Harold Davis Neel, 1910 - 1988
MC 702-706
Archives of DePauw University and
Indiana United Methodism
Biographical Sketch
The Reverend Harold D. Neel was a prominent North Indiana pastor and national mission official. Long identified with missions even in his final days, Dr. Neel worked as an assistant general secretary from 1964 to 1971 in mission education and cultivation work in New York for what is now the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries.
As well as serving in New York, he held pastorates in Poneto, Jonesboro, Elkhart Simpson, Fort Wayne Forest Park and Faith Churches, and two nine-year pastorates -- at Mishawaka First Church and Muncie High Street.
Harold and his wife Betty, worked extensively in missions all of their married life. They were in various groups of "Good-Will" Tours, and attended the organizational meeting of the World Council of Churches at Amsterdam, Holland. They served as short term Missionaries in India, and led work teams to St. Vincent Island, Haiti, and Dominica. They participated in Mission Study Seminars in Africa, Japan, Korea, Egypt, India and Nepal. After his retirement, Rev. Neel and his wife were "interpreters" for the Board of Global Ministries.
Dr. Neel held degrees from Asbury College, Asbury Theological Seminary, Boston University School of Theology, and a Doctor of Divinity from Asbury College. A native of Summer County, Kansas, he was admitted as a conference ministerial member "on trial" in 1935 and ordained a full member in 1937.
Harold and Betty had two children, a son, James Alan Neel, and a daughter, Ruth Ellen Danglade.
Reverend Harold Davis Neel died August 25, 1988 at the age of 78.
Collection Statement
Items relating to the life, career and extensive missionary work of Harold Davis Neel, 1910-1988.
Collection includes correspondence, scrapbooks, clippings, slide presentations, photographs, certificates,
manuscripts and typescripts of sermons by Neel, and various other related items.
MC 702
Folder 1: Articles: "Putting Purpose into Life", The Pastor's Journal, May 1942
2: Biographical Information3: Certificates/Diplomas: Boston University, 1934
4: Certificates/Diplomas: Deacon's Credentials, 19355: Certificates/Diplomas: The Board of Ministerial Training, North Indiana Conference, 1937
6: Certificates/Diplomas: Elder's Credentials, 1937
7: Certificates/Diplomas: Asbury College (Wilmore, KY) - Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity, 1950
8: Certificates/Diplomas: The Church Executive Development Board, 19669: Certif./Diplomas: Continuing Education, The Advisory Committee for Educational Opportunities for Clergy & Laity, 1974
10: Certificates/Diplomas: The American Red Cross, Board of Elkhart County Chapter, 197611: Certificates/Diplomas: Indiana Council of Churches, Ecumenical Leadership Citation, 1982
12: Certificates/Diplomas: The Advisory Council for Educational Opportunities for Clergy and Laity, Ischgl, Austria, 198413: Certif./Diplomas: The Advisory Council for Educational Opportunities for Clergy & Laity, Stockholm, Sweden, 1985
14: Certificates/Diplomas: Christian Camping International, Distinguished Volunteer Award, 198615: Clippings
16: Correspondence: 1930s 17: Correspondence: Kim, Yang Ja (Ruth) 1965-1983
18: Marriage: Harold Davis Neel and Helen Elizabeth Spence, 1937
19: Passports: Harold Davis Neel / Helen Elizabeth Neel
20: Photographs: Harold Davis Neel / Helen Elizabeth Neel21: 1938-1939: Trip Around the World (November 1938 - April 1939)
22: 1948: World Council of Churches - Amsterdam, Holland23: 1948: European Tour of Methodist Missionary (July 20 - September 17, 1948)
24: 1951: Methodist Good Will Tour25: 1956: Methodist India Centenary World Tour
26: 1956: Yun Sung Yul Memorial Church - Seoul, Korea27: 1957: Budhole Church - Hyderabad, India Project
28: 1962: World Tour of Missions29: 1964: British-American Preachers Exchange
30: 1967: Methodist Youth Fund World Mission Project31: 1970: India Centennial Tour (November 28 - December 19, 1970)
MC 703 TRAVELSFolder 1: 1974: Edinburgh, Scotland - "The Living Word and the World" (August 9-24, 1974)
2: 1976: Caribbean Mission Study Tour (February 1 - March 1, 1976)3: 1976: Hyderabad, India - "Persons in Mission" (October 20, 1976 - January 20, 1977)
