved into a local Motel meeting room and later moved into a beautiful building that they rented in the downtown area.

After a month or so, the church grew to 20 people and shortly afterwards grew to over 100 people in a 30-day period. Much of the growth was new converts who accepted Christ because of much intercessory prayer, street ministry and soul winning efforts everyday and after weekly intercessory prayer meetings that were held at the church.

Every Mardi Gras Larry would preach in front of the church to thousands of people that were sitting and standing there waiting for the parade to come by. People would actually come up during the alter call in front of thousands of people and accept Christ as their Savior.

Over 200 people attend their first year celebration, which was a full week of meetings. One of the main speakers in that event was Evangelist Jessie Duplantis, Pastor Frank Bailey from New Orleans, and a Pastor of a large church in California who was mentored by Dr. Fredrick K.C. Price, as well as Evangelist Mark White, Dean and Mary Brown and others. Until recently, Pastor Frank Bailey was still Georgian & Winnie Banov’s pastor and at that time he was the Pastor of Evangelist Jessie Duplantis. Their church is a powerful River Church today in New Orleans, LA. That one-year celebration was held at The Worship Center’s building and also at Larry & Nell’s former home church building (Grace Christian Fellowship), with their former pastor’s help and support.

The Worship Center was considered a Word Church or a Word of Faith type of church, which later affiliated itself with Word of Faith Family Church in Dallas, Texas, with a satellite downlink for live satellite service broadcasts into the church from Dallas, Texas. Of over 1500 churches nationwide receiving these satellite broadcasts, The Worship Center was satellite church # 511. They received teaching and ministry live via satellite and through attending conferences, and its live via satellite Bible School with ministers like Kenneth Copeland, Norvel Hayes, Jerry Seville, Charles Capps, Lynn Mink, Marilyn Hickey, Charles Neiman, Hilton Sutton, Robert Tilton, R.W. Shambach, T.L. Osborn, Charles Neiman and many other Word of Faith Ministers.

They had many guest speakers minister in their church to include Dr. Michael Landsman (who is now a faculty member of Rhema), and Buddy Bell Ministries (who were under the leadership of Buddy Harrison the owner of HarrisonHouse.com – also the son-in-law of Kenneth E. Hagen Sr. – and founder of FCF an international association for Word of Faith ministries) to provide formal training courses on The Ministry of Helps at their church and was able to receive this training themselves as well.

Larry was very active in the community and volunteered as a Chaplin of the Sheriff’s Department and visited the jails regularly to minister to inmates there. Larry was invited to speak for Right to Life in the Court Square of the City with the Catholic Bishop Boudreaux where he and the Catholic Bishop spoke before thousands of people.

Larry was involved in helping two Christian candidates run for public office. One ran for Sheriff and the other for Parish President (Mayor). Even thought they did not win their races, they were the next strongest candidates and were very close to winning. The person who ran for Sheriff later passed away and Larry ministered at his funeral. That candidate had attended The Worship Center many times with his family and some of his staff before he died. He was probably one of the wealthiest men in the city. God gave favor to Larry with this man’s family and God allowed him to minister to them on numerous occasions. Larry often told them to leave their checkbooks home and just come to church and be blessed because the church didn’t want their money but God did want their hearts.

The church started an FM cable radio station, CJIL (standing for Christ Jesus is Lord!) that was heard on cable TV – the first cable radio station in the area. The station was located inside the rented downtown church building. Larry and another leader (Mike Bailey) in the church contracted a person named Mike Venditti (this is the person that rebuilt the radio station near Del Rio, Texas in Mexico called XERF AM Radio, the one that years ago made Wolf Man Jack famous – a 250,000 watt AM station – the worlds most powerful AM radio station, reaching 25% of the worlds population). Mike Venditti interviewed Larry on XERF for over an hour at full power. New radio equipment was purchased and the church began to broadcast on cable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Christian programming from inside the church building.

Larry and Mike Bailey entered into a purchase agreement and took responsibility for a 1,000 Watt AM (KAGY AM Radio) Christian Radio Station located near New Orleans, Louisiana and began to broadcast Christian programming throughout the region. The church radio station also began to host the Christian Skate Night at the local skating rink, providing the station DJ for its live music. Larry and Mike Bailey were instrumental in talking the local skating rink into having a Christian skate night and it was very successful. Larry also had a radio program (called The Seed Sower Broadcast) on those stations, which was broadcasted twice daily.

As the church grew, they needed more room and took over an old closed down two-story hotel building, which they began to renovate for the ministry. At first, the Church offices and a bookstore were located there. Later, it was mainly used for the children and youth ministries since the main church building was running out of room. This building was only one city block from the main church building and was in short walking distance.

