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Kirk H. Neely
Kirk H. Neely is a native of Spartanburg, S.C., who serves as Senior Pastor of Morningside Baptist Church, is an Adjunct Professor of Religion at USC Upstate and has authored books, stories, and sermons. Although colorblind, he is also an artist.

He is a Master Gardener and enjoys working in his own garden. The National Wildlife Federation has certified the Neely’s backyard as a wildlife refuge. He is the oldest of eight children of Kirk and Louise (Hutson) Neely. While a student at Furman University, Kirk met Clare Long of Leesville, South Carolina. They were married in 1966. They are parents of five children and have eleven grandchildren. Kirk and Clare live in the home built by his grandparents in 1937 after the Great Depression.

Education
He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry from Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina (1966). He completed the Master of Divinity Degree (1970) and the Doctor of Ministry Degree in Pastoral Counseling (1973) at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky. He was named a Merrill Fellow at The Divinity School of Harvard University (1980) where he did postdoctoral study.

Pastoral Care
Since 1996, he has served as Senior Pastor of Morningside Baptist Church. He previously served for sixteen years (1980–1996) as Associate Pastor of Family Ministries and Director of the Pastoral Counseling Center at First Baptist Church, Spartanburg, South Carolina. Prior to that, he served as Pastor of Family Ministries at Knollwood Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (1973–1980). Early in his ministry, Kirk served as pastoral counselor and chaplain at a state mental hospital, a child evaluation clinic, an institution for juvenile delinquents, and a general hospital, all in Kentucky.

Teacher
Dr. Neely has taught at Southern Seminary, Wofford College, the Divinity School of Gardner-Webb University, and in the Life-long Learning division at Furman University. Currently, he is an Adjunct Professor of Religion at University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg.

Radio Personality
The Morningside Baptist Church Sunday morning worship service is broadcast on radio station ESPN and WDRF each week. “The Morningside Pulpit” is broadcast on radio station WOLT each week. Kirk also has a program entitled “Family Matters” that is broadcast on these three radio stations each week.

Speaker
Dr. Neely is a frequent speaker for corporate and private events and family life programs throughout the Southeast.

Books:
A Good Mule Is Hard To Find and Other Tales from Red Clay Country, The Hub City Writers’ Project, 2009 (second printing). Selected as a finalists for the 2010 Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) Awards presented annually for the best in Southern literature.

Banjos, Barbecue, and Boiled Peanuts and Other Tales from the South, The Hub City Writers’ Project.

By the Sea, (devotionals), Christian Supply Co., 1996

Comfort and Joy: Stories for Christmas, The Hub City Writers’ Project, 2006 (third printing) – a collection of his Christmas stories.

Hudson Cousins, (family history), privately published

Neely Cousins, (family history), privately published

Santa Almost Got Caught: Stories for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year, Dog Ear Publishing, LLC, 2011.

Unto the Hills, (devotionals), Christian Supply Co., 1996

When Grief Comes: Finding Strength for Today and Hope for Tomorrow, Baker Books, 2007 (third printing).

Where To Go For Help, co-author with Wayne E. Oates, Westminster Press, 1972

Articles:
Dr. Neely is a frequent writer for the Faith and Values page of The Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Since 2005 he has written a weekly column “By the Way” for H-J Weekly. Dr. Neely is a freelance writer whose articles have appeared in several publications including The Spartanburg Magazine and the Sandlapper Magazine.

“Christmas at Croft” in Hub City Christmas, The Hub City Writers’ Project, 1997.

Community Service
Serves on numerous educational, nonprofit, and religious boards, commissions, and committees.
 * board member of
 * Children’s Advocacy Center of Spartanburg (founding board)
 * Palmetto Council, Boy Scouts of America (multiple terms)
 * Rotary Club of Spartanburg (multiple terms)
 * St. Luke’s Free Clinic (multiple terms


 * The Spartanburg Ministerial Association
 * President of the PTA
 * E.P. Todd Elementary School
 * Carver Junior High School
 * Spartanburg High School


 * Wofford College
 * President’s Advisory Board (member)
 * Parent Advisory Council (two terms)

Awards
Kirk received the Four Avenues of Service Award from the Rotary Club in 2002. The Salvation Army recognized him as the Toast of the Town in 2003. He was honored with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in 2009. Kirk is an Honorary Kentucky Colonel, recognized for distinguished service to The Commonwealth of Kentucky. Wofford College recognized Kirk as their Distinguished Citizen of the Year for 2010.