Neal Avirett is a follower of Jesus, husband to Julie, dad to Brianna and Adeline, son of Lee Avirett and Becky Blakemore, and “just a guy” to anyone seeking the grace of God in their life. A native of Tallahassee, he enjoys reading, coffee, Frisbee, talking with strangers, and making new friends.
He answered his call to ministry at the Wesley Foundation at Florida State University, and began unpacking his gifts for outreach and mission on campus with table talks and brown bag lunches to homeless camps on West Tennessee St. Evangelism and small group discipleship are his heart. He has a bachelor’s degree of social work from FSU and master’s of divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.
Neal has served three appointments in 19 years: Greenville/Cherry Lake Circuit, Fort Ogden, and Spring Glen. His favorite moments in ministry were starting a prison ministry to teenage girls, forging a community Easter Sunrise service, building partnerships with sister churches in Cuba, and a fresh expression ministry called “Martha’s Table: A Dinner Church.”
Neal is excited to be on the pastoral team at Trinity UMC and being in mission to the greater Tallahassee community and Guatemala.