The church became involved in a joint ministry project with one of its Associate Pastors in which they renovated and opened up what was previously a closed down barroom/nightclub. It was re-opened as a full-time Christian Outreach Center, Coffee House, and Christian bookstore, ministering daily to hundreds of local people. Today, that former Associate Pastor (Rev. Chris Antee) is a Senior Pastor of a successful church that he planted in that area and a very successful businessman owning several businesses.

In addition to the old hotel building and the Outreach Center, they later entered into a purchase agreement and took over the old local TV Station/Studio Building. They began to renovate this building and also moved their offices and Bible School (Word of Faith Bible Training Center – which was live via satellite) into it. It was later planned to become the main church facility.

During this time of growth in the church, things began to change in the congregation and the leadership. One of the leaders (an Associate Pastor) left the church and about 50 people left with him. They went to another church which had been meeting in a home as a home group. After they started attending that home group, the leader of that home group decided to start a church with the 25 people they had and the 50 people that left the Worship Center. This new church was being led by Pastor Jules Boquet and was attended by Evangelist Jesse Duplantis, the Pastor’s brother in law. This was a shock to Larry and he began to go before God for answers. Larry and Nell continue to love that former associate pastor (that former associate pastor's name is not mentioned here) and his family who served faithfully in the ministry with them and are pastor's of their own church today.  May God richly bless them.

In 1985, after much prayer, and counsel from Pastor John Osteen (of Lakewood Church – Pastor Joel Osteen’s Dad), Larry and Nell obeyed God and merged their church with Pastor Jules Boquet of Christian Community Fellowship, which is now called Harvest Cathedral. They now have a new facility that seats over 850 people and is debt free. Dr. Jules Boquet currently has regular TV and radio programs airing every week and continues to pastor that church today. God is really moving in the church.  Pastor Jules Boquet is a wonderful pastor, and God has really blessed him.  Larry and Nell have a tremendous amount of respect and love for him and his family, as well as the church.

After a short time of attending that church, Larry and Nell left to ease the transition of both churches. A few months later after leaving the church, Larry and Nell felt the Spirit once again wooing them back into Pastoral ministry . An opportunity was presented and they purchased a closed down church about 10 miles away from their previous church and started a new church called Word of Faith Family Church. Within three weeks they had over 75 new people from that local area in regular attendance to include a complete band and worship team.

At the same time, Larry & Nell (mentored) a couple who were graduates of Norvel Hayes’s Bible College and former members of The Worship Center to pioneer a new church called House of Prayer For All People in a city about 30 miles away. Larry & Nell traveled every Sunday night to lead worship and mentor the Pastors of that new church. That church quickly grew to approximately 75 - 100 people.

While Larry was Senior Pastor of Word of Faith Family Church, he became involved with the Louisiana Gospel Music Association and became the official Area Coordinator for the Association. He traveled with the Founder and Chairman of the Association and conducted talent search events in which those who qualified would be scheduled to minister in large citywide and statewide events in New Orleans and other cities throughout the State of Louisiana. They were also featured on the Louisiana Gospel Music Television Program in New Orleans.

Larry also set up a large Gospel Tent on their church property for a one-week talent search event and selected talent to put on the television program for the Association which Larry Co-Hosted with the Chairman and Founder of the Association, Rev. Joe Daugherty. The topic of the TV Program was “How to get your songs aired on radio stations”. The Chairman and Larry interviewed Mike Bailey who was Larry’s partner (and program director) in the 1000 Watt AM KAGY/ Radio Station near New Orleans.

One of the many singers selected for this TV event was a former 50’s and 60’s rock n roll star name Reuben Bergeron, (stage name “Jerry Raines”), who wrote and sang two top hit rock n roll songs, “Our Teenage Love” and “Dangerous Red Head” back when he was a teenager. Reuben accepted Christ when he found a $20.00 bill tract that was put out on the streets during Mardi Gras one year by someone who attended The Worship Center. After reading it, he gave his life to God and showed up in The Worship Center, becoming a faithful member of the church. Larry began to mentor him and still hears from him even today on a regular basis.