4: 1977: Haiti - "Work Team Mission Project" (April 18-28, 1977)5: 1978-1979: Sun City, Arizona - Lakeview Methodist Church Project
6: 1978: Georgetown, St. Vincent - Caribbean "Work Group / Educational Experience 1978" (March 31 - April 15, 1978)7: 1979: Antigua, West Indies - Caribbean "Work Group / Educational Experience 1979" (January 6-21, 1979)
8: 1979: St. Vincent, West Indies - "Person in Mission" (August 11 - November 18, 1979)9: 1980: Dominica, West Indies - "Work Group for Dominica" (March 14-29, 1980)
10: 1981: Chateaubelair, St. Vincent, West Indies11: 1982: Hawaii, Japan, Korea - United Methodist Mission Study Tour (July 17 - August 7, 19
12: 1983: Zimbabwe, Africa - Dombo Church Building
13: 1983: Holy Land - Israel / Egypt Extension (January 19 - February 2, 1983)14: 1985: Holy Land - Egypt, Luxor (January 8-24, 1985)
15: 1986: India & Nepal - Mission Study (January 30 - March 2, 1986)MC 704 SLIDES
Folder 1: Slides: Caribbean, 1976
2: Slides: West Indies 1976 - 19813: Slides: St. Vincent, 1981
4: Slides: Nepal & India, 1986-1987
5: Slide Show/Descriptions: "Land of Endless Mountains", Haiti, Antigua, 1980 (Slides located in MC 706)6: Slide Show/Descriptions: "Korea", 1982 (Slides located in MC 706)
7: Slide Show/Descriptions: "Journeying After St. Paul", Greece/Turkey, 1985 (Slides located in MC 706)8: Slide Show/Descriptions: "Africa in Change Today", Africa Church Growth and Development (Slides located in MC 706)
9: Slide Show/Descriptions: "Life With Southeast Asia" (Slides located in MC 706)10: Slide Show/Descriptions: "New Horizons for India" (Slides located in MC 706)
SERMONS / SPEECHESFolder 11: Children's Sermons/Messages
12: Funeral Services/Sermons13: Sermons/Speeches: "Adequate for Adversity"
14: Sermons/Speeches: "The Answer in the Wind"15: Sermons/Speeches: "The Art of Belonging"
16: Sermons/Speeches: "As a Man Thinketh"17: Sermons/Speeches: "As the Twig is Bent"
18: Sermons/Speeches: "Be Ye Thankful"19: Sermons/Speeches: "Blood Brothers"
20: Sermons/Speeches: "The Book of Books"21: Sermons/Speeches: "Can We Be Sure of Man?"
22: Sermons/Speeches: "Certainty"23: Sermons/Speeches: "A Chance for Change", CROP Meetings
24: Sermons/Speeches: "Christ - The Hope of the World"25: Sermons/Speeches: "Christian Brotherhood"
26: Sermons/Speeches: "Christian Faith in Action"27: Sermons/Speeches: "This Christian Fellowship - The Church"
28: Sermons/Speeches: "Christian Insight"29: Sermons/Speeches: "Christian Optimism"
30: Sermons/Speeches: "Christian Resources"31: Sermons/Speeches: "The Christian's Calling"
32: Sermons/Speeches: "The Christian's Valuation of Time"33: Sermons/Speeches: "The Church and the Disorder of Society"
34: Sermons/Speeches: "The Church Universal"35: Sermons/Speeches: "Commitments that Count"
36: Sermons/Speeches: "Communion in the Third Dimension"37: Sermons/Speeches: "Coordinating Life"
38: Sermons/Speeches: "The Courageous Friend"39: Sermons/Speeches: "The Danger of Spiritual Flabbiness"
40: Sermons/Speeches: "Dangerous Neutrality"41: Sermons/Speeches: "Death A Minor Tragedy"
42: Sermons/Speeches: "Dedicated to a Proposition"43: Sermons/Speeches: "Discipline for Today"
44: Sermons/Speeches: "Disciplined Living"45: Sermons/Speeches: "Do Promises Mean Anything to Us?"
46: Sermons/Speeches: "Easter Makes a Difference"47: Sermons/Speeches: "An Eternal Quest"
48: Sermons/Speeches: "Eyes for SalvationMC 705 SERMONS / SPEECHES
Folder 1: Sermons/Speeches: "Faith is the Answer"
2: Sermons/Speeches: "Faithful With Trifles"
3: Sermons/Speeches: "Fear - A Friend or Foe"4: Sermons/Speeches: "The Fearful Friend"
5: Sermons/Speeches: "Freedom's Responsibilities"6: Sermons/Speeches: "The Good News"
7: Sermons/Speeches: "Gracious Gratitude"8: Sermons/Speeches: "The Greatness of God!"
9: Sermons/Speeches: "Guiding Spiritual Growth"10: Sermons/Speeches: "The Half of the Whole"
11: Sermons/Speeches: "Hard Problems and Difficult Answers"12: Sermons/Speeches: "He Will Not Be Hidden"
13: Sermons/Speeches: "Hippies........Why?"14: Sermons/Speeches: "His Cross and Ours"
15: Sermons/Speeches: "His Matchless Name"16: Sermons/Speeches: "His Place and Ours"
17: Sermons/Speeches: "How Concerned Are You?"18: Sermons/Speeches: "Human Hands"
19: Sermons/Speeches: "In God's Garden"20: Sermons/Speeches: "Is Jealousy Ever Justified?"
