For the past ten years Tony Neal has served as the Senior Pastor at Edisto Beach Baptist Church. Edisto is a resort community some fifty miles south of Charleston, South Carolina. During his ministry there, the church has provided a vibrant worship for members, tourists, and guests, while ministering to the spiritual needs of the congregation and community.
Tony is a confident and skilled leader with a diverse background and over twenty years of ministry experience. He has excellent leadership and planning skills, and his strengths include preaching, teaching, and pastoral care. Tony works well with all age groups and seeks an inclusive ministry.
Born on March 26, 1952, in Walnut Cove, North Carolina, Tony is the son of John Chester (d. 12/04/1979) and Mary Lewis Neal. He attended North Carolina State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1974. After moving to Richmond, Virginia, in June of that year, he began his career as an Electrical Engineer with Virginia Electric and Power Company.
Over the next several years, Tony felt led of God to choose vocational ministry over the corporate world. His decision centered upon investing his life in the lives of others regarding those things that have eternal value. This choice led him to pursue a Master of Divinity Degree, which he obtained from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1983. He later obtained a Doctor of Ministry Degree from McCormick Theological Seminary.
Tony married Danner Saunders, daughter of Davis (d. 04/02/2006) and Mary Saunders on September 2, 1977. Danner, the daughter of missionary parents, was born in Ogbomosho, Nigeria, on October 31, 1952. After growing up in East Africa (i.e., Kenya and Tanzania), she came to the United States to attend college. In 1976 she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from Virginia Commonwealth University.
The Neals have two children: Brittany Lee Neal, born on September 23, 1979; and John Davis Neal, born on June 28, 1983. Brittany has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Wake Forest University and a Master's Degree in Musicology from Australia National University in Canberra, Australia. She currently resides in Manhattan, New York, where she works for Genesis Networks and continues to seek opportunities in music performance. She is fluent in French and quite a world traveler. JD has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University in New York. He also resides in Manhattan, where he works for M, G, J Engineering. During his collegiate years, John played center for the Columbia Lions football team.
Mrs. Gladys Paige Lewis, Tony's grandmother, will turn 100 years of age on December 4th of this year. She currently resides in a nursing home in Walnut Grove, North Carolina, where Tony's mother can look after her on a daily basis.
Tony loves golf, technology, tinkering, wandering around Northern Tool Company and spending time with Danner. Danner loves exercising (i.e., all types since she injured her knees and can no longer run), reading, biking and spending time with Tony.
Tony's objective is to be the Senior Pastor of an open and inclusive church that values its Baptist heritage, while seeking new and exciting ways of defining ministry for the present and future.