Jonathan Falwell, the brother of former Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr., was named the new campus pastor of the prominent evangelical school on Thursday.
The position was previously held by David Nasser, who also served as the school’s senior vice president for spiritual development since 2014. Nasser announced on Wednesday that he will be resigning at the end of the semester.
In a video with his wife Jennifer, they explained that God was leading them out of Liberty, based in Lynchburg, Virginia, to serve in a nonprofit in Nashville, Tennessee.
“After seven years of being a part of this staff as campus pastor, the Lord is transitioning me out of this role and this will be my last semester here,” Nasser said. “This has been one of the most difficult decisions we’ve ever had to make, but we do feel affirmed that God is asking for our obedience to step out of this role in ministry and into a whole new role in ministry elsewhere.
“As your campus pastor, I can’t ask you week after week to be obedient and to go wherever (God) leads and then not model that very same thing in our own lives,” he continued.
Nasser added that he had been working with Liberty President Jerry Prevo, incoming campus pastor Jonathan Falwell and the school’s senior leadership to make the transition “as smooth as possible.”
“These people love God, they love you, and they are committed to making sure we all keep growing in Christ’s likeness,” Nasser said.
Following the announcement, Liberty issued a statement confirming that the resignation was an “amicable” split.
“David Nasser is moving onto the next opportunities the Lord provided, using his voice on behalf of the most vulnerable, ministering on behalf of orphans and foster children,” the statement reads. “The programs of our Office of Spiritual Development are of vital importance to our mission, and the university appreciates his service to the students and staff and wishes him well. The parting is amicable and on good terms.”
“He has done an amazing job with helping our students to develop a closer walk with the Lord,” President Prevo said. “He will be missed.”
Jonathan Falwell, who serves as Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church, thanked Nasser for his “consistent and impactful ministry” during his time at Liberty.
“I appreciate Jennifer and David and look forward to seeing what God does through them in the future as they take their next steps in ministry,” Falwell wrote.
Thanks to @davidnasser for his consistent and impactful ministry at @libertyu during the past six years. I appreciate Jennifer and David and look forward to seeing what God does through them in the future as they take their next steps in ministry.
— Jonathan Falwell (@jonathanfalwell) April 7, 2021
Last summer, Nasser guided students amid the sex scandal surrounding Jerry Falwell Jr., who stepped down as Liberty’s president in August.
At the time, Nasser apologized to students at a Campus Community event for what took place and insisted that they “deserve better’, The Christian Post reported.
“This moment that we’re in is a mess. Let me begin by saying to you … I am sorry. In my opinion, you as a liberty student deserve better, and the embarrassment that’s been brought upon you as a Liberty student and, more importantly, brought upon the name of Christ is wrong,” he said. “I know that many of you are hurting, and that breaks my heart. Your concerns, if you’re concerned, are valid. If you’re not concerned, you should be concerned.”
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla/Staff
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer. He is also the co-hosts of the For Your Soul podcast, which seeks to equip the church with biblical truth and sound doctrine Visit his blog Blessed Are The Forgiven.
