I was saved at the age of 14 (Feb. 11, 1968), and I
surrendered to God's call to preach at the age of 18 (Mar. 20, 1972),
four months after I had married and six months after I had joined the U.S.
Navy for four years. In 1972, I left the Southern Baptist
Convention, never to return. From that day to this, I have
not regretted that decision. The SBC was an apostate denomination with a
corrupt Cooperative Program when I left it in 1972. It has not gotten
better over the years.
Although I did not pastor, I did preach through my tour of military duty.
God allowed me to preach on radio (I had a daily radio program on my ship
as well), on the street, and in churches. My pastor, Jim Fellure, was
kind enough to allow me to preach
in the main service of our church about once a month in those days. I
served as a bus captain, preached in junior church, taught Sunday School,
and followed my pastor wherever he went. For about two years I stood a
24-hour Navy watch; then I was off for three full days. On those off days
I went where my preacher went and did what he did. I value those years
greatly.
Upon discharge from the Navy in 1975 I started pastoring my first church.
I have pastored continuously since 1975. I started the Gospel Light
Baptist Church here in Albany, Georgia, in May, 1986.
My training has been nearly entirely hands-on. During my Navy hitch, my
pastor took me with him on all kinds of visitation and counseling calls.
He allowed me to have a part in nearly every ministry our church had. He
took me to bookstores, taught me
how to study, and helped me build up a library while I was still in the
Navy.
While in my first pastorate, the Faith Baptist Church in Bay Minette,
Alabama, I attended a state junior college, and I was in my first year of
state college extension classes when I took another church in another
state. These classes were taken on the
GI Bill, and, except for the opportunity to witness, were almost
worthless. I was pursuing a degree in English Secondary Ed (since it was
part of my GI benefits) in case I needed to teach on the side while
pastoring. Through the years I have developed a disdain
for state education of all sorts, and I would not now teach in a state
school, period.
In my second pastorate at Emanuel Baptist Church in Sylvester, Georgia, I
did correspondence work with Faith Bible Theological Seminary in Milton,
Florida, earning a Bachelor's degree in Theology.
I started my present church, Gospel Light Baptist Church, in May, 1986.
God has been good to me through the years. If the Lord allows me, I plan
to pastor here until He takes me home or moves me to another place at His
discretion.
My ministry and philosophy no doubt are greatly influenced by the first
impressions I received after my call to preach, although fundamental
Baptists have changed a lot as a group in the last 20 years. I believe
in
My practice has been largely influenced by Jack Hyles. My doctrine has
been largely influenced by Peter Ruckman. Unfortunately for me and others,
my humor has been largely influenced by Don Rickles.
Mrs. O'Neal, my first and only wife, and I have two daughters, Grace
Richmond and Joy O'Neal, and four granddaughters, Hope, Melody, Hannah, and Jordan Richmond.
Mrs. O'Neal and I were married Nov. 19, 1971.
1. salvation by grace through faith;
2. the scriptures, infallible and inerrant, not only in the original
writings, but in the King James Bible today;
3. separation from sin and worldliness;
4. soul-winning as the thing that causes rejoicing in heaven;
5. steadfastness (1 Cor. 4:2) as the key to pleasing the steward's Master;
6. sacrificial service as the key to knowing and doing God's will (Rom. 12:1,2); and
7. the second coming as being imminent.