21: Sermons/Speeches: "It was There"22: Sermons/Speeches: "Jesus in the Stream of India"
23: Sermons/Speeches: "Lasting Values"24: Sermons/Speeches: "Life's Common Denominator"
25: Sermons/Speeches: "Life's Unshakables"26: Sermons/Speeches: "The Lord in this Place?"
27: Sermons/Speeches: "Love and Loyalty Alone"8: Sermons/Speeches: "Love's Remembrance"
29: Sermons/Speeches: "Making the Most of Today"30: Sermons/Speeches: "Mankind Faces Decision"
31: Sermons/Speeches: "Misunderstood Values"32: Sermons/Speeches: "Observing Thanksgiving Day"
33: Sermons/Speeches: "On Lifting Thanksgiving Out of the Past"34: Sermons/Speeches: "Open During Alteration"
35: Sermons/Speeches: "Our Christian Heritage"36: Sermons/Speeches: "Palm Leaves and Crosses"
37: Sermons/Speeches: "Peak Performance"38: Sermons/Speeches: "Putting Faith into Action"
39: Sermons/Speeches: "Reaching for the Minds of Men"40: Sermons/Speeches: "Religion in Retrospect"
41: Sermons/Speeches: The Responsibility of a Substitute"
42: Sermons/Speeches: "The Role of the Minister in a Terminal Illness", Talk to Cancer Society
43: Sermons/Speeches: "Sacred Privileges"44: Sermons/Speeches: "Saved to Serve"
45: Sermons/Speeches: "Shall Man Live Again"46: Sermons/Speeches: "Shall We Worship the God's of the Enemy"
47: Sermons/Speeches: "Slips that Count"48: Sermons/Speeches: "So You Want to be Somebody"
49: Sermons/Speeches: "The Soil of Life"50: Sermons/Speeches: "Special Ministries - New Forms of Mission"
51: Sermons/Speeches: "Submitting Ourselves to Divine Questions"52: Sermons/Speeches: "Subversive Inactivity"
53: Sermons/Speeches: "Successful Surrender"54: Sermons/Speeches: "Teacher of Righteousness"
55: Sermons/Speeches: "The Temptation to Fly Away"56: Sermons/Speeches: "The Three R's Plus"
57: Sermons/Speeches: "The Ties that Bind"58: Sermons/Speeches: "To Men Who Are Taking the Retired Relationship"
59: Sermons/Speeches: "True Neighborliness"60: Sermons/Speeches: "Unbelievable Power"
61: Sermons/Speeches: "Upon this Rock"62: Sermons/Speeches: "A Vital Fellowship"
63: Sermons/Speeches: "What Can A Man Do?"64: Sermons/Speeches: "What do you have a right to expect from the Church?"
65: Sermons/Speeches: "What Doth the Lord Require of Thee?"66: Sermons/Speeches: "What Shall I Do Then With Jesus"
67: Sermons/Speeches: "What Shall I Do With Myself?"68: Sermons/Speeches: "When It Is Hard To Forgive"
69: Sermons/Speeches: "When Life Caves In"70: Sermons/Speeches: "When Life Comes Clear"
71: Sermons/Speeches: "When Life Tries to Throw You"72: Sermons/Speeches: "When the Little Foxes Fool You"
73: Sermons/Speeches: "When Sin and Saviourhood Meet"74: Sermons/Speeches: "When Storms are Stalled"
75: Sermons/Speeches: "When Things Go Wrong"76: Sermons/Speeches: "When Trouble Troubles You"
77: Sermons/Speeches: "Which Way America?"78: Sermons/Speeches: "Why Pray?"
79: Sermons/Speeches: "Wise Counsel"80: Sermons/Speeches: "A Wish or a Will"
81: Sermons/Speeches: "With What Authority?"82: Sermons/Speeches: "World's Day of Communion", October 3, 1948
83: Sermons/Speeches: "Worthy of Greatness"84: Sermons/Speeches: "You Count For God"
MC 706 SLIDESSlides: Greece - "Journeying After St. Paul", October 7-21, 1985 (Slide Show/Descriptions located in MC 704)
Slides: India - "New Horizons For India" (Slide Show/Descriptions located in MC 704)
Slides: Haiti - Antigua - "Land of Endless Mountains", 1980 (Slide Show/Descriptions located in MC 704)Slides: "Korea", 1982 (Slide Show/Descriptions located in MC 704)
Slides: Southeast Asia - "Life with Southeast Asia" (Slide Show/Descriptions located in MC 704)Slides: Africa - "Africa in Change Today", Church Growth and Development (Slide Show/Descriptions located in MC 704)
[umc.inv\Neel, Harold.wpd]