Larry first met Reuben when Larry’s family owned a large dance hall back in the 1950’s and 1960’s, where “Jerry Raines” performed at the peak of his rock n roll career. This dance hall was one of the larger dance halls (it held about 1000 people – and was packed out most every week for many years) in Louisiana and was similar to the Louisiana Hay Ride (where Elvis performed). Some of the famous rock n roll stars played at their dancehall (called the “Jolly Inn”) back in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Larry’s family owned the Jolly Inn for many years and Larry lived in the building as he was growing up as a young child. Their house (living area) was actually in the barroom part of the dancehall. Larry and his brother (who died in an auto accident when Larry was 26 years old) shared a bedroom in the storeroom where the beer and bar supplies were stored. Larry would eat breakfast, lunch and dinner sitting at the bar with the customers every day and night for many years. He would do his school homework sitting at a card table in the bar. Larry’s family owned numerous bars, nightclubs, restaurants, a casino that was part of that dancehall, etc. from the time he was a child until he was in his early 20’s. He was raised around this type of business environment all the early years of his life prior to being saved.

Larry and Nell were pastors of Word of Faith Family Church for about 2 years, until the oil industry crashed, and work became scarce in the area. Larry’s local business was in a downturn and he sought a new partner and started a new business venture, which brought them to Virginia Beach in 1987 & 1988.

After arriving in Virginia Beach and having his new business established, Larry then moved his family to live here with him. Larry, Nell and their children visited several churches in the area to include, Open Door Chapel, Faith Acts Church, and Beach Fellowship after they moved to Virginia. Their children were attending the children’s ministries mostly, with Larry and Nell attending the churches somewhat but not faithfully.

Once in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Larry began to go through burnout and stopped attending church on a regular basis. He began to focus his attention on business and making money and turned away from his faithful walk with God. In the early 1990’s, after 3 years in this backslidden condition, he began to talk to God and ask him to direct Him to a church where people really loved God and were real and sincere and a church where people would love him. He told God that if he could find this type of church he would turn back to God and get his life back together.

At that time Larry and Nell lived in the Great Neck area of Virginia Beach down the street from First Assembly of God Church. They would pass in front of that church every day and as they would go by it, God would speak to them about visiting it. So after a while they decided to visit and they fell in love with the church and the people. Larry then came back to God and God began to change his life. Larry sat for 5 years refusing to get involved in leadership until he had his life together. During the first year they attended First Assembly, the people nominated Larry to become a Deacon, but Larry refused and said he was not yet ready to be a leader.

After 5 years of their faithful attendance and financial support of the church, Larry was nominated again as a Deacon. After careful prayer, Larry was inspired by God to accept that position. He was nominated to be on the nominating committee for 2 terms and to be a Deacon, which he accepted.

As a Deacon with First Assembly, Larry’s first order of business was to vote on the merger of the First Assembly of God Church and the Church of the Redeemer and to bring back Pastor Wally Odum as the pastor and also for the church to leave the Assemblies of God Organization. Pastor Wally Odum was the former pastor of First Assembly for many years until he left the Assemblies of God Organization several years prior. After much prayer, Larry and 5 other Deacons voted for the merger and for the church to become independent from the Assemblies of God Organization. This merger actually made history in the church because this type of thing had never happened before. This merger was even written up in Christian Magazines.

The pastor of First Assembly at that time was Pastor Kurt Fox who also voted for the merger and to leave the Assemblies of God Organization.

Pastor Fox was previously the Executive Presbyter of the Potomac District of the Assemblies of God. Pastor Fox was truly a loving pastor to Larry and Nell and was a major positive influence on their lives and was instrumental in bringing Larry back to God. Larry and Nell still have a great love for former Pastor Fox and his family.

First Assembly of God Church then became Church of the Redeemer with Pastor’s Wally and Gwen Odum. Larry and Nell remained on the Board of Directors of the church, which was called the Ministry Council, and remained on that Council as long as they attended there.

At that time Senior Pastors Wally and Gwen Odum were deep into the River of God and the Church was a powerful Renewal Church. Many wonderful things happened at that church as God moved in such a marvelous way. Pastor Wally Odum was (and still is) a wonderful man of God and God really used him to minister in the church. The church was truly in revival and had weekly meetings where God truly showed up and blessed the masses. There were many conferences and special meetings with speakers like Evangelist Gil Howard-Browne, Pastors John and Carol Arnott, Georgian Banov, Darrel Stott, David Cartlidge, Al Fury and many others.

Every Sunday night at Church of the Redeemer for several years, churches throughout the Hampton Roads Area came together for Revival/Renewal Services with hundreds of people in attendance basking in the Presence of God. Those Sunday night meetings were actually called the Hampton Roads Revival Center as hundreds of people from many churches and their pastors and leaders came together under one roof to be in the Presence of God. It was truly awesome! Week after week, God was showing up and touching everyone who came. What a powerful move of God!

