Meet our Pastor

Reverend Khaden V . Nurse, Sr. is a passionate preacher, teacher, pastor, and servant-leader who believes the Church is called to be more than a place of worship on Sunday morning — it is God’s instrument for transformation in the community.

Born in Trinidad and Tobago and raised in Queens, New York, Rev. Khaden’s journey has been shaped by faith, family, education, and a deep commitment to serving God’s people. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from York College of the City University of New York, where he was recognized as a Thurgood Marshall Scholar, and later earned a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Rev. Khaden served for over 11 years at the Historic Charles Street A.M.E. Church in Boston, Massachusetts, under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Gregory G. Groover Sr., first as Minister to Young Adults and later as Associate Pastor. On June 18, 2022, he received his first pastoral appointment to Bethel A.M.E. Church in Plymouth, Massachusetts by Bishop Julius Harrison McAllister, Sr,. On June 6, 2026, Bishop Samuel Lawrence Green Sr. appointed him to serve as Pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Copiague, New York — the oldest African American congregation on Long Island.

Rev. Khaden is married to Rev. Dr. Christina M. M. Nurse, whom he met while she was pursuing doctoral studies in Biostatistics and Tumor Biology at Harvard University. Together, they are the proud parents of two sons, Khaden Virgilio Nurse, Jr. and Kaleb Jeffery Nurse.

Beyond the pulpit, Rev. Khaden is passionate about financial literacy and community empowerment. Through workshops and digital platforms, he seeks to equip individuals and families with practical tools for financial stewardship and economic growth. In his leisure time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing chess, and watching shows on Crunchyroll.

At the heart of Rev. Khaden’s ministry is a desire to see lives changed, families strengthened, faith deepened, and communities restored. He believes that Bethel Copiague is a place where people can encounter God, discover purpose, grow in faith, and become part of a loving church family.

We invite you to worship with us and experience what God is doing at Bethel A.M.E. Church, Copiague.

Rev. Dr. Christina M. M. Nurse is a gifted preacher, teacher, scholar, wife, mother, and servant-leader whose life reflects a deep love for Christ, family, ministry, and community. With a heart for encouraging others and a passion for helping people experience the love of God in practical and powerful ways, Rev. Dr. Nurse brings warmth, wisdom, and faith-filled leadership to the Bethel A.M.E. Church, Copiague family.

A proud “math nerd,” Rev. Dr. Nurse earned her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, summa cum laude, from Spelman College and was inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society. While at Spelman, she was a member of the tennis team, helping lead the team to a Conference Championship and earning Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors. She went on to earn both a master’s degree and doctorate in Biostatistics from Harvard University. She is also continuing her theological formation as a Master of Divinity candidate on the chaplaincy track at Boston University, where she is a Howard Thurman Fellow. Rev. Dr. Nurse is an ordained itinerant deacon in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Rev. Dr. Nurse has a unique gift for bringing together faith, intellect, creativity, and compassion. She has preached, taught, led children’s ministry, served in dance ministry, and participated in the first cohort of the Equipping the Saints Preaching Fellowship. She previously served as Associate Pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Plymouth, Massachusetts, where she faithfully supported the ministry of the church through preaching, teaching, pastoral care, and leadership. She is also the author of Visit the SPA: Tools to Rejuvenate Your Marriage, where SPA stands for Scripture, Prayer, and Action — a reflection of her desire to see marriages strengthened, families renewed, and relationships rooted in Christ.

Professionally, Rev. Dr. Nurse serves as an Associate Director of Biostatistics at Kardigan, where she contributes to groundbreaking research in the field of heart disease. She is also the founder of CMMN Consulting LLC, providing biostatistics and other consultation services.

Rev. Dr. Nurse shares life and ministry with the one whom her soul loves, her husband and pastor, Reverend Khaden V. Nurse, Sr. Together, they are the proud parents of two sons, Khaden Jr. and Kaleb. Alongside their commitment to ministry and family, they also promote financial literacy through their YouTube channel, Urban Finance.

Guided by Luke 12:48, “To whom much is given, much is required,” Rev. Dr. Christina M. M. Nurse seeks to use every gift God has given her to serve others, strengthen families, inspire faith, and help build the Kingdom of God.