Bishop O'neal's Full Biography
God’s daughter, servant, and leader, Rosemarie Tremmel was born on December 14, 1965 in Kaiserslautern, West Germany and immediately placed into an orphanage. At first, it appeared she would become another statistic of a broken life and impoverished environment, but God had already prepared a couple, Norman and Joann Standifer, in the United States to adopt her and provide her with love, security, and the home environment that would position her to walk into her predestined calling. The enemy hoped to destroy Bishop O’neal through suicide, but God’s grace intervened as a fellow high school classmate shared her testimony and relationship with Jesus. With her heart pricked and ready to embrace a life guided and controlled by God, Bishop gave her life to Jesus Christ on October 14, 1981. She was baptized at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church where she was a member and her grandfather, Dr. Max B. McIlwain, served as Pastor. He was her first mentor and father in the faith. After getting saved, the Lord used a Bible class in high school to turn her on to the Word of God, a passion that has only intensified as the years have passed.
God continued revealing His plan for Bishop O’neal’s life as she entered East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, NC. Soon after entering ECU, she answered the unmistakable call to ministry and preached her initial sermon at age 17. She was an evangelical socialite on campus; buying and purchasing Bibles to give out to those in need. She was charismatic - singing in the Gospel choir, befriending the unfriendly, and motivating the unmotivated. She was lovely - capturing the eye of Toiriste Winifred O’neal whom she later married on October 16, 1988. She had always been a pastor at heart. Bishop O’neal fought for the underdog on the school playground, crisscrossed campus to pray with anyone who needed it, and led a group of other believers into new levels of spiritual maturity. On the first Sunday in February 1989, she founded Koinonia Christian Center Church with seven eager members who wanted to receive and learn more about the truths of God’s Word.
As pastor and a pastor to pastors, Bishop O’neal’s ministry is most expressed by her heart. She lives to love Christ and to love others. This is shown through Koinonia Christian Center Church Ministries and Koinonia Fellowship of Churches and Ministries (KFCM). From a church of 7 to over 2300 members, Bishop O’neal has maintained an atmosphere of transparency, integrity, authenticity, and excellence. A giver by nature, Bishop O’neal has tirelessly and patiently counseled pastors, churches, and people from all walks of life investing into their lives on a variety of levels.
As the founder of KFCM, Bishop O’neal provides covering to ten churches both stateside and internationally. Because of her “keep-it-real” approach to ministry, churches and pastors are drawn to her genuine spirit and approachable attitude. She encourages and instructs by sharing knowledge and information that has transformed ministries and impacted lives.
Bishop O’neal holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Religion and a minor in Business Management and Organizational Development from Mount Olive College. She partners together with her husband to oversee the spiritual and practical day-to-day operations of Koinonia Christian Center Church Ministries. Together, they provide the Biblical and functional spiritual training and guidance that is necessary to maintain and develop an ever-increasing, ever-expanding, God-ordained ministry of excellence.
Bishop O’neal is the proud mother of two sons, Toiriste O’neal Jr., and Jonathan O’neal. In her spare time, Bishop O’neal enjoys traveling by RV or trike, reading mystery novels, and spending time with family and friends.