Introduction
Neil grew up in Louisiana and has lived all over the southern United States.
He was trained as a Presbyterian pastor and taught in Christian schools in Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana.
As of 2005, he was living in Miami, Florida, where he, his wife Julie, and his children Hannah, Seth, and Leah were members of the Kendall Presbyterian Church.
Inspired by the example of William Cowper, Neil began writing hymns to combat spiritual depression.