Our Founder
The Reverend Nelson R. Gabriel is the Founder of Unity in the Community, in Kansas City, Kansas. He is the former Senior Pastor of the Handy Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Ministry Chair of the Marshall Ministerial Alliance, and Youth Advisor of the Marshall NAACP Youth and College Division.
Rev. Gabriel was born to Mildred Gabriel and Nelson Robertson as their only child. He attended catholic school in New Orleans, LA., and received his GED from the Texas Education Agency. He is presently attending Donnelly College in Kansas City, KS.
Rev. Gabriel was baptized in 1975 at an early age and served under the leadership of Pastor Freddie H. Dunn, Sr., at the New Hope Baptist Church in New Orleans, LA. In 1988 he began to preach the gospel and was licensed and ordained by the late Rev. Junior Hunter, Pastor, Second Good Shepherd Missionary Baptist Church in New Orleans, LA.
Rev. Gabriel has taken advantage of many opportunities to serve the Lord and his community in various diverse positions at the state and national levels. He has served as a Louisiana Democratic Representative, in which he was the youngest elected official in both the State of Louisiana, and the United States of America. His further civic accomplishments include serving on the board of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and a member of the NAACP.
Rev. Gabriel is the proud husband of the former Dola C. Williams, and together they have six children, three boys (Damielle, Craig and Coby) and three girls (Carlai, Chalee and Neichelle).
Rev. Gabriel is a local and national speaker where he is known as a "people" person. His travels have taken him throughout the nation, where he has ministered the word of God.
