Pastor Charles
Lead Pastor

Name: Charles B. Nestor II

Read my blog

Position: Lead Pastor

Birth Date: March 13th

Wedding Anniversary: December 18, 1993

Wife: Mary Jo

Children:Trey loves music, swimming and sharks.

Jacob loves music, playing with Trey and Shamu.

Luke Charis was born on March 3, 2006

Background:
I grew up in Florida, Virginia, New York and Illinois. My Father, who is a pastor, had many different ministry opportunities in those areas. I graduated from high school in Oak Park, Illinois. Fellow graduates of my high school include: Ernest Hemingway and Ray Kroc (the founder of McDonald's). I went on to Bible college at Southeastern College in Lakeland Florida. I received my B.A. degree in Bible and Pastoral Ministries in 1992. Since then I have attended pastor's and ministry conferences and conventions all over the United States.

Previous Jobs:
Before establishing Calvary South Orlando, I worked as a Youth Pastor in New York under Paul Schenck of Faith and Action in the Nations Capitol and in Newport News, Virginia. In Newport News we raised up an exciting ministry to teens. We launched an area wide youth rally called the "Virginia Teen Movement" which we affectionately called "VTM". My wife, Mary Jo, myself and our friends, Joe Grimstead and David Gholson started an Alternative Christian band called "Water to Wine". We played and ministered at churches, youth rallies, coffee houses and outreaches. We even played at a Christian music festival at an Army base in Virginia.

In college, I bussed tables at the Lakeland Olive Garden. I also worked for a Land Survey Company in Fairfax, VA one summer. I started working at the age of 15 making biscuits at McDonald's every Saturday morning.

When and how did God lead you to start CSO?
God gave me the vision to start Calvary South Orlando with my wife and son Trey. We were attending Calvary Chapel Merritt Island. We were prayerfully sent out by Pastor Malcom Wild to start the Calvary Chapel here in South Orlando. We started in October 2000 with a handful of people. God has blessed us all along the way. We just celebrated our 5th year anniversary on October 30th, 2005.

What is your current ministry work at Calvary South Orlando?
As Lead Pastor, I cast the vision for the church that God gives to the Leadership Team and myself, and lead the church in that vision.

I also:

• Research, prepare for and deliver the messages for the Sunday morning and Wednesday night Bible Studies
• Lead the CSO staff that meets weekly
• Oversee and am involved in Worship and Media Ministries
• Help plan details of our services with the various ministries of the church

I plan and execute the ministry calendar of events and ministries of the church along with the staff and church ministry servants.

What is your Passion/Vision for the future of your Ministry?
My Passion is to see other people become passionate for God. My vision is to see a body of believers who love God with all their hearts, worship Him with all their strength, and study His Word with all their minds, and live for Him with all their soul.

Pastor Charles and his brother-in-law, Jason, at Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals - June 2004

Hobbies:
Playing with my boys, Trey and Jake, Golf, Drums, Music and Watching Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey.

What's in my iPod :
" Add to the Beauty "
by Sara Groves

"United We Stand "
by Hillsong United

"Hearts of the Innocent "
byKutless

"God He Reigns "
by Hillsong

"Decemberadio"
by Decemberadio

Charles' iTunes playlist:

1. "Reborn" - Stryper

2.  "Lonley Nation" - Switchfoot

3.  "Peculiar People" - Mute Math

4.  "His Love" - Hillsong Music Austrailia

5.  "Holy is the Lord" - Chris Tomlin

Favorite books:
The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozier
Being The Body by Chuck Colson
Why Grace Changes Everything by Chuck Smith

Recent reads :
Darwin on Trial by Phillip E. Johnson
Darwin's Black Box(The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution) by Michael J. Behe
Satisfaction Guaranteed by Bill Ritchie
The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel
Fear No Evil by Denny Nissley
Falling in Love with the Bible by Mike Macintosh

The Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley

Acts 2:42, 47 - And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. ...and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.