Our church history
The first documented reference to Tabernacle Baptist Church appeared on Sunday, June 25, 1904, when a brief item was published in the Youngstown Telegram. The article identified the Rev. W.R. Wright, (BD) as pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist Church congregation, adding that Sunday services were held at Christ's Mission, located at 407 East Federal Street.
In the then directory, Tabernacle is listed at a Griffith Street address, and Rev. J.W. Braumwell is identified as its pastor in 1907. One year later in 1908, the directory listed Rev. Lomax as the pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church. Rev. Lomax did not remain long at the church and in 1909 the Youngstown City Directory listed Rev. J.H. Thompson as the congregation's newly appointed pastor. In 1912 Rev. J.L. Pollard assumed the pastorate and served until his death.
Tabernacle extended the call to Rev. S.P. Phillips on April 14, 1914 and under his leadership the membership grew rapidly. Land was purchased at 712 Arlington Street, and a brick building was erected. After six years, the church membership had out grown its edifice, and land was purchased on the opposite side of Arlington Street. Then pastor and congregation erected a larger brick building with a seating capacity of 1400. This new location at 707 Arlington Street was erected in 1920 and is the present site of the church sanctuary. After 45 years of leadership and in response to failing health, Rev. Phillips retired. The church extended the call to Rev. Henry J. Pippins on February 21, 1958.
Rev. Pippins and his family were the initial occupants of the first church parsonage which was located at 785 Fairmont Avenue. Many committees/auxiliaries were organized under the leadership of Rev. Pippins including the Hospitality Committee which remains very active today. When Rev. Pippins resigned in 1961, the congregation extended the call to Rev. N. G. Harris. Rev. Harris suffered a series of illnesses and resigned in May 1971.
The congregation then called Rev. Herman A. Ford in April 1972. Under Rev. Ford, Tabernacle expanded its community service work to include serving as a feeding site for the Mahoning County Nutrition Program. Senior citizen meals were served five days a week. Under the leadership of Rev. Ford the music ministry held three major performances annually. Rev. Ford resigned the pastorate to accept the call to a congregation in Baltimore, MD., on June 30, 1979.
Rev. Edgar Fisher accepted the call and was installed November 30, 1980. Rev. Fisher worked with great interest promoting Christian Education and organizing new goals. In 1982, Tabernacle purchased a van to provide transportation for church members in need. On July 31, 1986, ground was broken and the current educational wing and the S.P. Phillips Fellowship Hall were constructed.
Under Rev. Fisher's administration,Tabernacle continued its community ministries by hosting the site for Mahoning County Head Start Program as well as a food commodity distribution for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The church also served as a supporter of the Rescue Mission Ministries Emergency Housing Shelter. Rev. Fisher resigned in March 1990 to serve as the pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Warren, Ohio.
Rev. Dr. LaMont Smith was installed March 6,1994. Dr. Smith's vision and philosophy included complete church ministry which each church support is therefore viewed as a ministry. Dr. Smith's untiring energy permeated the congregation as church ministries in place have been strengthened and new ones have been added. Dr. Smith resigned to serve as pastor of Chapel Hill Baptist Church in Detroit, MI.
In January of 1997, Rev. Dr. Kelvin E. Turner proudly accepted the calling and the challenge of "Making Ministry Meaningful for the New Millennium." Under his administration the debt owed on the first administrative and educational wings was resolved.
Rev. Dennis T. Garner by vote of the membership was called as the 14th pastor and resigned September 18, 2010.
Rev. Christopher McKee Jr. accepted the call to the pastorate of Tabernacle Baptist Church in January 2013, serving as the 15th pastor of this great congregation. Rev. McKee served consummately, resigning in February 2017 to accept his calling to The Church of Oakland in Jacksonville, FL.
Presently, Rev. Raymond D. Austin, Jr. humbly serves as pastor-elect of Tabernacle Baptist Church. The Youngstown native brings a fervor for sharing the Gospel and desire for community restoration--while simultaneously encouraging the church to serve as the hands and feet of Christ.
In the then directory, Tabernacle is listed at a Griffith Street address, and Rev. J.W. Braumwell is identified as its pastor in 1907. One year later in 1908, the directory listed Rev. Lomax as the pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church. Rev. Lomax did not remain long at the church and in 1909 the Youngstown City Directory listed Rev. J.H. Thompson as the congregation's newly appointed pastor. In 1912 Rev. J.L. Pollard assumed the pastorate and served until his death.
Tabernacle extended the call to Rev. S.P. Phillips on April 14, 1914 and under his leadership the membership grew rapidly. Land was purchased at 712 Arlington Street, and a brick building was erected. After six years, the church membership had out grown its edifice, and land was purchased on the opposite side of Arlington Street. Then pastor and congregation erected a larger brick building with a seating capacity of 1400. This new location at 707 Arlington Street was erected in 1920 and is the present site of the church sanctuary. After 45 years of leadership and in response to failing health, Rev. Phillips retired. The church extended the call to Rev. Henry J. Pippins on February 21, 1958.
Rev. Pippins and his family were the initial occupants of the first church parsonage which was located at 785 Fairmont Avenue. Many committees/auxiliaries were organized under the leadership of Rev. Pippins including the Hospitality Committee which remains very active today. When Rev. Pippins resigned in 1961, the congregation extended the call to Rev. N. G. Harris. Rev. Harris suffered a series of illnesses and resigned in May 1971.
The congregation then called Rev. Herman A. Ford in April 1972. Under Rev. Ford, Tabernacle expanded its community service work to include serving as a feeding site for the Mahoning County Nutrition Program. Senior citizen meals were served five days a week. Under the leadership of Rev. Ford the music ministry held three major performances annually. Rev. Ford resigned the pastorate to accept the call to a congregation in Baltimore, MD., on June 30, 1979.
Rev. Edgar Fisher accepted the call and was installed November 30, 1980. Rev. Fisher worked with great interest promoting Christian Education and organizing new goals. In 1982, Tabernacle purchased a van to provide transportation for church members in need. On July 31, 1986, ground was broken and the current educational wing and the S.P. Phillips Fellowship Hall were constructed.
Under Rev. Fisher's administration,Tabernacle continued its community ministries by hosting the site for Mahoning County Head Start Program as well as a food commodity distribution for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The church also served as a supporter of the Rescue Mission Ministries Emergency Housing Shelter. Rev. Fisher resigned in March 1990 to serve as the pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Warren, Ohio.
Rev. Dr. LaMont Smith was installed March 6,1994. Dr. Smith's vision and philosophy included complete church ministry which each church support is therefore viewed as a ministry. Dr. Smith's untiring energy permeated the congregation as church ministries in place have been strengthened and new ones have been added. Dr. Smith resigned to serve as pastor of Chapel Hill Baptist Church in Detroit, MI.
In January of 1997, Rev. Dr. Kelvin E. Turner proudly accepted the calling and the challenge of "Making Ministry Meaningful for the New Millennium." Under his administration the debt owed on the first administrative and educational wings was resolved.
Rev. Dennis T. Garner by vote of the membership was called as the 14th pastor and resigned September 18, 2010.
Rev. Christopher McKee Jr. accepted the call to the pastorate of Tabernacle Baptist Church in January 2013, serving as the 15th pastor of this great congregation. Rev. McKee served consummately, resigning in February 2017 to accept his calling to The Church of Oakland in Jacksonville, FL.
Presently, Rev. Raymond D. Austin, Jr. humbly serves as pastor-elect of Tabernacle Baptist Church. The Youngstown native brings a fervor for sharing the Gospel and desire for community restoration--while simultaneously encouraging the church to serve as the hands and feet of Christ.