Our Team

Michael Neale serves as Pastor of Creative Ministries at Champion Forest, where he helps shape the church’s worship, creative direction, and ministry culture. A Dove Award-winning songwriter, bestselling author, worship pastor, and creative leader, Michael has spent more than three decades helping people encounter God through songs, stories, and the local church.

As a songwriter, Michael has written more than 400 songs, with over 150 published and recorded by artists including Michael W. Smith, Natalie Grant, Rebecca St. James, Phillips, Craig & Dean, Kutless, Anthony Evans, Shane & Shane, and many others. His worship songs continue to be sung in churches around the world, and his work has earned Dove Awards, multiple nominations, and recognition from BMI for excellence in songwriting.

Michael is also an accomplished author whose books include the national bestseller The River, its sequel Into the Canyon, Your Great Name, and The Way of Worship, co-authored with Dr. Vernon M. Whaley. His writing reflects his lifelong commitment to helping believers discover a deeper and more authentic life of worship.

In addition to his ministry at Champion Forest, Michael is the co-founder of The Worship Table, a ministry that invests in worship pastors and creative leaders, and leads Song & Story Creative, an initiative that helps churches build healthy, thriving creative cultures. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree and a Master of Arts in Worship and Leadership.

Michael has spoken and led worship at churches, conferences, and events around the world, including gatherings connected with the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, Worship Together, the National Worship Leader Conference, Integrity Music, and Dr. John C. Maxwell. His ministry has taken him from the White House to Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry.

Whether he is leading worship, writing a song, developing leaders, or helping guide a creative team, Michael’s calling remains the same: to help people know God more deeply, worship Him more fully, and serve with integrity, creativity, and faithfulness.

He is the author of:

• The River
• Into the Canyon
• Your Great Name
• The Way of Worship (with Dr. Vernon M. Whaley)

Learn more at michaelneale.com and The Worship Table.

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