Our Pastor
If you’re looking for an affirming community that offers a wide range of ministry opportunities for you and your family to get involved with, I invite you to come and see what the Nor'kirk family has to offer! You will find loving people that are deeply committed to their faith and are willing to walk beside you! I know that I will! ----Blessings, Pastor Elise
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Elise
Neal
Hello! Pastor Elise here. I want to take a moment to introduce myself to you.
I would say I’m not quite your typical pastor. I’m fun loving, full of energy, and at times, loud! But I am also caring, sensitive, and full of joy! I have a deeply spiritual side and enjoy practicing meditation and yoga and exploring all kinds of ways to connect to our Creator, God.
Here are some fun things to know about me. I love anything chocolate and Italian food, and if you see me in a Mexican restaurant, I’ll probably be drinking a margarita! My favorite Starbucks drink is the caramel ribbon crunch Frappuccino with Java chips! I love to create meaningful community so holidays are extremely important to me, but my favorite holiday is Halloween. I know that might seem strange for a pastor, but you’ll have to ask me why. My favorite color is purple, and I love anything sparkly! Any excuse to wear a tiara is good enough for me!
I have a wonderful family! My husband Ryan, and I have been married for 17 years. We have three children. Our daughter Kaylen is 13, our son Knox is 12, and our son Terryn is 10, and our family wouldn’t be complete without our miniature dachshund Lulabelle, who is 9 years old. We are a typical family, and our children enjoy varying activities in school and in sports. We also share commonality with other families dealing with children with ADD, ADHD, and Autism.
During the past 17 years, we have lived in North Carolina, Virginia, Iowa, West Virginia, and Texas. Our family believes in creating memories so we spend a lot of time doing family trips, outings, and Friday night movie nights. We enjoy camping, swimming, skiing, and family vacations. The kids would say their favorite vacation is when we went to Mackinac Island. If you ask them about it, they will have a lot to share.
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I graduated from Marshall University in 2001 with an elementary education degree and specialization in early childhood. I taught two years as a teacher in North Carolina before deciding to pursue my calling to Ministry. I graduated from Union theological seminary and Presbyterian School Of Christian education in 2007. I served as an associate pastor in Sioux City, Iowa; a full-time pastor in Fairmont, West Virginia and San Antonio, Texas; and provided ministerial support to a small congregation in Lockhart, Texas. In October 2022, I was called to serve in Carrollton, Texas as Pastor of the Nor'kirk and will begin my service in January 2023.
I want you to know that I'm a normal person, just like you, who continues to strive on a daily basis to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. I have my good days and my bad days, and I am unapologetically me! God has called me to use my gifts in ministry to further God's kingdom, and I am humbly honored to be alled to serve as the pastor of the Nor'kirk.
Blessings,
Pastor Elise