b'The ReverendAngela Ford NelsonBy Connie RouseSometimes God takes us the long way, across mountains and through valleys, but when we reach our destination, we know that where we are is where God means for us to beAngela Ford Nelson is the wife of the Reverendshe began to master the art of public speaking. She Kenneth L. Nelson, Orangeburg Districtearned the professional designation of a Certified Superintendent, and daughter of Albert Ford and theProject Management Professional PMP, and late Dorothy Hardy Ford of Wedgefield, SC,wheregarnered several awards, including the coveted Royal she and her twin sister, Adrienne Ford White andBank of Canadas Leo Award for excellence and brother, Albert Ford, Jr. were reared.The daughterIBMs President Award. With a successful career, of a career military father, herall she needed was a prince family traveled around thecharming and a castle on the world to countries far andhill to seemingly make her fairy near.Her family worshippedtale complete. She now laughs at Mt. Zion United Methodistrecalling that her life felt like a Church (UMC) in Sumter,Johnny Lee country song where SC for over three decades. Sheshe was looking for love in the attended conference youthwrong places.Angela smiles as retreats and was nurtured inshe recounts how God found the faith by strong womenher and created a space in her of the church like Motherlife that was undeniably Gods Frances Hill, a stalwart in thealone.Like the woman with the UMC,but Angela had no ideaAlabaster Box in Lukes Gospel, of the plans God had in storeI had to learn that real love is for her life. In fact, she hadonly found in relationship with her own plans and accordingChrist.Then, and only then can to her, they included all theone love as Christ loves us she trappings of worldly success. says. Upon graduation fromA Deal With GodWinthrop College in RockWhen Angela was asked to Hill, SC with a Bachelorspeak at a church for Laity of Science degree inSunday in 2001, she says she Business Administration, she went to work in themade a deal with God that she would keep her corporate world, specializing in professional projectjob,but if God wanted her to preach, she would, if management and discovered that she had a naturalHe would supply her the opportunity. She preached ability to lead and manage. She became a businessfor over 10 years before finally pursuing a full-time controls director and consultant in financial services,profession in the ministry. She walked away from her where she thrived. As a manager she was required tosix-figure job in corporate America to complete her train others and speak to large crowds.In so doing,studies at Lutheran Theological Seminary and receive she overcame her lifelong battle with stutteringher Master of Divinity degree and a certification when speaking in large settings, and to her surpriseContinued on page 27IMARA15'