It's Official-- We've Been Appointed!

After lots of prayer, meetings, forms, and evaluations, we were officially notified today that we have been appointed to serve as long-term missionaries with Trans World Radio (TWR). We anticipate that we will serve on Bonaire, a small Dutch island off the coast of Venezuela, South America, but we are willing to go wherever we are needed most.

Our next step of the process is to gather a team of prayer and financial supporters who will commit to partner with us as we minister with TWR long-term. We pray that God will help us clearly present the ministry to those He has chosen to partner with us. Please pray alongside us for strength and safety as we will be traveling a lot and our schedules will be busy.

We are also gathering information for those folks who would like more information and/or want to receive updates in the mail. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you fit into this category. We will still be updating this website but would love to you connect with you on a more personal level. Thanks for your love and prayers.

Candidate Orientation in Cary, NC

We had a slam-packed couple of days in Cary, NC meeting with TWR staff and the Sending Agency Team during Candidate Orientation. What a wonderful group of people! It was truly refreshing to meet so many people who are also passionate about touching lives with the unchanging message of Jesus Christ.

We spent a lot of time meeting team members and getting a feel for the culture and vision of the organization. We were thrilled to talk with so many people in all stages of life who had given so much of themselves in cross-cultural missions and/or ministry support services throughout the years. I was impressed by the rich history and lasting legacy of those who have gone before as well as the passionate enthusiasm and cutting-edge innovation of the current team. 

I was also blessed by the many stories of transformed lives and modern-day miracles that God has done through the ministry of TWR by "regular" people. How awesome it is that a person who may not have attended seminary or jungle training camp can be a part of touching lives across the globe and sharing Christ's love with them. How blessed I feel knowing that I (Laura) can use my Human Services background and Brandon can use his Business background in ways that impact lives for the Kingdom. Have you felt a call to serve in missions but gave up because you aren't a church planter, pastor, ESL teacher, or missions major? Click here to learn how you might be just the person TWR is looking for!

As we move forward we do ask that you would please pray for wisdom for the Sending Agency Team and pray on our behalf as we await the appointment/selection decision in the next couple of weeks. Your prayers have been so evident throughout the application process, and we do not take them for granted.

We will update as we have more information. Thanks again for staying connected.

Brandon Neal Music Updated Website

Brandon Neal Music is getting a facelift. Please check out http://www.brandonnealmusic.com/
Feel free to send us an email with any suggestions. We are still working on getting an online store to purchase Brandon's CDs as well as some other cool new features. Keep checking back. You can also go to: http://www.myspace.com/brandonnealmusic to listen to some samples of his music. Let us know what you think!

Come Support Brandon Neal in the PATHS, Inc. Southside Superstar Competition!

Great news! Brandon was selected as a top 20 finalist for the Southside Superstar Christian & Gospel Edition Singing Competition in Danville , Virginia! He has the chance to win $1,000 and recording time at a local studio! This fundraising event supports Piedmont Access to Health Services, Inc. (PATHS.) Finalists will perform in 5 Friday events and receive donations for PATHS. Each $1 donation equals 1 vote. The winner will be selected by a combination of votes and judges scores on the final evening. Admission is $2 at the door. Come on out to show your support for Brandon, enjoy a night of uplifting and encouraging music, and give to this worthy cause! The next event is at the Carrington Pavillion in Danville, VA at 7PM.

Waiting on God...........

Once again, we appreciate all of you have been fervently praying for our family as we follow His direction in our lives. I haven't posted much recently because there hasn't been a whole lot to post about as far as missions go. We were originally scheduled for Candidate Orientation and a meeting with TWR's sending team at the end of August for some of the final steps in the application process for missionary service, however, due to scheduling conflicts within the team it was rescheduled for September 20 and 21st. We did complete our psychological evaluation process with TWR consultants (along with the 5 assessments and 1000+ questions each.) I am thankful that Trans World Radio takes this process very seriously and cares so much about making sure that appointees are a good fit for service with the organization. We learned quite a bit from our meeting with the consultants and were able to identify areas to grow stronger in our relationship with God and each other. For now, we are just waiting and trusting God until our meeting with the sending team. We look forward to updating you more as we know more. Thanks again!

How much do I care?

