A servant-leader and proud product of the state of Texas, Reverend Sean James Nickelberry hails from the city of Houston. He is a proud graduate of Kashmere Sr. High School and the Conrad O. Johnson School of Music and Fine Arts. After high school he matriculated at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas (Home of the Great Debaters) where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication. He earned his Masters of Divinity degree at the Houston Graduate School of Theology in December 2015. 

  

While in college, Pastor Nickelberry was an active leader on the campus and across the country. In his sophomore year he was elected as president of the Wiley College Student Union Advisory Board and served as President of the Pre-Alumni Council. He was appointed Southwest Regional Director for the National Pre-Alumni Council of the United Negro College Fund, Inc. and later elected nationally as the National Vice-President. In this role he was able to travel the country advocating to corporate and private donors, government agencies, etc. on behalf of the students and member institutions of the College Fund. 

  

While at Wiley College, Pastor Nickelberry hosted the “Inspirational Praise” morning show and served as Program Director at the college’s public radio station, KBWC 91.1 FM. He was recognized nationally by the Black College Radio Organization as Program Director of the year in 2001. His love and passion for radio broadcasting and gospel music formerly allowed him to also lend his talents and skills to the world by playing the very best in gospel and inspirational music in Houston, Texas as host of the “Overnight Praise Celebration” on KTSU 90.9 FM. 

  

Out of all his accomplishments, his most precious and regarded one is accepting the call into Christian ministry. He was ordained an Itinerant Deacon of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 2014. In October 2015, Reverend Sean J. Nickelberry accepted God’s new divine assignment when the Rt. Rev. Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Presiding Prelate of the 10th Episcopal District, assigned him to his first pastoral charge and appointed him as the new Pastor of Hope A.M.E. Church in Prairie View, Texas. With a sincere desire to love God, serve the people, bring hope and healing to the community, minister to the needs of the students of Prairie View A&M University, and administer the church according to the Word of God, Pastor Nickelberry preached and taught the Gospel leading to an increase in weekly church attendance and spiritual growth/development. In October 2016 at the 150th Session of the Texas Annual Conference he was elected and ordained an Itinerant Elder of the A.M.E. Church. During the Planning Meeting of the 10th Episcopal District (A.M.E. Church) in November of 2017, Pastor Nickelberry was given a new pastoral charge and was assigned as the Pastor of Wolridge Chapel A.M.E. Church in Houston, Texas. Serving at Wolridge Chapel for two years, Pastor Nickelberry was then given a historic appointment in October 2019 during the 153rd Session of the Texas Annual Conference by Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie when he received the appointment as Executive/Youth Pastor of Wesley A.M.E. Church in Houston, Texas, his home church, under the leadership and guidance of his father in ministry, the Rev. Dr. Leo Griffin. 

  

Pastor Nickelberry maintains a very busy and active schedule. He is currently on the Board of Directors of The Institute of the Abington School of Religion of the 10th Episcopal District and is also a member of the Board of Examiners for the Texas Annual Conference of the A.M.E. Church. Pastor Nickelbery is an avid reader and writer with two books in progress and is currently pursuing the Doctorate of Ministry (DMin) degree at Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio. Pastor Nickelberry currently works as an Instructional Specialist with the Houston Independent School District. He loves to cook and bake, go fishing, watch football, paint, and spend time with his family and God-children.