At that time Larry and Nell were involved as leaders in the prayer ministry at the alters during these meetings. Also Larry and Nell started a home group at their home every week for the church and under church leadership. There were regularly 25 to 50 people each week for several years coming to these home group meetings in their home. Many of the people that later became leaders in the church faithfully attended those home group meetings. The Presence of God was tangible in every home group meeting and God touched everyone in each meeting.

God led Pastor Wally Odum and Evangelist Dallas Plemmons to ordain Larry into the ministry at Church of the Redeemer. This was a blessing to Larry because he thought he would never go back into the ministry again.

After a few years, Wally Odum was led to bring Steve Kelly in as Senior Pastor of the Church and soon the name changed to Virginia Beach Christian Life Center, which is now called Wave Church. Larry and Nell continued to serve on the Ministry Council and as leaders praying each service for people at the altars. After Pastor Steve Kelly arrived at the church, new people began to come and the church began to grow. Pastor Kelly was formally on staff as an Associate Pastor with Hills Christian Life Center in Australia, also known as the Hillsong Church.

The Church began to focus on evangelism and many new people came and made decisions for Christ. After a period of time in which Pastor Steve Kelly was at the church, God directed him to ask Larry and Nell to step into the position as Senior Area Pastors. God had already confirmed that with Larry and Nell even before Pastor Kelly asked them if they would accept the position. This position was responsible for being over pastoral care by zip codes for over 1,200 families that attended the church. As Senior Area Pastors they were also responsible for all home groups as well as calling every person in the church each week to provide ministry for those in need. Larry and Nell had six couples that were Area Pastors working with them, each being each responsible for a different zip code area. Larry and Nell’s zip code area was the zip code that the church was in. Larry would regularly teach the leaders of home groups at the Vision Strategy meetings. Larry and Nell remained faithful at the church and were faithful in their financial support of the church.

In 1999 and 2000, God began to deal with Larry and Nell for 8 months regarding several people that left the church and would not come back and who needed a pastor. Larry and Nell felt that God wanted them to be there for those people as a pastor. God was directing Larry and Nell to leave the church that they loved and was with for several years. After much prayer, Larry and Nell decided to obey God and leave the church, which was such a hard thing to do when you love everyone and cannot go back once that decision was made. It was hard to leave quietly when they were in the position that they held in the church at the time. But they had to obey God.

During a meeting with his pastor, Larry broke the news to him and naturally it was difficult for everyone. After that meeting, Larry and Nell made the decision not to contact anyone from the church and if anyone contacted them to have them contact their pastors. This was done to protect the church from any discord. It was hard for them to leave and lose their friends who they loved at the church. But they did. Even till today, many people who attended that church still do not know what happened to them. Larry and Nell still love those people today and truly miss them. Larry and Nell still love Pastor Steve and all the leaders at that church. May God richly bless them!

After leaving the church, Larry and Nell then being lead by The Holy Spirit got together with those that were not attending church anywhere and started Tidewater Area Christian Fellowship. Prior to leaving the church and before starting this new church, Larry said to God, if You have no one else to pastor this church, then he would do it. And God took him up on it! By the way, God said through a prophecy that Larry and Nell were not his first choice and they believe it. Tidewater Area Christian Fellowship has now been meeting every week since. Larry and Nell are currently the Senior Pastors of Tidewater Area Christian Fellowship. They meet every Sunday night at the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel in Virginia Beach, Virginia. They are also tithing members of the church.

This church is a very awesome church and the River of God and the Presence of God is always present in a marvelous way. God has anointed Larry and Nell as Pastors and it is evident to all who attend the church. God has used Larry since the early 1970’s in the Prophetic Ministry, Pastoral Ministry, and Teaching Ministry, Evangelistically and now with an Apostolic Anointing. God is so awesome.

Larry is currently ordained by Tidewater Area Christian Fellowship and was recently ordained as an Apostle of Jesus Christ by God through a Church called Glory House Ministries in Austin, Texas. This church in Texas is also in fellowship with Georgian Banov. Larry was reluctant to allow them to ordain him as and Apostle but God directed him to allow them to do so. Larry still likes to be known as a Spiritual Dad or Pastor, so please don’t call him an Apostle. Larry has no desire to become a famous preacher or to travel all over as an Evangelist, but loves just to be a Pastor/Servant Leader here in Virginia Beach. Larry and Nell look to Evangelist Gil Howard-Browne (Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne’s older brother) as their pastor and who regularly ministers at the church.

