History

As we joyously celebrate Christian Tabernacle’s thirtieth anniversary, it is imperative that we reflect upon the blessings of God.  We must repeat the history often so that each generation will know the favor that God gave to CTC. Psalm 145:4 and Deut 6: 20-25.

CTC’s history was ordained by God long before I felt the urgency to ask friends to meet at the Cumberlander home to discuss starting a church.  Eventually, Toni Bates, Marie Bishop, Don and Grace Carter, Sherri Garth, Theresa Goodwin, Nina Jones, and George and Rae MacArthur joined with in responding to the call of God. In Late November of 1981, we convened at the home of Rev. Raymond and Alberta Pope.  Rev. Pope was a retired minister from Prayer of Chicago. Rev. Pope’s health was failing and because of my concern for his health, before the meeting I called Vera Rice to ask her advice on asking him to pastor our envisioned church.  She said “If he can preach the word, we can prop him up.” Did not Aaron and Hur hold up the arms of Moses? Exodus 17:10-12.

While at the home of Rev. Pope and Alberta, we collected an offering of seven dollars and appointed Don Carter treasurer and Sandra Cumberlander financial secretary. We accepted Grace Carter’s suggestion to name the church Christian Tabernacle.  Our name is truly anointed because in the Old Testament, tabernacle meant a temporary place to worship and in the New Testament, tabernacle symbolizes the hope of great things to come. Many of our early members found CTC to be a temporary place of worship as they were job transferees.    We witnessed members coming and going but several of them contacted us later for information to share with their new church homes.

Truly it was the grace of God that took the carnal and foolish ideas of the founding members and molded them into this wondrous church celebrating thirty years of existence.  1Cor. 1:27. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound those things which are mighty.  The founding members had a great love for each other and it was manifested in the church so much so that many people who attended said that they could feel love.

In December 1981, the first Sunday devotional service was held in the Cumberlander home. The title of the message Rev Pope preached was “Who Does Man Say I Am?”  Mother Pope sang “He Looked Beyond My Faults And Saw My Needs.” There was not a dry eye in the service.  The first choir rehearsals were held in the Carter home.  Bible study, prayer meeting and business meetings were held in the homes of various members.

We fellowshipped and worshipped together much like the early church in Acts.

George MacArthur, Don Carter, and Howard Cumberlander attained our tax exempt status and incorporation papers.

In January of 1982, we moved to the Twinbrook YMCA of Schaumburg.  There we fellowshipped with Prayer Tower of Chicago the home church of Rev. Pope and Rev. Stewart.  George and Rae MacArthur were ordained our first deacon and deaconess.  Mary Ann Hale chaired the first missionary board and Johnny Bishop chaired the first usher board.  One Sunday in the “Y” parking lot, the custodian said that every Sunday he looked forward to hearing the beautiful voices of the CTC choir.  From the beginning, God blessed the voices of the choir and He continues to do so today. The choir has caused our spirits to soar as they lifted their voices in praise for cantatas and, concerts for holidays and other special occasions. The first choir director was Grace Carter.

CTC moved to Elk Grove Presbyterian Church in March 1982. While there, God not only blessed the church in membership numbers but He began a new thing spiritually. Sister Lorrain Johnson, a gifted songstress and a devout woman of God was our first ordained evangelist and Leon McCrimmon our first ordained minister. God knowing the trials that we would face sent Evangelist Johnny Mae Stewart, Evangelist Dallas Wilson  Evg Lorrain Johnson and a host of seasoned  Christians to nurture and buttress the church.

In December 1984, Pastor Pope resigned and left for a ministry in California.  From Dec. 1984-September 1985 in the absence of a pastor and the false predictions of naysayers who spoke of the demise of the church, the church doors remained opened and the pulpit filled. God mightily blessed the efforts of the modified joint board and the deaconate under the prayerful and faithful leadership of Deacon Charles Rice.  Rev.Louis Stewart

Traveled from Chicago to preach many Sundays. The church constitution and covenant were written by Toni Bates, Howard Cumberlander, Don Carter, George MacArthur, and Charles Rice. Rev. Pope said that he was a planter of churches. When he resigned from CTC, he left a planted church. Rev Pope’s answered prayers had fashioned a group of baby Christians into Christians who had a hunger and thirst for the word forsaking the wordly pleasures which were at one time so enticing...

In Sept. 1985 Rev. Stewart became interim pastor and was installed as pastor of CTC in April 1986. Under Pastor Stewart’s watch many ministries were developed; youth choir, Children’s church, women’s bible study, new member orientation, men’s day, father and son breakfast, deaconate family ministry, men’s fellowship,CTC education committee and scholarship committee, vacation bible school, intercessory prayer, marriage ministry and ETA classes, praise in the park and services on the land of the future church. From CTC, God called out several members to preach: Brothers Rice MacArthur, Moree, Youngblood, Patterson, Presley, Robinson, McCoy, and Sisters Askew, Newman, Blue, and Delaney, To God be the Glory!

During our Fall revival in 1989, God sent a pastor to worship with us and he informed Pastor Stewart of a church for sale in Roselle.  In Oct. 1989, we purchased our present church home and It was God’s favor and the financial skills of  Charles Rice and Howard Cumberlander that allowed us with joy and thanksgiving  to celebrate  a mortgage burning five years later. In 2002, the church elected their first elders; Bros. Willie Rhodes, Howard Cumberlander and Sister Pauline Askew. In 2003, the church purchased ten acres of land and burned the mortgage in 2006.

On November 22, 2008, Pastor Louis Stewart submitted his letter of resignation effective March 31, 2009. Being a faithful, devout and compassionate shepherd, he agreed to stay with the flock until a new shepherd was sent.  The joint board overseeing this period of transition formulated six committees: the constitution compensation, communication, process, worship, pastoral search committees. and focus. The committee members followed an arduous and demanding schedule while the congregation joined with them in prayer and fasting seeking God’s will.  After several candidates were presented, our omniscient, omnipotent and sovereign God presented the shepherd he had ordained for CTC. Only God could orchestrate a meeting of two strangers in an airport –Deaconess Lillie Douglas and Rev. Marquarite Jenkins the mother of Rev. Daryl Jenkins.  Rev. Marquarite learns that CTC needs a shepherd and informs her son Rev Daryl Jenkins. On November 1, 2010, Pastor Stewart passed the mantle to Pastor Daryl Jenkins. His wife, Sister Ladawne a beautiful servant of God serves graciously and lovingly by his side. We are expecting amazing blessings from God as Pastor Jenkins begins to share his God given vision with such ministries as wow service, seniors in motion, single family support ministry, and discipleship classes.