Rev. Lea O'Neal
Born July 28, 1954 in Harlem, N.Y. the Rev. Lea O’Neal now proudly sports being an official senior citizen. She is a 3rd generation pastor. Her grandfather was the senior minister and founder of the Nazarene Evangelical Church in Panama, Central America. Her father pastored the Bethel Evangelical Church for over 50 years in Brooklyn, N.Y. On September 7, 2014 Lea launched the Friends Christian Church planted in a sanctuary built by freed slaves in 1824 in East New York, Brooklyn.
Educated at Canarsie H.S. and Pace University in N.Y. she relocated to Atlanta, GA in 1977. The illness of her elderly parents beaconed her to return home in 2008. Currently she resides at the family estate.
For over 3-decades, Lea O’Neal led a most unorthodox and joy-filled life in the service of the Lord. In the late 1970’s she was trained by an executive of the C.I.A. learning how to detect corruption within government agencies of the City of Atlanta. She was later appointed as the Director of the Women’s Vote Project for the Voter Education Project. Given $100,000 to distribute in; Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee and the Common Wealth of Virginia, here she funded programs teaching women to run for political office.
Lea O’Neal became a Christian at an early age where the Almighty was magnified. She’s been a member of the Presbyterian Church, USA since 1979. After joining the New Life Presbyterian Church she was ordained into ministry in 1995 and vigorously served as the Chair of Evangelism. There she helped grow the church from 62 members to over 300 active members within a matter of years. In addition to her Christian faith she attended synagogue on Friday evening and studied Judaism with Rabbi Scott Saulson.
Having been led by the Spirit of the Lord she created a networking group with 4 women called: SISTERS. The group grew to 703-Black women. On behalf of the APEX Museum of Atlanta she stood before an audience of over 500 guests at the NIKKO Hotel in Buckhead Atlanta and raised $25,000 in 12-minutes.
Church growth and fundraising has been her passion. Her latest venture, The Great Gift Giveaway is an essay contest where she’ll give away 1-year FREE rent. This is another fundraiser for the congregation.
Whatever Rev. O’Neal attempts is done for the honor and glory of the Creator. Her focus is to bring people closer to the Lord in non-traditional ways. To this end, Friends Christian Church is establishing a program entitled: 40-UNDER-40. It is imperative that the church showcase young people who are serving the Lord in her publication These young professionals will be featured in her publication, WELCOME Magazine in 2020. While serving the Lord in East New York, Brooklyn she is committed to fulfill the Luke 14:23 scripture: “Then the Master said to the servant, Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.” Shalom.
Educated at Canarsie H.S. and Pace University in N.Y. she relocated to Atlanta, GA in 1977. The illness of her elderly parents beaconed her to return home in 2008. Currently she resides at the family estate.
For over 3-decades, Lea O’Neal led a most unorthodox and joy-filled life in the service of the Lord. In the late 1970’s she was trained by an executive of the C.I.A. learning how to detect corruption within government agencies of the City of Atlanta. She was later appointed as the Director of the Women’s Vote Project for the Voter Education Project. Given $100,000 to distribute in; Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee and the Common Wealth of Virginia, here she funded programs teaching women to run for political office.
Lea O’Neal became a Christian at an early age where the Almighty was magnified. She’s been a member of the Presbyterian Church, USA since 1979. After joining the New Life Presbyterian Church she was ordained into ministry in 1995 and vigorously served as the Chair of Evangelism. There she helped grow the church from 62 members to over 300 active members within a matter of years. In addition to her Christian faith she attended synagogue on Friday evening and studied Judaism with Rabbi Scott Saulson.
Having been led by the Spirit of the Lord she created a networking group with 4 women called: SISTERS. The group grew to 703-Black women. On behalf of the APEX Museum of Atlanta she stood before an audience of over 500 guests at the NIKKO Hotel in Buckhead Atlanta and raised $25,000 in 12-minutes.
Church growth and fundraising has been her passion. Her latest venture, The Great Gift Giveaway is an essay contest where she’ll give away 1-year FREE rent. This is another fundraiser for the congregation.
Whatever Rev. O’Neal attempts is done for the honor and glory of the Creator. Her focus is to bring people closer to the Lord in non-traditional ways. To this end, Friends Christian Church is establishing a program entitled: 40-UNDER-40. It is imperative that the church showcase young people who are serving the Lord in her publication These young professionals will be featured in her publication, WELCOME Magazine in 2020. While serving the Lord in East New York, Brooklyn she is committed to fulfill the Luke 14:23 scripture: “Then the Master said to the servant, Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.” Shalom.