Meet The Faithful Founders Behind Our Mission
Greg and Kristi Neely
We’re Greg and Kristi Neely, married since April 30, 1994, and blessed with three daughters, two sons-in-law, four wonderful grandchildren, and another wedding coming up this December. Family is a huge part of our lives and ministry, and we’re thankful for every season God allows us to walk through together.
God called us into ministry in 2000, and in 2003 we moved from South Carolina to North Carolina to study at Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute. Since then, Greg has pastored for nearly 20 years—most of that time at Chestnut Ridge Church—while Kristi has invested her heart into encouraging women with compassion and authenticity. In 2025, we stepped out in faith to launch Vital Connection Ministries, where our passion is to point people to Christ by connecting Churches to missional opportunities and recourses.
Outside of ministry, Greg brings over 20 years of experience in tooling, machining, welding, and industrial maintenance. Kristi is a proud wife, mom, and “Nana” who loves pointing women to the hope found in God’s Word. Together, our desire is simple: to love people well, share the gospel, and live in a way that points others to Jesus.
​
ROOTED IN FAITH, COMMITTED TO SERVICE
How Vital Connection Ministries Began
Vital Connection Ministries was founded by Greg and Kristi Neely out of a deep passion for serving others during times of crisis. As they became heavily involved in disaster relief across North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and South Carolina, they recognized a missing link in the process of getting vital resources from willing hearts to the heroes on the front lines. What began as a shift from the local pastorate to supporting these ministries grew into a vision: creating an effective and efficient way to connect resources with real needs. In developing their unique container system, VCM not only reduces manpower, filters donations to exactly what is requested, provides storage until supplies can be delivered, and minimizes cleanup, but also saw the need for a network to share mission equipment. By connecting churches to a network of available resources, ministries can better steward equipment, keeping it on the mission field instead of sitting much of each year unused.
The Vital Connection Team
Our team is united by a shared vision: to serve others with the love and compassion of Christ. Each member brings unique gifts, experiences, and callings, but we are all driven by the same purpose. This common vision binds us together not just as coworkers, but as a faith filled family committed to bringing hope, healing, and practical help to those who are hurting.
We believe that true service flows from a heart surrendered to God. As a team, we pray together, work together, and grow together, always seeking to reflect Christ’s love in every action. Whether we're responding to a disaster, connecting resources, or simply listening to someone in pain, our goal is to serve with humility, excellence, and compassion, because we know that when we serve others, we are ultimately serving Him.
1 PETER 4:10
"As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."