New technologies have created limitless opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Trans World Radio utilizes many of these methods to reach untold millions of individuals, families, and communities every day. I am so thankful for new ways to shrink the gap between me and the rest of the world. However, I was overwhelmed recently with a sense of responsibility as well. Not so many years ago I could blame my apathy and inaction on the outrageous cost of traveling to distant lands or even the high price of a long-distance call to a different state. If a friend moved to another state or even to another town outside of my area code, I could count on not talking to her again except the rare case that I might visit her or she might visit me. I could always write letters, but life frequently got busy and she usually just faded from my memory, thoughts and prayers and was filed into the mental folder of “people I used to know.”

Now, thanks to Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and the like, I probably quickly find out where that friend in California ate breakfast today and who she was with (there might even be a mobile uploaded picture as proof.) “So the world is flat. What’s the big deal? ” you may be wondering. Just the other night the big deal occurred to me. I am now able to minister to others that I might have mentally filed away. Each and every day many people post status updates, photo albums, tweets, blog posts, comments, etc… I believe that each of these is a silent request for someone to care about my world and what happens in it. You might say, “I just like to post things.” You might be right. Be just think. Would I spend any time writing this post if I knew that no one would ever read it or be affected by it? You see, I can now reach outside my “Christian bubble” each time I get online. The walls are being broken down. I might be afraid to walk up to someone I haven’t seen in years and begin a deep conversation with her, but I might not be as afraid to write on her wall or re-tweet a comment.

For this reason, I ask you to take advantage of the wonderful opportunity to “…set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess” (I Peter 3:15, NET). Also, keep in mind that your testimony as a Christ-follower is on the line. With new technology comes the blessing of a higher level of accountability among believers but also a greater responsibility to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) as geographical borders become less of a limitation.

I would love to hear of some ways you have used new forms of technology to connect with others in a meaningful way to show others how much you care!

Reach Higher

Hey guys! Thanks to everyone for praying - we had a safe trip there and back. Also, our prayers were answered in every way possible. God provided travel protection (we nearly missed a flight - but made it just in time), clear vision, financial provision, Christian fellowship, and a very refreshing time as well.

Although we still have some more steps in the appointment process, God has shown us very clearly what our next step is. The ministry that is being accomplished from Bonaire is absolutely incredible. There are hundreds of house churches in Cuba that meet DAILY because of the ministry of TWR in that region. There are over 800,000 confirmed TWR listeners in Cuba and over 3.5 million in Venezuela. Over 3,000 pastors from Columbia owe their salvation and much of their Bible training to TWR as well. There are remote villages in the jungles of Brazil that meet DAILY to hear God's Word taught to them in their own language.

I believe that God calls every believer to serve Him wholeheartedly wherever he or she is. I also believe that God uses our past experiences and our passions to direct us in how we serve in ministry. The incredible ministry of TWR on Bonaire cannot be properly maintained or expanded without adequate staff. After meeting the staff currently serving there and seeing firsthand what God is doing there – we feel led to partner with them in spreading the Gospel message throughout that region. I (Brandon) feel that many of my passions, education, and experiences have prepared me to fill the need and work alongside other dedicated Christ-followers at the Bonaire station. He has prepared and equipped Laura to assist me in this service. We plan to proceed in pursuing this opportunity unless God directs us otherwise.

We covet your prayers and continued support in the coming months. Thanks again to all who have already been praying – please continue! And to those who have supported financially – Thank you!

We plan to keep you all informed as we progress through this process. Below, you will find a link to a video recently produced by TWR. It gives a glimpse of how anyone can use their talents, skills, passions, and abilities to serve the Lord throughout the world. Whatever you do – wherever you do it – do it to the glory of God! Thanks and may God richly bless each of you!


TWR Reach Higher Video on You Tube- Click Here!

What a mighty God we serve!

I wanted to take just one more opportunity to share just how good our God is. As many of you know, we were not yet fully funded for the trip when we left. We were confident that we were right where God wanted us, however, and He provided for and protected us completely through your prayers and generous financial gifts. We just received the final giving report and found that we not only met the goal, but exceeded it! The additional funds will give us a jump start when we begin the support-raising process after appointment. I know that there was a huge outpouring of prayer on our behalf during the trip, I appreciate your continued prayers in the days ahead.