Prior to coming to Virginia, Larry spent over 1000 hours behind the pulpit ministering the Gospel of Christ. And he is still doing that today on a weekly basis. Many people that he led to God and/or mentored in Louisiana are still in ministry and several of them are Senior Pastors of Churches today. Also he still receives phone calls from many people he mentored in Louisiana. One woman in Louisiana that asked Larry to perform her wedding who was not born again at the time but her husband attended Grace Christian Fellowship, was told that Larry would only perform that wedding if she accepted Christ as her Savior. And she did. Today she is a Senior Pastor of a church in Houma, Louisiana with over 200 people in attendance. Larry discovered this just a few years ago when he went to Louisiana and this pastor contacted him through his Mom. Larry had a chance to visit that church and go to lunch with her and her husband. That church is a Spirit Filled church and moving in God today. God is so awesome, isn’t He!

Larry and Nell have personally seen God perform many miracles and signs and wonders through the years. They believe that God heals today and have seen hundreds, if not thousands, healed by God. They still walk and live by faith. They live by faith and they also teach it as well. Through prophetic preaching and teaching under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, many are being touched today in their ministry.

Larry and Nell currently work in the secular marketplace and do not receive any financial support from their church. Throughout all their years of ministry, Larry and Nell only received income when they were on staff for Teen Challenge and that was in the amount of $75 per week, which later increased to $95 per week. They were allowed to live in a 2-bedroom mobile home and eat everyday at the Center. When they were Senior Pastors of The Worship Center they received a small income for 2 months. They have received no other income in all the years of ministry. They have always tithed from their incomes as well as giving offerings above their tithes.

Currently, Nell works as an Executive Assistant to a Vice President at EVMS and was previously the secretary at the Jones Institute for Dr. Mason Andrews (who recently passed away), the former Mayor of Norfolk and City Councilman. She has been employed at EVMS & CHKD for over 15 years. When Nell worked at the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, she was asked to serve on the Ethics Committee, which she did for several years.

Larry is currently working in the construction industry. Until recently Larry was the Director of Finance for Globe Iron Construction Co., Inc. in Norfolk, Virginia. He was employed at Globe Iron for 7 years until December 2006. He is now working for one of his former vendors who he helped to start a business (and it’s a Christian owned company). For over 20 years Larry has been a successful businessman.

Larry has been very active in the business community in many ways. He served on the Economic Development Committee for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce in Richmond, VA. He was the corporate liaison and an advisor to the Virginia Round Table, which represents over 5,800 Churches in Virginia. He served as the Corporate Director for the Mid Atlantic Compassion Network, representing thousands of Churches in over 6 States.

When Larry and Nell were pastors at the Worship Center in Louisiana in the early 80’s, Jesse Duplantis when preaching at the church, prophesied over Larry and said that one day God would put him before Kings and Heads of State. Larry thought, yea right…

Well since then, many years later, Larry had the opportunity to meet with Heads of State, many top government leaders from the USA and many countries from around the world. He went on a trade mission in early 2001 to Saudi Arabia which was sponsored by the State of Virginia and the US Saudi Business Council. After spending a week in Saudi Arabia and having the opportunity to meet many of the top 100 business owners in Saudi Arabia on a one on one basis, he was also able to be on their local TV and newspapers as a result of these meetings in three main cities. Larry met with the Minister of Finance, Minister of State, Minister of Oil and Natural Resources, Sr. VP of Saudi Aramco, Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund, Executive Director of the World Bank, one of Osama Bin Laden’s Brothers, CEO of Exxon Mobil for the Middle East, CEO of Bechtel for the Middle East, Executive VP for Phillips Petroleum, Former CEO for Texaco in the USA, President of Chevron in the Middle East, some top religious leaders and many others from Saudi Arabia.

He was given the opportunity to get to know and meet people such as the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Deputy Prime Minister of Kuwait, the Ambassador of Kuwait to America, Ambassador of Ethiopia to America, Ambassador of China to America, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to America, the top government officials for Uzbekistan and many others from several other countries.

Larry’s picture is in several issues of the magazine for the US Saudi Business Council and one year his picture was on the cover of the magazine at the end of 2001. Also there was a feature story about the Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia in the Virginia’s Commerce Quarterly (see page 14) magazine. That magazine chose to put Larry’s picture in their article as well. God has truly given him favor in the business world. Also you will find articles in which he was interviewed for the company he worked for in the Virginian Pilot, US Business Review, North American Industry and The Manufacturer magazine twice. These were all full-page articles. He had the opportunity to design a sculpture for Virginia Tech, which cost $85,000. This was also reported in several magazines mentioning Larry as well as showing the picture of the sculpture on the cover of another national magazine.

Yea right… We should never underestimate what God will do. Who thought that the Jesse Duplantis’ prophesy to Larry would come true? But God did it anyway. Well the story continues.

(Click here for pictures from Louisiana)