By Michelle Adserias
Most faith heroes go relatively unnoticed. They are known to only a handful of people directly touched by their faithful service to God and His people. If you do a Google search, their names will have few or no entries. Yet, there will be souls in heaven eagerly greeting them, recognizing God used them to bring about their eternal rescue.
One such man is my personal hero, Reverend Richard Neale. Though his reach was greater than his local church and community, there are many men and women who are far better known. Still, his story is worth telling.
Richard Neale was raised in a fairly affluent home. And he was content with his life until he was nearly killed in an accident. As he lay in the hospital, recovering from his injuries, he brokered a deal with God. You’ve seen the scene in movies. “If you spare me, Lord, I will serve you.”
It was more than a passing attempt to escape death, though. Richard had a true encounter with the living God. He surrendered his life to his Savior and began walking faithfully with him. Throughout the rest of his life, he lived by this principle: God First.
Rather than follow his father’s footsteps into the business world, Richard followed his Heavenly Father’s call into full-time ministry. After completing seminary at Wheaton College, he pastored several Midwest churches. His desire to bring the gospel to children and families grew into a new ministry. Richard founded Youth Gospel Crusade in 1943.
Reverend Neale and his wife, Myrl, traveled from church to church, presenting the truths of God’s love for the world through blacklight illustrations, adventure films, simple illusions, and engaging messages. God used his work to transform souls everywhere he went. But Richard wasn’t finished yet. He still had a desire to begin a summer camp ministry.
In 1958, he bought a piece of land in Westboro, Wisconsin and established Camp Forest Springs (now known as Forest Springs Camp and Conference Center) as part of Youth Gospel Crusade’s ministry. God miraculously provided land, one piece at a time, until the camp included 450 acres with three small lakes, one of which was ideal for boating and swimming, and a hill big enough for skiing and sledding. Because Richard understood that “the God of the world and the God of the Word” are one and the same, he focused on giving campers opportunities to discover more about who God is through the world He created.
Only God knows how many lives were touched, and are still being touched, by this one man’s obedience to God’s leading. And all because he lived by the words on a large wooden sign that still hangs on the building named in his honor: God First.
