The first association named “Neuse” was formed at the Bear Marsh Baptist Church in Duplin County in 1794. The “Neuse-Atlantic” Association was formed about 1899, reaching from the area of Falling Creek Baptist Church eastward to the coast. In 1900 they were divided into the “Neuse” and “Atlantic” associations, but both were weak. In 1907 they again merged into the Neuse-Atlantic and remained together until 1929, when the present Neuse Association was formed. Churches in Duplin, Greene, Lenoir, Pitt, and Wayne Counties make up the Neuse Association today.
Neuse-Atlantic Association met in 1929 and decided to form two associations. The first Neuse Association session was in 1930 at Emmaus Baptist Church.
The association saw a need to secure an area missionary in 1947 and in 1948, Rev. E. Dean Bergen (also pastor of La Grange Church) was called. In 1952 the first full-time missionary was called, Richard E. Whitley. Rev. H.R. Starling came to serve in 1953 and in 1956 he set up an association office in La Grange.
Rev. Eugene B. Hager, Superintendent of Missions, from 1965-1981, moved the office to Goldsboro First Baptist Church and later to the Hollowell Building, Goldsboro. Secretarial help began in 1969.
Rev. Bobbie H. Belcher was called as Director of Missions in September 1981. The office was moved to Calvary Baptist Church, Goldsboro. Full-time secretarial hours began in 1983.
At the Annual Meeting at New Hope Baptist Church on October 24, 1994, David O. Leary was called to be the Director of Missions. He began his work in January 1995. The Resource and Training Center (RTC) was established in La Grange in October 1996 and the debt on the center was paid off on January 31, 1997.
Following David Leary's retirement, Jon Hoey was called to be the Director of Missions on July 22, 2008 where he served until his retirement on December 31, 2019.
At a special called Associational Meeting at the RTC on July 11, 2021, Dr. Keith Hudson was called to be the Association Mission Strategist. He began his work on September 13, 2021.
