Neal grew up in Little Rock and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a degree in accounting. He knew even before graduating that God was calling him into ministry leadership and began taking classes at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary satellite campus in Little Rock to prepare.
Neal entered vocational ministry as campus minister at a community college in south Arkansas while finishing his master's degree in seminary. After seminary, he served fifteen years at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, AR as a campus minister before coming to Northstar. Neal also co-pastored at Fellowship Church for ten of the fifteen years. During that time he completed a doctorate in ministry at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Neal and his wife Teresa have six children; Emma, Elijah, Ethan, Nora, Eva and Everett. Teresa works from home teaching the kids everything from math to how to defend themselves from one another.
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Northstar is fortunate to have quality biblically-centered teaching and many skilled worship leaders. The weekly Sunday gathering is encouraging, convicting, and to be honest, a lot of fun. But there are many reasons why Northstar staff and leaders encourage every member and regular attender to get involved in a small group. Three reasons to get involved in a small group: …
Bob & Sandra Jackson Bob and Sandra are involved in ministry to international students at Virginia Tech and are employed by International Students, Inc. of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Working with a team of volunteers in the Blacksburg/Christiansburg area, they conduct Dinner and Bible Discussion Groups, host Men’s and Women’s activities and do periodic retreats. They enjoy watching Virginia Tech basketball and …
BE THE CHURCH, one card at a time… Soon Northstar will experience a lot of families, students, and young professionals visiting our service for the first time. Each of these visitors will receive a personal hand written note and a gift card for some free frozen yogurt. These “welcome cards” are part of a larger commitment of the church to …
Tell the church little about yourself I’m a retired Soldier – 32 years on active duty. We have two daughters – Emily (30) and Aimee (27). Susan and I moved here after I retired. I’m an LSU alum and a rabid college (SEC) football and baseball fan. What brought you to Blacksburg? Work – our company won the contract to …
Tell the church little about yourself and your family: I am from New Jersey, and my wife is from New York. I met my wife at a July 4 picnic in 2002, and we married six months later. The journey to have children took some time, but we are now blessed with two wonderful children: our daughter Evelyn (6) and …
Trout Camp 2019 (May 17-18) was so much fun – a great time for dads and their kids. Moms seemed especially grateful for a little quiet. Twenty men and 18 kids from Northstar spent a Friday evening and most of the day Saturday at Douthat State Park in Millboro. We fished (and a few actually caught something), swam, hiked and …
Welcome those who have joined Northstar recently! Steve and Amy Lavinder Steve and Amy relocated from the Atlanta area and are excited to be back in Blacksburg where they met at Virginia Tech over 30 years ago. They look forward to investing in the community, meeting new friends and enjoying all that Virginia Tech, Blacksburg and the New River valley …
Tell the church a little about yourself My husband David, our daughter Melissa, and I all moved here from St. Petersburg, Florida, at the end of June 2018. We immediately started attending Northstar, because David and Melissa had scouted out churches the year before and made an excellent decision. In addition to David, Melissa and myself, one of my brothers …
Tell the church a little about yourself: I graduated from Virginia Tech in May and I am currently serving on staff with Cru at VT. What brought you to Blacksburg? Virginia Tech – Go Hokies! Why are you excited about being the church with Northstar? I am so happy to call myself a member of a church that focuses so much on …
