Nathan Neighbors » Ministry

24 Years of Freedom

Nathan Neighbors — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:42:40 +0000

Today is a special day. It’s my birthday. Not my biological birthday – my spiritual birthday. On March 6, 1988 my life was forever changed. I was an eleven year old kid living in Florence, SC going with my family to Greenwood Baptist Church. I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was sitting with my family on the back left side of the sanctuary. For a few weeks prior to this day I had been sensing that the Lord was after my whole heart. I knew about Jesus, but I didn’t know Christ personally. I had never asked him to be my Lord and Savior. But during the invitation time on March 6, 1988 I release my hands that were gripping the back of the pew and nearly ran down the aisle. I can’t remember all that I said, but I remember crying and barely being able to speak. I remember telling the pastor of my sinfulness and my need for Jesus. As he and I prayed, the God of the Universe and I were reconciled to each other through Jesus Christ. That day began the amazing journey that I’m still on today. I love you Lord. You are my God and forever will be. Thank you for giving me this abundant and free life. To You be the glory forever and ever…amen.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9

An Extra Day!

Nathan Neighbors — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:00:51 +0000

Have you ever said, “I wish there were more hours in a day.” I may not always say it, but I certainly live like I need more hours. Work, school, family responsibilities, sports practices, rehearsals…the list is endless. There just aren’t enough hours in a day. But what would we really do if we had more time? What if we had a whole extra day? Tomorrow we get our wish. It’s February 29 – Leap Day. This is a once every four-year opportunity. What will you do with your extra day this year? Let’s spend it glorifying the Lord and making Him known!

Eleven Highlights of 2011

Nathan Neighbors — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:28:18 +0000

Rang in 2011 in Time Square with our Mside College Mission Team
Led Matthew to Christ at Spring Retreat
Found out on Easter that Ashley and I were excepting our third son.
Spent an amazing summer with my family and on mission with the Mside Youth.
Began our fourth year of Ignite youth worship services.
Preached the Word at Hub City Church on Labor Day Sunday.
Great relationships built with students at discipleship home group.
Totally crazy October & November prepping for Luke and living with back pain.
Lower back surgery on November 11.
Luke was born on November 17 and spent 10 days in the neonatal unit.
Rang in 2012 at home with my beautiful sleeping family of five!

Advent Devotions

Nathan Neighbors — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:24:54 +0000

December snuck up on the Neighbors family. Our November was a total blur. I had back surgery on November 11 and our third son was born on November 17. After an early arrival our son spent the next ten days in the NICU. With all that we’ve been through this month it seem like October was just yesterday. But here we are…it’s December…it’s Advent. If ever there was a year that my family and I need to slow down and remember all that Christ did by putting on flesh and coming to this earth, it’s now. In the midst of back pain, physical therapy, diaper changes, feedings, and sleepless nights I sat down today to focus on the Lord. I picked up a great new little devotional called, Why Christmas? Twenty-Five Meditations. This is a special book written by one of my friends and Morningside Church members, Carol Story. Carol is the mother of singer/songwriter, Laura Story. If you’re looking for a great tool to help you focus your heart on Christ this Advent season, pick up a copy of this little devotional. May this month be an opportunity for us all to focus more of our heart’s attention magnifying Jesus.

The love of Christ in a NICU

Nathan Neighbors — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:49:44 +0000

This evening begins night six of our journey with Luke through the NICU at Spartanburg Regional Hospital. In yesterday’s blog I mentioned that we received a care package from a local ministry. I want to tell you more about what this ministry is all about. Praise & Pray Ministries was formed by a couple from Jonesville, SC who’s daughter, Alayna, stayed in the NICU for 99 days back in 2009. Unfortunately those were her only days on this earth. Alayna’s parents are using her story and the hope that they have in the Lord to minister to other families who find themselves in the NICU. I’ve copied their mission from their website below:

Our mission at Praise & Pray Ministries is to offer hope to parents of premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit at Spartanburg Regional Hospital. We provide packages of useful items to these parents such as lotion, bibs, and hand sanitizer. Among other items, each package includes a letter explaining the experiences that led us to begin this ministry. Bibles are also available to these families upon request.

I’ve always know how important the NICU is, but it’s very different being on this side. Praise & Pray is providing a much needed touch to these families. The care package from them includes: a bib, disposable camera, baby lotion, hand sanitizer, hand lotion, a Subway gift card for lunch at the hospital, a Bible (with engraving from Christian Supply), and a wonderful letter from the family. I encourage you to check out their website and consider making a donation. $25 can provide a care package like the one we received yesterday for a family who finds themselves with a baby in the NICU at Spartanburg Regional. Visit their site (at the link above), give, and pray for all those who are there right now…they need it.

Our NICU Journey

Nathan Neighbors — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:57:05 +0000

When I last posted I was preparing to go into surgery on November 11th for my back. The surgery was a success and I’m home recovering. Six days into my recovery things got really interesting. My wife is pregnant with our third baby boy. We were supposed to have six weeks for me to recover before baby Luke was born, but he and the Lord had another plan. On November 17th baby Luke came into the world. I couldn’t even drive Ashley to the hospital. However, I was able to be there by her side for the delivery (in a chair).

