Retired Mineola pastor Terry Neel traces his interest in photography to a photograph of the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Neel took the photo looking down on the Western Wall while on a performance tour with the Baylor University Choir in 1971. 

That visit was memorable for many reasons, one of them being that the group narrowly missed being victims of terrorist bombings twice during their stay in the Holy Land.  

The photograph, which Neel has preserved in excellent condition, is indeed a quality picture. In fact, it was with this photo that Neel realized he had a bit of a photographer’s eye. Capturing images soon became part of his life.

Two great generational influences – the Baptist Church and music – shaped Neel’s character. 

“I am the sixth generation in my family who were Baptist preachers,” Neel said, “and, despite skipping a generation, my maternal grandmother was a gifted pianist.”

Neel grew up in Beaumont and marks the start of his musical life when, on his eighth birthday, his parents bought a piano, replacing one of those small, red, Schroeder toy pianos. The family would come home from church, and Neel would sit at the piano and bang out the melody of the hymns sung that morning at service.

He eventually honored both influences with a dual major at Baylor University in music and Biblical studies. While at Baylor, a one-semester internship became a four-year stint on the music staff at a church in Broken Bow, Okla. 

Although returning to Beaumont was never Neel’s plan, he did, serving three churches in the city. During this time, he met Connie, his wife-to-be. The two embarked on a life closely tied to the church. He and Connie also became involved in community theatre, as did their children. 

One stop was in the small panhandle town of Perryton, described by Neel as “my favorite place.”  Neel served as a music director, and was involved in the annual presentation of Handel’s ‘Messiah.’  The performance is now in its 70^th year, and has become a celebrated feature of the Texas Panhandle.  

“Although I never saw myself as a pastor,” Neel explained, “I also knew that God moves in his own time.”  

After five years in Perryton, Neel accepted the pastor duties at a church in Guymon, Okla.

The Neels left one panhandle for the next.  After six-and-a-half years in Oklahoma, Neel accepted his second pastorship in Kingsville. 

“That small church was incredibly active – running a food bank, providing free lunches for students of Coastal Bend Community College, and leading a quarterly gospel singing,” Neel said.

Despite a lifetime spent in locales largely devoid of forest, as retirement neared, it was East Texas that called to the Neels.  Visiting two friends in Mineola over the years (pastor Mark Neeley and music director Bert Ball) left a very favorable impression of Mineola on the Neels. 

Throughout his journey of ministry, photography was always there – a way to relax and recharge. Neel focused on nature. 

“I enjoyed capturing moments in creation,” Neel shared. 

Often, he would have photos framed and placed in church offices. Some of his favorite photography outings were drive-abouts with his grandson, Donavan. It was an opportunity for them both to “marvel at the beauty of God’s handiwork,” as Neel explained. 

Retirement is, of course, a relative term. So it is with Terry and Connie Neel. Neel is involved with Mineola ISD, serves as pianist at New Hope Baptist Church, and fills in on occasion for the pastor there, as well as at the First Baptist Church of Mineola, where he also sings in the choir. 

Connie is a cross-stitching specialist, and they both enjoy supporting the Lake Country Playhouse.  

And, for Terry, there is always photography.

He does not travel without his cameras. 

“They are certainly not the most expensive cameras, but they are also not the simplest,” he stated. 

Neel uses a Canon T7 Rebel and a Canon PowerShot, both digital. 

“The combination gives me a great chance to capture any scene I might come across,” Neel explained. 

Recently, that included a Great Blue Heron standing calmly in the shallows at Lake Holbrook. The photo is remarkable both for its quality as well as for the incredible reflection in the perfectly calm water. 

Neel offered that any hobby should be a bit of a stress-buster, and, even more importantly, should bring joy.  The intricate complexity, sheer beauty and unique artistry of nature photography fit the bill for Neel. 

The retired pastor detailed three recommendations for anyone seeking a hobby. 

First, patience is required. Any hobby involves doing something for the first time, and that means learning. Learning, especially for the more experienced, requires patience.

Secondly, Neel advised, “Don’t be afraid.”  There will be a learning curve, there will be mistakes, there will be frustration. The only way to develop skills is to have the courage to step out and give it a try.  

Lastly, one does not have to spend a fortune on a hobby – but, Need added, don’t be cheap either. 

Practically every hobby has an informal network of like-minded people. Among those groups for amateur photographers are East Texas Photography, East Texas Backroads, Texas Birds, Canon T7 Network, and Texas Wildlife Photography.

Neel volunteered a bit of advice, worthy for both photography and life in general. 

He concluded the interview with, “Remember that God is in control. We just need to stay true and not get caught up in politics. There is beauty everywhere; we just have to look for it.”