Founding Pastors

Ransford Authurbury Neil, Founding Pastor of Living Word Fellowship Ministries, Inc. in Winston-Salem, NC, was in Pastor-Ministry for over 30 years. In 1967, when he was 17 years of age, in his native country of Jamaica, West Indies, Pastor Neil accepted salvation and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

In 1970, Pastor Neil came to America. Two years later, he married the lovely Lucille Goulbourne, also of Jamaica, WI, and moved to Columbus, Ohio. The couple raised two children as a result of their marriage: Nicole and Ransford II (Ronnie).

Educated at Lawson’s Bible School in New York, NY and Aenon Bible School and Capital University, both in

Columbus, Ohio, Pastor Neil believed that “Jesus Christ is Lord, that he died for all our sins to make us new

creatures in Christ Jesus, and there is no difference between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They are One.”

During his years in Columbus, Pastor Neil and his wife operated their own Health Food and Jewelry Businesses and Pastor Neil served as the Associate Minister of an Apostolic Church in the city. He also served as the Associate Minister of Southeast Mission, an Outreach Ministry. Furthermore, Pastor Neil found favor with several businessmen who allowed him to teach Bible studies to their employees during the lunch hour. 

In 1983, the Neil’s, following the leading of the Holy Spirit, moved to Winston-Salem, NC. In 1984, Pastor Neil and his wife (Lucille), who were residents of the United States, became citizens of the US.

“The Lord was leading us here,” Pastor Neil says. “It was divine providence.” 

Upon their arrival, they expanded their jewelry business from a Repair Center to incorporate retail jewelry and; hence, named the business “Neil’s Jewelry”. Additionally, they became active members and worshipped at Ishi Temple where Pastor Neil later taught Bible Classes.

In 1985, Pastor Neil knew that the Lord wanted him to spearhead a new work. Hence, Living Word Fellowship Ministries, Inc., a Non-Denominational Congregation, began with the Neil family in their home and new friends they invited as they met them.

In just a short time, the church outgrew the Neil’s home and had to transition to a local YMCA and then two area hotels. 

“I think people still found us because they were invited or someone brought them,” he said. “I think most of them came because they were curious at first. I believe people were searching for a ministry of The Truth and we’ve always endeavored to give people The Truth of God’s Word- The Uncompromising Truth. We knew we had something to offer.”

In 1988, Pastor Neil closed a successful jewelry business to go into a successful ministry full-time. Shortly thereafter, the congregation of Living Word Fellowship began meeting in a new facility (Phase 1) with 30 members which they built on six acres with which God blessed them. Phase 1 included a sanctuary, offices, classrooms, and a nursery.

“We have a growing congregation,” Neil says. “We plan to build a Day Care Center, a Multi-Purpose Community Facility, and in our final phase, a Main Sanctuary.”

Living Word Fellowship held dedication services for Phase 1 of its building project on November 23rd thru 25th of 1990. Special guests included Pastor Rueben Hash (deceased) and his congregation of St. Peter’s World Outreach Center of Winston-Salem, NC and Bishop Monroe Saunders of Baltimore, MD (deceased).

Pastor Neil says, “Living Word Fellowship offers good, friendly, Spirit-Filled people with the Love of God within them. Living Word Fellowship is all about people. It’s a place where The Word is Alive and Full of Power!”

Pastor Ransford Neil is survived by his wife, Lucille Neil, and 2 Children: Nicole Neil and Ron Neil II.