Bonaire Update- Thursday, August 13, 2009

Bon Dia from Bonaire!

Thank you for staying updated with our family. Your prayers have been so meaningful during this time. Yesterday we were able to become more familiar with the island and also spent some time with a wonderful US-retired couple we met at the church on Sunday. They were very sweet and gave us lots of information about the area.

Today we are in more meetings at the TWR office. I plan to visit some more stores today. We are really trying to get familiar with what items would be important to bring and which items we would leave in the US.

More updates to come!

Bonaire Update- Tuesday, August 11, 2009

We had another very long, but insightful day today. Brandon spent the day at the office being briefed specifically on the role and expectations for the Business Administrator here. The Site Director has been quite busy performing the duties of about 5 people and would be extremely relieved to have some of these additional duties off his plate. As a Business Administrator a key part of Brandon's role would be to learn the Dutch language (along with the local language Papiamentu) and assimilate into the Bonairian culture to work alongside the local government and make sure that TWR-Bonaire is operating legally and in a way that is beneficial to Bonaire while still reaching the intended listening audience.

I spent most of the morning with the Site Director's wife familiarizing myself with shopping here. I was astounded by some of the prices. For instance, a gallon of fresh milk is close to $10. Fresh milk is imported onto the island from the US and has several taxes and duties added on top of the already high cost of shipping. This significantly raises the cost of living. However, there are other options available. Shelf-stable milk is available in boxed form and is a great alternative for a price much closer to those I am used to. While many American products are available, cost is prohibitive in most cases. There would be an adjustment to my shopping style, but with some flexibility and creativity some very healthy and tasty options are available.

Brandon and I have had a wonderful time getting to meet some of the people here. They have been very friendly. Stay tuned for some neat new words we have learned!

Update from Bonaire- Monday, August 10, 2009

Praise the Lord! Several other prayer and financial partners have come on board even throughout the weekend. God has provided $1,513 of the needed funding for this vision trip and we have been encouraged and protected by your prayers for us.

We had a safe flight to Bonaire, N.A. on Saturday. We had one close call with our connection in Miami going to Bonaire since the flight from Charlotte, NC was delayed. We were very thankful that we only packed carry-on luggage or else we might not have made it to check-in. However, we did arrive in time and God even worked our seating out for each flight so we were able to sit together (our original seating assignments were not near each other.) Additionally, God worked it out so we had exit row seating on two of the flights. What a blessing!

We had a wonderful time worshiping the Lord with the congregation at the International Bible Church of Bonaire on Sunday morning. Brandon sang "Amazing Grace" during the morning service and many church members shared that they were blessed. The pastor gave a very encouraging message on the many spiritual blessings through salvation in Jesus Christ and the Sunday School lesson was about Ezekiel. We were able to meet several Americans living on the island in addition to Dutch immigrants and local Bonaire residents or Antillians (from the Netherlands Antilles.) One of these Antillian families happened to be the family of a dear Liberty University graduate that I met a couple of years back. What a small world!

Today was absolutely packed with meetings and touring the TWR facility. We were able to get a much clearer idea of the vision and vast scope of TWR's ministry to the people of Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil, and the Caribbean.

We learned of many believers/pastors who rely on Trans World Radio-Bonaire's broadcasts for discipleship since they cannot afford or are unable to attend seminary. Some of these believers meet in groups each night for a 3 hour broadcast and afterwords discuss how God used it in their lives. God is giving people a hunger and thirst for the transforming power of His Word through this ministry. What a vital impact this location has.

We also learned of the great need for staff/missionaries here as well as the importance of funding to repair braces on the towers. Without repair, these 4 towers could collapse potentially costing millions to repair and leaving millions of listeners in the "dark."

We thank you for your continued prayers as God shows us His will for our lives and hope to update you as often as we have internet access.

Will you be 1 of 28?

We only need 28 more people to donate $10 each to complete the matching gift of $600. Will you be 1 of 28? It's easy online:

Go to https://www.twr.org/projekt/602
Missionary Name: Brandon and Laura Neal
Support Designation: Support Fund

See your $10 turn in to $20. It's not too late!

Prayer Points for the Days Ahead

Thank you for your many prayers and financial gifts as we continue to seek God’s face for His guidance and direction in our lives! Your faithful prayers have been instrumental up to this point, and we know that God will continue to strengthen us and protect us from the Devourer because of them.

