Staff Directory—Ministry Staff
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Janet Neal Phone: 804.740.6551, ext.
15 Primary Responsibilities: Oversight of "The Big Adventure" ministries including Adventure Woods (birth–5 yrs.) and Adventure Zone (K-5) |
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FUN FACTS... Favorite Movies: Philadelphia
Story (My 3 favorites: Hepburn, Grant, & Stewart) |
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I
grew up in Richmond, in a Christian family where faith was lived out in front of
me. I attended a Baptist Church and was baptized when I was 12 years old. Although I did not realize it as a child, I look back and am
very grateful to my early church family for their presence and consistency in my
life. I understand now how significant were the seeds that they planted in me,
seeds that remain fruitful to this day.
Faith
was born in me in childhood, but intimacy in relationship with Christ did not
happen until college. It was there
that my eyes were opened to "the bigger picture" of God's everlasting
love and his desire that all would know him. I began to experience trust,
confidence, and joy as I had never before.
I
graduated from James Madison University in 1978 and returned to Richmond to
teach high school English for four years. I
met my husband, Bucky, at a summer Bible study and we married in 1981.
We had four children, Katie, Graham, Carter, and Patrick, and I left
teaching to raise and home school my family.
Those years were the joy of my life.
I
have always had a great love for children and as a young child dreamed of the
day when I would have a family of my own. The
reality of that dream was not a disappointment, and given the choice to turn
back the clock and do it all again, I would.
God, however, has called me to a new family of children.
It is my privilege to lead The Big Adventure, the children's ministry at Hope. As I move into Chapter Two of my life, I have been given the opportunity to serve the next generation of Christ followers. Instead of feeling that the best of my life is over, I am confident that the adventure has just begun. I am blessed to be in partnership with David, Pete, and Brent, and I have a growing excitement that the best is yet to come.