A concurrent RESOLUTION

 

TO HONOR DR. ALBERT AIKEN NEAL, PASTOR OF ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH IN COLUMBIA, FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF GOSPEL MINISTRY, TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON THE OCCASION OF HIS PASTORAL RETIREMENT, AND TO WISH HIM GOD'S RICHEST BLESSINGS AS HE CONTINUES TO SERVE THE LORD.

 

Whereas, it is with great pleasure that the South Carolina General Assembly honors those individuals who give tirelessly of themselves to nurture the souls of men. Dr. Albert Aiken Neal, pastor of Columbia's Antioch Baptist Church, stands among their number as an outstanding minister of the gospel, one much admired by colleagues, congregation, and area residents at large; and

 

Whereas, a native of Camden, Albert A. Neal graduated from Columbia's C.A. Johnson High School and received a bachelor's degree from Benedict College. He earned a master's degree in education from South Carolina State University and received a bachelor's degree in divinity from the Theological Seminary of Florida State Christian University. Further, he was granted an honorary doctorate in divinity by California Pacific University and was awarded a doctorate in religion from the University Life Monarch in Modesto, California. Continuing his education, he completed his Educational Specialist degree at the University of South Carolina (USC), his first extended unit of clinical pastoral education at Richland Memorial Hospital, his master's degree in divinity at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, and his doctorate in education in the field of health education administration at USC; and

 

Whereas, Dr. Neal was called by the Spirit of the Lord and licensed to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ from his home church, Antioch Baptist Church, in 1968. He was ordained by the Wateree Baptist Association, Upper Division, in 1969. An affiliated minister of the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina, he holds membership in various professional, educational, civic, social, and community organizations. Since 1966, traffic safety has been an especially important part of his life, and he has been active in attending more than forty American Driver & Traffic Safety Education Association (ADTSEA) Annual Conferences. Other related service includes the chaplaincy of SCDTSEA and the implementation of the Driver Improvement Program at Fort Jackson (1970); and

 

Whereas, after receiving his bachelor's degree from Benedict College, he began his first job, that of a mathematics teacher at Fairfield High School in Winnsboro. He later became a USC professor of public health and accepted the post of project administrator for the USC/NCAA National Youth Sports Program. He is now retired from his USC duties. As a bivocational pastor/educator, over the years he has served as interim pastor at Macedonia Baptist Church (Ridgeway), Saint Dorcas Baptist Church (North), and Zion Baptist Church (Columbia). In addition, he served for more than sixteen years as pastor of Sutton Branch Baptist Church (Lugoff); and

 

Whereas, in 1986, Dr. Neal accepted the call to follow his father and grandfather in serving as pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Columbia. Having now led the congregation as its seventh undershepherd in a distinguished pastoral ministry of thirty-seven years, he will retire on June 6, 2023; and

 

Whereas, Dr. Neal finds strength for his labors in the strong support of his family: his beloved wife, the former Virginia L. Miller; their two children, Erica D. Lowman (Hal) and Aleta L. McCollum (Rod); and their four delightful grandchildren, Hayden Lowman, Ean Lowman, Olive McCollum, and August McCollum; and

 

Whereas, the House, cognizant of his many years of spiritual nourishment of the people of South Carolina, takes great pleasure in expressing grateful thanks to Dr. Neal and in wishing him God's best as he continues to run the race the Lord has set before him. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

 

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, honor Dr. Albert Aiken Neal, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Columbia, for his many years of gospel ministry,  congratulate him on the occasion of his pastoral retirement, and wish him God's richest blessings as he continues to serve the Lord.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Albert Aiken Neal.

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