We are getting ready to head to Cary, NC tonight and will fly out from Raleigh, NC tomorrow morning. We should arrive on Bonaire tomorrow evening. We have seen so many people rally around us during these days and feel so blessed by your many words of encouragement. We now have over 200 members staying updated on The Neal Family's Missions Updates Facebook group as well as several people who have committed to partner with us through prayer and financial gifts.

We do plan to continue to post updates at www.thenealnotes.blogspot.com and hope to even get the chance to post some while we are on Bonaire.

You can still sign-up to receive updates or partner with using the form on the right. We promise we won't sell your information or anything. Everything you fill in comes straight to us and is used only as you direct so we can keep in contact with you. We do have spaces available for daily prayer partners on August 9-15th. Additionally, there are still matching funds available. If you were planning to give, now is a great time to see your gift doubled through a generous donor's $600 matching gift.

Here are some specific ways you can pray for us in the days ahead.

Throughout the month of August-

• Pray that God would continue to make His will clear to us.
• Pray for strength and health during our busy month.
• Pray for safe travel during our trip to Bonaire, N.A. (August 8-15^th), visits with our partners, and candidate orientation in Cary, NC -TWR Headquarters at the end of August.
• Pray that Brandon will be effective and efficient at work and Laura will have energy to keep up with our very active son as well as other responsibilities at home.

During the week of August 8^th-15^th –

Pray for:

• Spiritual transformation in the lives of the many people who will hear the Gospel through TWR’s broadcasts
• Safe travel free of delays, missed flights, or baggage issues
• Safety and health for our son, Benjamin, who will be in Indiana with family
• A clear sense of God’s guidance and direction for the days ahead
• Increasing oneness of purpose and spiritual vitality as a couple
• Donors for TWR-Bonaire’s brace replacement project
• Health and few (or no) mosquito bites
• Many opportunities to be an encouragement to the missionaries already serving on Bonaire

We would also love to stay in touch with your family and to pray for any specific needs you may have. We can be contacted through Facebook, Twitter, our website, email, phone, mail, etc...

Thanks again for connecting with us.

The Neal Family

A Renewed Spirit

God gave us another blessed Sunday. This past Sunday we were able to fellowship with believers at First United Methodist Church of Hillsville in Hillsville, Virginia. Brandon sang specials in the two morning services and sang and shared in the evening service along with the church's praise band- Souled Out .

We don't need your money, but don't stop reading there.

One thing a lot of people struggle with when it comes to missions is the whole money thing. I'd say that most missionaries don't like to ask for it and most people don't like to be asked for it.

Think your gift is too small to matter? If every member of our Facebook group decided to skip one meal to fast and pray and gave what they would have spent on the meal we would meet our goal! That is one Starbucks coffee, McDonald's Combo, or Little Caesar's Hot-N-Ready pizza. That really isn't too much to ask is it?

We aren't asking you to give to us because we need your money. We aren't asking because God needs your money. We are asking because we want giving to become your heartbeat. We are made in God's image, and He is a giver. He gave his only Son! If what we are doing doesn't line up with your passion and you don't catch our vision, that is fine.

Do you have a heart for orphans and widows? (Jesus did!) Give up a meal so you can help a widow out with her water bill. Think that the unborn and their mothers need an alternative to abortion? Donate items and/or your time to your local crisis pregnancy center. Believe in the importance of Christian media? Whatever it is- partner with others to make it a reality. Those being reached are usually the least able to give back to such important ministries. That is where we, as Christians, stand up and fill in the gap.

It is more important to us that you make giving a part of who you are so that you can be used by God. Each time we give our money, we give up a little bit more than that. We give up our selfishness, our greed, and our sense of entitlement. We are reminded that all we have is God's and that we just manage it. We remember that our lives are about worshiping our Creator and giving is one way we can do that. Over the years, Brandon and I have seen God do amazing things in and through us when we surrender ourselves and our wallets to God’s will instead of our own. Does this mean we will be blessed financially when we give? Not necessarily. I believe it does mean, however, that if our hearts are right we get to know our Creator in a new way and be blessed spiritually. So please, do not dismiss this as another person begging for your money. I am hoping for a spiritual awakening that includes the greatest physical representation of where our hearts are – the checkbook.

