Neal grew up on the north coast of Northern Ireland, the third of four children in the Wilkinson family. He completed a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Queen’s University Belfast before moving to Nashville, TN in 2011 where he graduated from the Center for Youth Ministry Training, served for 4 years as the Middle School Minister at Brentwood United Methodist Church, and met his wife Joanna. He graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Memphis Theological Seminary, was ordained in the Cumberland Presbyterian minister, and completed a CPE (chaplaincy) residency at Methodist Healthcare in Memphis, TN. Neal is a people-person, he believes in honesty and hope, and he loves football (soccer).
