When Rev. O'Neal arrived, his eyes beheld a small, white, highly aged structure in much need of improvement and surrounded by a multitude of trees.
The congregation consisted of about 12 faithful members who conducted services only two Sundays a month. However, during Pastor O'Neal's first 18 months there, services were increased to weekly and 75 new members were added to the church; this was due in part to the street revivals he began hosting in the neighboring housing projects.
Hoping that Mt. Canaan could start building a new facility soon, Pastor O'Neal instructed a member to make a sign in order to motivate his people. The sign, which he hung above the pulpit, displayed a drawing of a new church and the words "How Long?" "Not Long!" Each Sunday he would point at the sign and ask "How Long?" and the people would respond, "Not Long!"
On April 3, 1980, God baptized Pastor O'Neal with His precious Holy Spirit. This event marked the beginning of Mt. Canaan's spirit-filled ministry.
After receiving the Holy Spirit, Pastor O'Neal returned to his pulpit as a brand new man with a brand new message. His messages were so anointed that almost everyone under the sound of his voice were convicted to give their lives to the Lord. No longer feeling compelled to follow the Baptist customs, Pastor O'Neal allowed the Holy Spirit to have total control in the ministry. During this time, a new style of worship evolved in the church involving tambourines, drums, holy dancing, and speaking in tongues. This new style of worship was welcomed by many but greatly despised by others. Consequently, the demons were drawn out of the woodwork, as they tried desperately to stop this brand new move of God.
Mt. Canaan's membership began growing by leaps and bounds as men and women from all over Birmingham and from all walks of life, heard about Pastor O'Neal's life changing messages. Supernaturally, whole groups of people at a time began to join Mt. Canaan. Pastor O'Neal realized that these were the people God had shown him in a very impacting dream back in 1973.
As God continued to move within the ministry, the demons continued to move as well. A significant episode was a failed attempt to remove Rev. O'Neal as the pastor, and later, an evil attempt to take his life. But as always, God prevailed!
Experiencing the death of his dream to build, Pastor O'Neal removed the "How Long, Not Long" sign after hearing God say to him, "You build my people, my people will build the church." After this, Pastor O'Neal put all of his energy into instilling godly principles in the hearts of the people.
God's anointing fell on Sis. O'Neal and He began to illuminate her knowledge and understanding. She then began working closely with Pastor O'Neal as a teacher, an evangelist, and later as co-pastor.
Another change within the ministry involved the name of the church. The title "Full Gospel" was added to the name thereby making it "Mt. Canaan Full Gospel Baptist Church". Later, the "Missionary Baptist" title was dropped and it became "Mt. Canaan Full Gospel Church. Then a logo was birthed out of their unique method of family ministry; coining Mt. Canaan as "A family church with a teaching ministry, reaching the world for Christ."
In an effort to reach the world for Christ, Pastor and Sis. O'Neal and much of their steadily growing congregation traveled throughout the U.S. and overseas on a soul-winning mission. Then in 1985, God allowed them to climb another level in their quest to reach the world for Him. They were given the opportunity to host their own weekly cable television show entitled "The Spirit-Filled Life".
Because of Mt. Canaan's steady growth, each Sunday there was literally "standing room only" in the building. The men would stand around the walls and allow the women, children, and elderly to sit during services. As a result, Pastor O'Neal began holding two services on Sunday mornings in addition to Sunday School. Finally, in 1985, God spoke these words to him, "Rise up and build." Then God commissioned him to build without borrowing as He told him "owe nothing to any man except to love him."
To Pastor O'Neal, this sounded like "mission impossible" because he knew the poor financial condition of his members. But amazingly, God anointed him with the ability to raise supernatural finances. And every Sunday God breathed a spirit of giving upon the people, and then multiplied their sacrifices.
Mt. Canaan purchased 26 lots surrounding their building, debt free. And in 1988, they cleared their new land and held their groundbreaking ceremony.
In the summer of 1993, five years after their building program began, Mt. Canaan finally moved into their brand new, debt-free, million dollar sanctuary!
Believe it or not, this was only a brief history of Mt. Canaan Full Gospel Church. God has done so much for this ministry and for it's pastors until it would actually take years to tell it all.
