Nashville
TAB
ABOUT US
Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church began with a group of religious people on Walnut Street opposite the freight house. Growth in the number attending and weather factors made it necessary to seek a larger indoor facility. So, in October of 1892, this group moved to Kibbrels Hall on 8th Avenue North which was formerly called Spruce Street. At the suggestion of Brother Charles Bailey, the church was formerly organized on February 10, 1893, with the late Rev. John Davidson presiding. The church was given the name Tabernacle meaning a religious tent. The Rev. J. E. Purdy was the pastor, and he was succeeded by seven ministers.
The first church clerk was Brother Lucious Work. He held this position from 1893 to 1896. The first church treasurer was Brother John Kibbrel and Brother Joe McCairn was the first chairman of the Deacon Board. This Church moved on steadily for some time until the pastor decided to move to the North. After the pastor left, the members began to scatter. Rev. H.M. Burns was able to get eighteen members together and marched from the North side to our former location 1027 South Street. This group of worshipers marched onto South Street singing a great hymn “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand.”The late Rev. Roosevelt L. Evans came to Tabernacle Baptist Church as it’s 8th pastor in 1942.
It became necessary in the fall of 1966 for our church to seek a new location. A committee was selected and several lots were looked into. The membership selected our present location. The main auditorium was remodeled by the architectural plans drawn by Brother Albert Anthony, who had been a faithful trustee and treasurer for many years. Some may recall that the two (2) lamps on the pulpit and the two (2) gates to the choir stand were built by Bro. Anthony at the South Street site and are now placed at our present site. We marched into our church at 2214 12th Avenue South , in May 1967. On October 27, 1968, the laying of the Corner-Stone was observed.
In June of 1981, groundbreaking service was held on the lawn for our new fellowship hall. In July, Freeman & Smith Contractors began to work. Shortly after the first of the year, our dreams became a reality. On Sunday, March 7, 1982, the late Rev. Richard D. Hunt was installed as our 9th pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church. We can still hear his beautiful voice singing “My Souls Been Anchored”. Many ministries were birthed under his leadership…one being named in his honor…”The Rev. Richard D. Hunt and Elizabeth Evans Scholarship Fund”.
In November of 1989, we burned the church mortgage. In 2005 the church purchased property 2212 12th Ave. South. In July of 2007 we paid off the mortgage for apartments.
On December 16, 2012 the church elected Rev. Darin G. Freeman as the 10th Pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church. We had a high time in the name of the Lord during his installation on January 27, 2013. Rev. Freeman is an humble man with a sweet spirit. We have been blessed with a great man of God. As he follows Jesus Christ, so shall we follow him.
The Leadership of Tabernacle Baptist Church
Rev. D.G. Freeman, Sr.
10th and current Pastor of the TabNashville
Through The Years
WHAT WE BELIEVE
WE BELIEVE IN GOD
We believe there is only one true and living God. He is immutable, indefatigable and infinite. He is not only a reality; He is the Ultimate Reality, an intelligent Spirit, and the Creator of all. He is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
WE BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus is Savior, Lord Christ, and the incarnate reality of God. He was the walking revelation of God’s love to humanity; He embodied grace; He died on the cross for the redemption of God’s creation; He got up on Easter morning to confirm to the world that God is still in control of Heaven and Earth.
WE BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit is Christ in present tense empowering the believer, energizing the church and encouraging Christians that God is still with us; He convicts of sin; He points us to truth; He leads us into righteousness.
WE BELIEVE IN THE CHURCH
We believe in the church; the church is the prolonged incarnation of Jesus Christ; His body, bride and building witnessing to the world through word and sacrament; the church is a fellowship of regenerated men and women called out to live together in community life.
WE BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
We believe that the scripture is God’s word; It is his written authority for the Church; the scripture was given to ordinary men through inspiration; the scripture is inerrant in principle and infallible in content.
WE BELIEVE IN HUMANITY
We believe man was created in the image of God; God breathed his life into man; man voluntarily rebelled against God and fell from a state of perfection, thereby experiencing separation from God; consequently, all men are sinners. By choice, man is redeemable through Jesus Christ in his only hope to experience once again the peace of God.
WE BELIEVE IN SALVATION
We believe in God’s saving grace; that the blessings of salvation are free to all through the Gospel; that the requisite of acceptance is a thankful, penitent and obedient faith; that nothing interferes with the salvation of the sinner except his refusal of the Gospel; man’s disbelief is his condemnation.
WE BELIEVE IN JUSTIFICATION
We believe that justification is being brought into a right relationship with God; His position is accomplished without consideration of good works (of righteousness); that justification is the pardoning of sin, the gift of eternal life displays God’s love for human-kind, and that by faith in the redemptive blood of Jesus Christ was His righteousness given to us.
WE BELIEVE IN THE LORD'S SUPPER AND BAPTISM
We believe baptism is an ocular demonstration of God’s inward renewal in the life of the believer; in baptism our names are changed. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we are placed under the authority of God’s power and protection. It is the symbol of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection to a new life. It is a prerequisite to the privileges of the church in relation to the Lord’s Supper. Jesus Christ took bread and wine established them as the imperishable symbols of the church. The Lord’s Table is open to all people in the faith who desire to fellowship with Him.
WE BELIEVE IN THE VIRGIN BIRTH
We believe in the Virgin Birth, Mary, mother of Jesus, conceived him by the Holy Spirit. He is without sin. He was born of a virgin as no other man in the past or in the present can ever be born. He is both the Son of God and God the Son.