God is so faithful. He knew that Luke would make his debut a bit early so my surgery was perfectly planned a week prior. The doctors say that Luke came just late enough in the pregnancy that he was out of the woods as far as major health issues. He was born at 34 weeks and 5 days (almost 5 weeks early). This birth was unlike our other two. Because he was so small the birthing process was very quick and we didn’t get to spend time with him initially. Within seconds of delivery the nurses whisked him away to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) and he’s been there ever since. We’re now beginning day 5. Luke is healthy and everything looks good, but he needs to eat more and grow stronger before he can come home. It’s hard leaving him each night at the hospital, but the folks in the NICU are amazing.

I’ve been astounded by the Christian witness in our county hospital. Since arriving in the NICU, Luke has been given a hat made by a local church, a care package from a ministry and today he even got his own little Bible. The love of Christ is being proclaimed to the smallest ones of Spartanburg and to their families. We’re very thankful that baby Luke is doing well and that the Lord has us in this place with great doctors and nurses to help him grow strong and come home soon.

Far More Than A Helper

Nathan Neighbors — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 05:18:01 +0000

This week in the Neighbors’ household the roles are reversed. Ashley is in Orlando with a group of our teenage girls from Morningside attending the Blume Conference. This “girls only” event has been a great way for Ashley to further connect with the ladies in our student ministry, and a way for me to step back from the lead for a moment. During these days away from full-time ministry I’ve been keeping the home front going with our two boys who are full of life and energy (that’s code for: wild and crazy).

For several months leading up to this week Ashley has been saying, “You’re not going to know what to do without me while I’m gone to Blume.” Whenever she would bring it up I would laugh it off and pretended that I was going to be fine. However, on the inside, I knew it was going to be really hard without her. This week has given me a new appreciation of what Ashley does as the homemaker in our family.

From the very beginning God knew that man needed help. Genesis 2:18 says, ”The LORD God said, It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” For some of you, that may seem chauvinistic, but it’s the truth. God made men and women to be together and to help one another in this life. It certainly is true for me. I don’t know where I would be without Ashley. She is far more than a “helper” to me. She makes managing our home, raising our boys, and serving in our church all at the same time look so easy. Heck, I had trouble this week just trying to go by the office for a minute with the boys.

One year before I answered the call to full-time ministry (back in 1993) I met and began to date Ashley. I didn’t know it then, but God’s provision was right on time. Even before He called me, He equipped me. The Lord provided the best part of my ministry – my wife!

This makes my day…

Nathan Neighbors — Thu, 19 May 2011 01:32:29 +0000

Remembering Bebop

Nathan Neighbors — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 02:12:29 +0000

A great friend died yesterday. His name was Kirk Neely (Bebop). I was fortunate to know him for the last five of his 90 wonderful years. He opened his home to my family for our first eight weeks in Spartanburg. In those weeks he and his wife, Ruth (Nanny) became like grandpartents to Ashley and I and great grandparents to Anderson. In fact, it was Bebop who got Anderson to start talking. I can remember many nights that I would come to their home after work to find Anderson curled up next to Bebop on the couch watching T.V.

Bebop has hundreds of “blood relatives.” In fact, the Neely clan is so large that they have their own bowl game (Neely Bowl) during the Thanksgiving weekend. However, because of Bebops love for the Lord and his passion for people, there are thousands upon thousands that have been touched in some way by his life. Bebop is a true man of God who even to his death was telling the Good News of Jesus.

Tonight as our family sat down to dinner, Anderson said, “I don’t want to die.” ”What?” I said. ”I’m scared to die,” Anderson replied. I wondered if he was thinking about Bebop. ”You don’t have to be scared to die…are you worried about Bebop?” He nodded his head yes. ”Bebop is in heaven today with Jesus,” I said. I told Anderson that it would be a long time before he would die and that when that time came he would get to see Bebop again. I told him that everyone who believes in Jesus and asks him in their heart will live forever in heaven when they die. Then Anderson said, “but what if I don’t have Jesus in my heart?” There it was. Anderson began asking what it meant to believe in Jesus. In that moment I thought that he would ask Jesus into his heart, but in the end Anderson jumped to another subject and the conversation ended. I took that as a sign that he wasn’t ready. But the conversation has begun. I know that Bebop was glad to be part of Anderson and Ellis’ lives. He thought of them as bonus great grandchildren. Though Bebop isn’t here anymore – his legacy lives on. Tonight’s conversation with Anderson is part of that legacy. Bebop would be proud to know that he was part of Anderson’s faith formation. Thank you Bebop for always pointing us to Jesus. May we always live our lives that way – pointing people to Jesus and giving Him all the glory.

A Radical Book

Nathan Neighbors — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:56:29 +0000

Though I love to learn new things about the God I love and the ministry He has called me too, I’m not an avid reader. Ashley, on the other hand, can read a book in a day. Despite my lack of reading, this week I finished my second book in three weeks. You would think that during this busy holiday time I would have less time to read, but this book captivated my attention. I kept wanting to go back to it again and again.

Radical is the new book by David Platt. Platt writes with a sincere conviction for the American church to return to the purpose for which Christ died for them. His passion for the lost and his heart for world missions is contagious. I’d highly recommend reading it. Be warned that if you do, be ready to be convicted by the Holy Spirit to step away from the American dream and into the dream God has for the world to hear the Good News. It’s an easy read – but hard to live. That’s what’s so great about it. I pray that God will continue stirring in me what he wants me to do with what He has taught me through David’s book.