Emmanuel Baptist Church, Toledo, OH
Daniel Neighbors was ordained for ministry at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Toledo, OH, after being examined by a council of pastors who met with him on January 26, 2023. Dan chose a different pathway to this ministry milestone because he has already been serving as a pastor for fifteen years. Marriage, ministry, and raising a family caused one year to roll into another: life got busy. Dan graduated from the former Northland Baptist Bible College with a B.A. in Church Ministries and obtained a Master’s in Biblical Studies two years later. Next, he spent four years as a youth pastor at Unity Baptist Church in Champagne, IL. In August 2013 he accepted a youth ministry position at Emmanuel in Toledo because he appreciated the preaching and teaching emphasis of Pastor Duke Crawford. Six years later he moved into his current role as Pastor of Families, Discipleship, and Communication. His responsibilities include Sunday School, Wednesday night ministries, all church communication, and oversight of worship technology. Pastor Dan Neighbors and his wife, Laura, have three children.
Pastor Duke Crawford began Dan’s ordination service on January 29 with the explanation that, “God calls out from among us those whose vocation is Christian ministry. We celebrate the glory of the Lord through Christian ministry.” Pastor Dan preached a message on Psalm 130 emphasizing how God can deliver his people in times of trouble and sharing the message of salvation with the church congregation. His father, retired pastor James Neighbors (formerly of Bluelick Baptist Church in Lima, OH), delivered a challenge to his newly ordained son. Pastor Neighbors, Sr. charged Dan to make fellowship with God, family, and faithfulness the priorities of his ministry. The service concluded with the laying on of hands by the pastors, deacons, and council participants. Pastor Dan was presented with a Certificate of Ordination and a preaching Bible. He is currently the Pastor of Students, Families and communications at Emmanuel Baptist Church.
