Bishop Forrest R. Nance, Jr. is the oldest son of the late Forrest R. Nance, Sr., and Mother Wilma P. Nance. He is married to First Lady Victoria O. Nance has two sons and one daughter and has been blessed with thirteen (13) grandchildren. Bishop Nance is not a novice to leadership. After graduating from King George High School, he enlisted in the United States Army where he served in many leadership positions. Additionally, he attended several schools and universities to further his education. During his twenty-two (22) years of dedicated service to the United States Army, he received many outstanding achievement awards and medals.
After retirement from the Army, Bishop Nance made a commitment to God that he would serve Him with the same dedication and commitment he had afforded man’s army. Upon arrival back in the United States, he joined Pilgrim Holy Temple in King George, VA, served faithfully as an usher, pastor’s aide, and teacher of the Adult Sunday School, and conducted the Wednesday night Bible Study. His faithfulness caused him to be appointed as the church administrator where he monitored the Church’s daily operations. He was ordained Deacon by his Pastor — Bishop Norman White and later, because of the call of God upon his life, appointed as a Minister of the Gospel. In 1998, while still a faithful Minister serving at Pilgrim Holy Temple Church, at the recommendation of his pastor, he was “Ordained Elder” by Apostle Ivan L. Grant, Sr., NFCOG Presiding Prelate.
Upon Bishop White’s departure, he assumed the responsibility of a Shepherd as he continued to teach the people the Word of God under the supervision of Apostle Grant. Bible Study moved into his home, services expanded and overflowed into outdoor tent services, and as attendance grew he was led by God to establish Saints In Christ Church and he was installed as Pastor in 2000.
In 2003 when the National Fellowship Churches of God expanded to include membership levels to its supporting churches, Bishop Nance was led by God for the church to become a Covenant Member and he bears the distinction of being a Founding Member of the Nation of NFCOG. With the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and the support of both his wife and Apostle Grant, the church grew and quickly became an asset to the community. He served as pastor faithfully in King George, VA until such time as God released him and moved upon him in October 2013 to establish Faith Temple in Warsaw, VA having status as a NFCOG Fellowship Church.
His gift has truly made room for him. Over the years, he has remained faithful to his call to preach and teach the Gospel. He serves the National Fellowship Churches of God as a member of the Board of Elders (Pastors), NFCOG Bible Institute faculty member, and has untiringly worked with the Uth4Christ Ministry during its Summer Camp activities. His desire to build the Kingdom of God causes him to reach beyond the boundaries of the Nation of NFCOG to conduct Bible studies and assist other Pastors in their endeavors to train and develop God’s people.
At the divine direction of God, at our 14th Annual Holy Convocation during the delivery of the Annual Message by Apostle Grant, Sr., Presiding Prelate encouraging God’s people to “Receive All from God” (2 Kings 13: 14-19), the message was interrupted as the Holy Spirit through manifestation and power spoke directly to Elder Forrest Nance and pronounced His God-given call to the office of Bishop. This profound move of God came with Pentecostal proportions as all NFCOG Pastors unanimously sanctioned God’s appointment. Because “the mouth of the Lord hath spoken”, during our 16th Annual Holy Convocation in Atlantic, VA on August 10, 2012, he was consecrated to the sacred office of Vice-Bishop to the Nation of NFCOG and bears his God-given title of “Bishop”.
His quest for excellence led him to studies at Grand Canyon University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies (B.A.) with Magna Cum Laude distinction that was conferred upon him during NFCOG Bible Institute’s Baccalaureate Service in August 2013. In July 2020, he earned his Master of Divinity (MDIV) degree from Pentecostal Faith Bible College.
Despite suffering a stroke in 2017 that rendered him unable to walk or talk, his confidence in God’s grace and mercy to fully restore fueled him as he seized the opportunity to witness to other patients and amaze his medical team with his recovery. God indeed healed him and to this day he continues to preach and teach God’s Word.