“The steps of a righteous man are ordained by God.”
October is Pastor Appreciation Month, and for Pastor Alvin Love III, Senior Pastor of Nashville Life Church, the number one prayer on his heart isn’t about growth, success, or visibility—it’s about the health of his inner man.
“Ministry can be very difficult. There’s disappointment, rejection, heartbreak—even betrayal. It comes with the territory,” Pastor Love shares. “I know the enemy’s plan is to break me from the inside. That’s why my prayer is from Ephesians 3—that my inner man stays strong.”
(Listen to the conversation between Crystal Thornton and Pastor Alvin Love, III in the podcast below.)
Pastor Alvin Love III has served as Senior Pastor of the diverse, fast-growing Nashville Life Church since 2021. But his path to ministry wasn’t something he planned—it began thousands of miles away in Australia.
After graduating from Belmont University in 2007 with a degree in music, a then 23-year-old Alvin traveled to Melbourne, Australia, to visit a church. What he experienced changed his life.
“It was full of people my age—hands raised, tears flowing. The atmosphere was so powerful. I knew something was different.”
That day just happened to be the start of a 9-month discipleship course at Melbourne Life Christian Church. Alvin had been anonymously sponsored. He ended up staying a year.
Fast forward to 2012—back in the U.S., Pastor Alvin, along with his parents Alvin Love II and gospel icon CeCe Winans, launched Nashville Life Church from their living room. Weekly gatherings quickly grew as people encountered Jesus through heartfelt worship, solid discipleship, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
His father led the church for nine years before Pastor Alvin was installed as Senior Pastor on January 17, 2021—in the middle of a pandemic, an election year, and a move into a new building.
“We had four major events happening at the same time,” he recalls. “But we endured. It made us stronger and led to a season of real growth.”
Today, Nashville Life continues to thrive with a clear mission: Follow Jesus. Build leaders.
And while some might be surprised to learn that Pastor Alvin is CeCe Winans’ son, he simply smiles:
“She’s known by most as CeCe Winans. I know her as mom.”
Alongside pastoring, he still writes and produces music—including his latest project: CeCe Winans’ Christmas album Joyful Joyful, set to release October 25.
Love’s journey has also included a powerful personal story. On the very day he became lead pastor, he met his now-wife Jasmine at church. A yearlong season of friendship, mentorship, and accountability followed, led by Pastor Tim Dilena from Times Square Church in New York City.
“He told me not to text her or date her for nine months—just be her pastor and a friend. I agreed.”
Four months into officially dating, Pastor Dilena asked, “Are you going to propose?” The couple married in November 2022 and welcomed their first child, Honey Rosa Love, in September 2023.
The Weight and Joy of Shepherding
When asked what people may not understand about being a pastor, Pastor Love’s response is heartfelt:
“I think people would be surprised to know how deeply pastors love their people. When things go well for someone at Nashville Life, it feels like it’s going well for me. And when someone is struggling, I carry that weight too. It’s not just leadership—it’s deep, sincere love.”
He’s also witnessed countless miracles:
- Supernatural healings, including cancer and fertility breakthroughs
- Transformational salvations—like his college best friend, whose life changed in a single 45-minute prayer meeting
“It was a Saul-to-Paul moment,” he says. “A complete, lasting transformation. It’s one of the top three miracles I’ve ever seen.”
Staying Anchored in the Spirit
As Nashville Life continues to grow, Pastor Alvin’s focus remains simple yet powerful: to be led by the Holy Spirit and to stay spiritually strong.
“It’s one thing to be bruised on the outside—but when your spirit is broken, you have nothing left to give. So my number one prayer is that I stay strong in my inner man.”
Bonus: A Surprise from the Pulpit
When asked what his congregation might not know about him, he laughs:
“Many don’t know I used to lead worship! So, when I jumped on stage for Mother’s Day to lead a song, the look on their faces was priceless.”