Pastor Nikolai X. Greaves was born and raised in Barbados, to George and Thora Greaves. At a young age, he moved to the U.S., eventually settling in Berrien Springs, Michigan. A proud alumnus of Seventh-day Adventist Christian education, he studied at Ruth Murdoch Elementary and excelled in sports at Andrews Academy. His academic journey continued at Washington Adventist University in Maryland, where he distinguished himself as an NCAA Division II track and field athlete, the Executive Vice-President of the Student Association, and an inductee into Sigma Beta Delta and Omicron Delta Kappa honor societies. It was here he met his future wife, Abigail, and the two married in 2012.
While serving at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and volunteering at The White House during the financial crisis, Pastor Greaves also devoted himself to international evangelism and community outreach. In 2013, he earned his MBA from Washington Adventist University. Feeling a call to pastoral ministry, he pursued and received a Master of Divinity from Andrews University Theological Seminary in 2016. His passion for education didn’t stop there, as he later obtained an Executive Leadership certificate from Cornell University in 2019 and is working on his Doctor of Business Administration in Strategy and Innovation at Capella University. Before pastoral ministry, he worked in human resources, higher education, and healthcare finance.
A dynamic preacher, speaker, and leader, he has shared the gospel of Jesus in countries like Cuba, Barbados, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, and the United States. He has conducted successful and innovative evangelistic efforts and reached hundreds for Christ. His innovative ministry has been featured in the Lake Union Herald and he values providing insights on the intersection of faith, finance, and entrepreneurship, on his podcast, “The Unpreached Truth: God and Money” podcast. His community involvement extended in 2020 when he was appointed 5th District Representative for the Advisory Committee on Police and Community Relations for the City of Peoria in Illinois. He is a transformative change agent and has successfully turned churches and organizations around. Recognized for his innovative ministry in reaching souls for Christ, he was ordained into gospel ministry and served on the Finance and Investment Committee for the Lake Region Conference. He was subsequently voted by the constituents to serve as the conference Stewardship Director along with his ministerial duties.
In July 2024, he accepted the call to Southeastern Conference to serve as the Senior Pastor of the Mt. Pisgah Church. Beyond his ministerial duties, Pastor Greaves cherishes moments with his family. He’s an avid chess player, enjoys sports, and traveler and, above all, has an unwavering belief in the transformative power of Jesus, especially among the youth and young adults.
Mt. Pisgah Seventh-day Adventist Church