9 Days Remaining- 6 Prayer Partners- 19% Funding

With just 9 days left until we travel to Bonaire, I become more and more thankful for God's blessings. He has given us the strength we need to get through each day. As many of you know, we have also been in the process of renting our Lynchburg home to some tenants while Brandon has been working a lot of hours.

I am grateful for the wonderful friends and family who have been such a support for us during these chaotic days and weeks and am relieved that the chaos seems to be winding down. Please pray for rest and renewal as we continue to prepare ourselves spiritually for the days ahead.

I am also glad to let you know that as of this afternoon we were aware of $352 in contributions toward our Bonaire vision trip. This puts us at approximately 19% and with an additional $424 available for matching funds. Do not miss out on this opportunity to have your gift doubled!

We are still looking for 29 prayer partners. We have officially met our goal of 5 partners for August 8th and still have openings on August 9-15th. Would you like to commit to pray specifically for us? Please sign up to the right so I can send you specific requests for your selected day!

$600 Matching Gift- Double your gift!!

Praise the Lord! We have a very generous donor who is willing to match up to $600 donated toward our Bonaire Vision Trip. If you were thinking about giving, now is the time to utilize this opportunity to double your gift! Donations up to a total of $600 will be matched.

To give:
Go to https://www.twr.org/projekt/602
Missionary Name: Brandon and Laura Neal
Support Designation: Support Fund

11 Days Remaining- 5 Prayer Partners- Funding Total Pending

God is good! With 11 days remaining, we have 5 prayer partners who have committed to pray for us throughout August and specifically on one day during August 8-15th while we travel. We are still looking for at least 30 more who will commit to the same. You may register at the right so we can send you prayer prompts for the specific day you choose. We do not underestimate the power of God's people uniting in prayer and purpose. We have already seen the impact of your prayers up to this point.

Additionally, I wanted to be able to report whether we met our 35% goal today, but some internet gifts are still being processed and tallied by TWR, so I cannot give the final report. I expect to have the updated totals on Thursday! Thank you to all of you who have given so generously in these trying economic times.

I am also thrilled to mention that at the time of this writing there are 110 members of "The Neal Family's Missions Updates" group on Facebook. I am so thankful to see friends and family come together to stay updated. This group is open to the public. Feel free to join!

A Great Day in the Lord's House

Although Brandon and I worshiped at different churches this morning, God was at work in both services. Brandon spoke/sang at Kentuck Presbyterian Church and Laura worshiped at Thomas Terrace Baptist Church. It was wonderful for both of us to be in churches that are close to our hearts. We were blessed to be able to share how God is working in our lives and reconnect with friends that we don't get to see as much as we would like. We were also both encouraged by the many people who offered to pray for us in the days ahead.

It is amazing to know that in God's family we are always at home no matter where the physical location. This is a constant reminder of the many individuals around the world who are also worshiping the same God and trusting the same Jesus that we do because of the men and women who have been willing to go into all the world and those at home who have faithfully supported them.

Missions doesn't begin with an overseas flight or end with a check in the mail or offering plate. EACH of us is called to make disciples and catch the vision that God has for us to reach those within our sphere of influence.

14 Days- 4 Prayer Partners - 3% Funded

Praise the Lord! With 2 weeks left, our partners are also catching the vision and staying updated with our progress. We are at 3% funding with a goal to reach 35% by Monday, July 27th. We also have 4 prayer partners out of our goal of 35 prayer partners. Will you join with us? You can register at the right to pray, give, or stay updated!

17 Days and Counting!

We have just 17 days left until our Vision trip to Bonaire. We are praying that God will raise up 35 prayer partners who will commit to pray for us once a day throughout the month of August as well as choosing one day to pray specifically throughout the day while we are overseas August 8-15th. We are also trusting God to lead churches, families, and individuals to partner with us financially to raise 35% of our goal by Monday, July 27th. I feel confident that God will use us to be an encouragement to the missionaries currently serving on Bonaire and that He will use this trip to clearly reveal His direction for our lives.

