- Leadership Team
Neil R. Anderson - Director
Neil is an ordained pastor with over 20 years of leadership experience in pastoral and non-profit contexts. He is honored to serve as Director of the Thrive Ministry Leadership Residency program for Thrive Lonsdale, as a pastor to pastors with Standing Stone Ministry, and as a ministry partner and executive board member of Souleader Resources.
Experience breeds empathy. Having encountered a full share of the joys, heartaches, successes, and failures of ministry, Neil's heart beats for pastors and Christian leaders. His calling is to support, mentor, and coach those on the front lines of ministry in 1-on-1 and small group/team settings. He cares about cultivating healthy environments and facilitating honest conversations with pastors and leaders - giving them space to rest, reflect, listen, and share, and giving the Spirit room to do His work of deep renewal, growth, and transformation.
Neil is a graduate of Biola University and Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, CA, and has worked as a pastor, teacher, missionary, and ministry director in various churches and non-profits. He formerly served 10 years as Lead Pastor of Coast Bible Church in San Juan Capistrano, CA.
Neil remains deeply in love with Casey, his college sweetheart and bride of 19 years. Bennett (13), Mallory (11), and Amelia (8) round out a home full of life, strife, learning, and grace. Together, they reside in Knoxville, where they enjoy coffee on the deck, reading, traveling, music at the Bijou, hiking the Smokies, bicycling the greenways, Taco Tuesdays, and family movie nights.
Thrive Residency Advisory Board
David Colquitt, The Swag
Rev. Brent Harriman, Resurrection Knoxville
Bisha Harrington, Memphis Fellows (former)
Rick Kuhlman, Knoxville Fellows
Becky Little, Trinity Health Foundation
Dr. Randy Pardue, Trinity Medical Associates
Clayton Wood, Thrive Lonsdale
