Kevin and Debbie Nelson

Kevin and Debbie Nelson have been with One Mission Society since 1995 when they served for a year in Rybinsk, Russia, with The CoMission. While there, they trained public school teachers to use a Christian Morals and Ethics curriculum and led a youth Bible study.

In 1998, they began their career assignment in Yaroslavl, Russia, with One Mission Society’s Every Community for Christ (ECC). In Yaroslavl, their responsibilities included English youth ministry, language study and working with ECC team members. Kevin also served as a construction consultant for work teams that went to Russia.

In 2001, the Nelsons moved to Moscow and worked at the Moscow Evangelical Christian Seminary for two years. Debbie taught English and Kevin served as student advisor and mentor. He was also a member of the seminary student ECC team. In 2003, the Nelsons were preparing to return to Moscow when Kevin was unexpectedly denied entrance into Russia.

Soon after this, the need for an English teacher and construction/graphics consultant was made known on the developing OMS Ukraine field. In 2004, the Nelsons moved to Kiev, Ukraine, and worked with the Ukrainian-led International Partnerships to reach the professional community with Christ. They assisted a church planting team in Kiev through graphic design, youth ministry and teaching English.

Lebanon, Oregon, is the stateside home for the Nelsons, and they are members of the Evangelical Church. Kevin has taken courses in engineering and graphic design from several universities and worked in construction. He finished a professional photography course through New York Institute of Photography. Debbie has a B.S. degree in elementary education from George Fox University and an M.A. degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Azusa Pacific University. She has taught elementary school in the United States and English to adults in Russia and Ukraine.

Currently, the Nelsons are serving in Kiev, Ukraine, for their fourth term with One Mission Society. They continue working with the Ukrainian-led International Partnerships to reach the professional community with Christ. They also minister to university students through outreach events and discipleship.