Vision Trip

As many of you may know, we have felt an increasing burden to serve in missions over the past year. Through many different circumstances, the Lord has confirmed to us that this is a direction He wants us to pursue. As we began to explore opportunities for service, we became connected with Trans World Radio. TWR is a multinational media network whose goal is simply “To assist the church to fulfill the command of Jesus Christ to make disciples of all peoples and to do so by using and making available mass media...” They are doing just that by producing programs in over 220 languages to over 2,000 outlets throughout the world, including areas where radio may be the only way people can hear the Gospel.

The type of work that TWR engages in fits very well with both of our skill sets. Brandon has applied for a position as a Business Administrator on the island of Bonaire. The team on this island needs someone who will be able to liaise between the ministry and government officials as well as manage the finances on this field. Laura is discussing working remotely for a subsidiary of TWR called MemCare by Radio. MCBR is headquartered in Europe and focuses on provided quality member care via media (radio and Web) for Christian workers serving all over the world—particularly in remote locations. This would be a great use of her education and experience in Human Services/Business Management.

As this would be a huge transition for our family, we feel that it is wise for us to take a one week trip to Bonaire in mid-August. While we are there we plan to meet with our prospective team, research housing options, and try to get a general sense of what life would be like for our family at this location. We would like to ask you to partner with us as we take these steps toward full-time service in international missions. We know that with these endeavors the prayers of family and friends are vital. Would you pray for us as we move forward in our application for service with TWR? TWR will provide us housing and local transportation while we are on Bonaire. However, we are responsible to pay for our airfare from the U.S. to Bonaire. The cost of our travel is approximately $1,800. Please pray for us as we work to raise these funds. If you feel God has laid it on your heart to help us take this vision trip, please make your tax-deductible donation online at https://www.twr.org/projekt/602 . You may designate “Brandon and Laura Neal” under Missionary Name and select the “Support Fund” option to support us financially. If you would prefer to mail a tax-deductible donation by check to TWR, feel free to contact me for more information. Thank you so much for your continual prayer for and support of our family!

Where Are We?

We feel that it is only fair to give some further information about our “disappearance” from Lynchburg to hopefully reduce any confusion. We wanted to be able to spend more time with friends before we moved and hoped to formally say “goodbye” but weren’t able to in most cases. Because we only moved 1.5 hours away I thought things wouldn’t change much. However, I’ve realized even moving across town often seems like across the country as habits and routines inevitably change with any kind of transition.

Change. I guess it is a part of life. It can be exciting or it can be utterly overwhelming.
I’ve found that God does a lot of work in my life in this area. My life is a paradox in many ways. I love change when it comes in the form of adventure, seeing new places, and meeting new people. But, I like to be the author of my own change. God is in the business of changing my heart to be more like Jesus Christ. That kind of change can be much more challenging.

All of that brings me to where we are and what we are doing. Brandon, Benjamin, and I are living just outside of Danville, VA about 1.5 hours away from Lynchburg, VA. We’ve both been in Lynchburg since 2002 and were married there in 2005. We completed our studies at Liberty University and crossed paths with many amazing people while in Lynchburg for the last 7 years. God has been digging and pouring a foundation in our lives during these critical years, and it hasn’t always been easy. He has brought us to a place of brokenness and surrender.

God has opened up some incredible opportunities, and we are seeking His face for guidance. As we wait on Him, we are living and working in the Danville, VA area. We intend to rent or sell our house in Lynchburg to free us up to go wherever God would have us go. Brandon is currently managing an athletic club in the area and loves it. He travels regularly to sing at various churches and venues. He also squeezes in a few other projects/part-time jobs on the side. I care for Benjamin and will also be working for the athletic club in various capacities as well as doing some volunteer work with a non-profit. Benjamin is growing like a weed and is nearly running. He says a few words and thinks he can say many more than we can understand. He is full of life and a true joy.

For those of you in Lynchburg, we do still make it out there on occasion and would love to set aside some time to share some of our “God journey” with you and hear about yours. For those of you out-of-towners, we do try to check Facebook, Gmail, and Twitter and would be happy to keep up with you electronically. Check back often because I will be posting updates and very soon will post about a specific opportunity for those of you who are interested in partnering with us as we serve Christ.

Thank you for all of your prayers, love, and kindness toward us.

The Neals

Welcome to The Neal Notes

Thank you for checking out our blog. This is the place to stay connected with the latest happenings in the Neal family.