Pastor Neil V. Travis
Reverend Neil Vincent Travis is a native of Harrington, Delaware, where he attended Lake Forest High School and enjoyed playing on the football team. After graduating, he served in the United States Marine Corp, where he continued playing football and competed in bodybuilding, winning first place in the medium height class as Mr. Jacksonville, North Carolina. After an honorable discharge, he attended Salisbury State College in Maryland, majoring in Social Work and playing college football. In 1976, while a college student, he accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of his life.
A few years after college, Neil relocated to Washington DC. On his visits to Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, he was so excited about the Male Chorus that he decided to join the Church and was baptized in 1984 by the late Pastor Emory F. Timbers. Neil was a member of the Male Chorus for over 25 years and served as a Trustee, then a Deacon. He also drove the church van – transporting church members to and from services and activities. On the streets of Washington, DC, he worked with the Homeless Ministry – serving food, distributing clothing and bringing the Word of God. Reverend Travis enjoys teaching Tuesday evening Bible classes and participating in Wednesday prayer services.
Reverend Travis attended classes at the Southern Baptist Church Bible School and the Potomac River Baptist Association, working towards a bachelor’s degree in Christian Counseling. He is a member of Men’s Rapp, a collective group of men who work to promote and enhance the development of Christian men. Prior to the Covid pandemic, Reverend Travis would often join other local Pastors on the 3rd Friday of the month to share the Word of God at the Central Union Mission Men’s Shelter in Washington, DC.
Reverend Travis is a retired social worker, having served in Washington, DC for over 30 years in the capacities of Director for a boy’s group home, Community Case Manager for the elderly, and Discharge Planner in several long-term care facilities. In 1996, Reverend Travis heard God’s calling to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After the calling was confirmed to him on several occasions, he preached his initial sermon in May of 2005 at Greater St. Paul Baptist Church and was licensed to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ wherever and whenever he is called. Under the guidance of the late Pastor Floyd L. Patterson, who challenged him to not only build physical muscles but to also build spiritual muscles, he was ordained on December 8, 2018. Reverend Travis desires to use his spiritual gifts, talents, skills and life experiences to serve the Lord.
Reverend Travis has been married to his college sweetheart, Brenda, since 1985. They have one son, three daughters and a host of grand and great-grandchildren.