Tabernacle of Praise Christian Church

 4325 Hacks Cross Road
Memphis, Tennessee 38125

 

Tabernacle of Praise Christian Church is a medium-sized church located in Memphis, TN. Our church is Christian.

Services:	Sunday School 9:00am Sunday Worship 10:00am Wednesday Evening 6:30pm
Attire:	Informal or casual attire is common
Leader(s):	W. L. Nathaniel, Jr., Pastor

 We are a band of baptized, Bible-believing, spirit-filled saints of God; who are commanded, commissioned, and committed to spreading the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We bless the Lord at all times in an enthusiastic and exciting worship service in accordance with the biblical mandates set forth in the Word of God!

 

History

The Tabernacle of Praise Christian Church is the vision of its fiery founder and passionate pastor – Dr. W. L. Nathaniel, Jr.  This ministry was actually indirectly inspired by the pastor’s father Wesley L. Nathaniel, Sr. On Father’s Day of 1999, Papa Nate shared with Pastor Nate that he knew his days upon this earth were numbered.  He asked Pastor Nate if he would consider coming back to Memphis to continue in his pastoral ministry so he would be close enough to take care of his mother.
Papa Nate went home to be with the Lord in September 1999, and Pastor Nate preached his father’s eulogy.  Pastor Nate later shared his father’s request [with his wife Cassandra] of continuing his pastoral ministry in Memphis.  They entered into a period of prayer and fasting as they considered a move from Ventura County California to Memphis Tennessee.  It was late Spring/early Summer of 2000 that the vision for starting a church in Memphis was birthed.  So after more prayer and fasting, Pastor Nate and 1st Lady Cassandra shared with their family about the move back to Memphis to start a church.  Because they had grown to be such a close-knit family, one by one, each one of their children made their move back to Memphis even before their parents.  First it was (Min.) Kevin in October 2000, followed by David in April 2001, Wesley, his wife Angela, and daughters Imani & Amari in August 2001, and finally (Min.) Kendra in January 2002.
In December 2002, Pastor Nathaniel conducted the initial planning session for the Tabernacle of Praise Christian Church at the Levi Elementary School.  Corporate paperwork was completed andthe church received her initial charter in January 2003.  So with and hand full of family and friends, Pastor and 1st Lady Cassandra made plans to come to Memphis some time late summer/early fall of 2003.  However, the Master Planner had a different set of orders for the Nathaniel’s to follow.  Unbeknownst to Pastor Nate, God put the Tabernacle of Praise on hold because the Lord had predestined some other faithful followers to pick up before setting sail on the maiden voyage of TOP.  So after 28+ years, Pastor and Sis. Nate left CA in October 2004, made a brief 11-month layover to pick up other passengers God had destined for TOP.
A second TOP planning session was conducted on September 15, 2005; and the charter was reinstated on September 26, 2005.  After several subsequent strategy sessions, on Wednesday October 19, 2005 the Tabernacle of Praise held its inaugural Bible study session at the Unity Church of Memphis and 36 members joined.  The inaugural worship was held on the following Sunday October 23, 2005 and 27 members joined.
We acquired our 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status during the 2006 calendar year.  With the anticipation of building our own church facility, we purchased a 7.4-acre parcel of land in February of 2007.  After the Unity Church of Memphis building was sold, we relocated to the Ross Elementary School.  We held our services there from April 2007 until October 2007.  We then moved to our current location at 4325 Hacks Cross Road, which provided a worship environment more conducive to growth.
To date, we have 160+ members on the roll.  We entered into an 18-month lease with the option for six additional months.  Because of its proximity to the majority of our current congregation and its visibility because of passing traffic, we attempted to purchase this facility on Hacks Cross but were unable to negotiate a price that was agreeable to both buyer and seller.
We then turned our attention to building our own church facility on the parcel of land on Shelby Drive; however, the ownership of the Hacks Cross facility changed hands.  So we reentered into negotiations with the current owners to purchase the church on Hacks Cross Road.  By faith, we prayerfully anticipated the hand of God to once again “make a way.”  As we approached the end of our lease, with about four months remaining, God showed us favor once again.  We purchased the Hacks Cross facility in June 2009.
So at a time when the world was wringing their hands and worrying about the economy, the people of God at the TOP are investing in kingdom building, which always guarantees a positive return on investment.  The Tabernacle of Praise has made great strides in our brief four-year history and by the grace of God; we will continue to demonstrate what faith God in God can do.  We serve a God is able to do exceeding, abundantly, and above all that we ask or think; according to the power that works within us.  The power of faith, coupled with works, will allow us to continue to accomplish great things for the Lord.  Stay encouraged TOP because eyes have not seen, nor ears heard; neither has it entered into the heart of man the things God has prepared for those who love Him!

Mission Statement

The mission of the Tabernacle of Praise Christian Church is to exalt Jesus Christ, equip believer’s for ministry by empowering them with the Word of God, evangelize the lost, and extend the love of Christ to the world.

The Mission Statement is an expression of purpose and the Vision Statement is an expression of faith.  One states intention while the other states expectation.  A Mission Statement should be succinct and expressed in no more than one sentence.  A Vision Statement is more complex and detailed, expressed in several paragraph or even several pages.  In the context of church ministry, the Vision Statement communicates the fulfillment of the Mission Statement.
A clearly defined vision has inestimable power.  With it, there is vibrancy of hope.  Without it, life drains away.  A well stated vision sparks fires of genuine enthusiasm about the future.  It encourages people to grow fro “faith to faith” – ever expanding in their anticipation of what God can do.  It provides clarity in the decision-making process.  It affirms that the church is on the right track and moving in the right direction.  It creates harmony and fosters positive attitudes.  It provides a stabilizing influence when the inevitable crisis and challenges threaten to impede the journey and halt the progress.

What We Believe

We believe in the Holy Scriptures: accepting fully the writing of the Old and New Testaments as the inerrant Word of God, verbally inspired in all parts and therefore altogether sufficient as our only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice.  {Psalms 119:160; Proverbs 30:5a; II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21}
We believe in The One True God: who is an intelligent, sovereign, spiritual, and personal Being; perfect, infinite, and eternal in His Being of holiness, love, wisdom, and power; absolutely separate from and above the world as its Creator, yet everywhere present in the world as the Upholder of all things.  He is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; three distinct persons but without division of nature, essence, or being; and each having a distinct ministry in God’s revelation to His creation and people.  {Genesis 1:1; Exodus 15:11; Psalms 83:18, 139:7-9; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30, 15:26}
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ: who is the Second Person of the Triune God, the Eternal Word and Only Begotten Son; that without any change in His Divine Person, He became a man by the miracle of the virgin birth, One Person with two natures; that as man He was tempted as we are yet without sin; that as the Perfect Lamb of God He gave Himself in death upon the cross, bearing there the sins of the world, and suffering its full penalty of divine wrath in our stead; that He arose from the grave in a glorified body; that as our Great High Priest He ascended into heaven, there to appear before the face of God as our Advocate and Intercessor.  {John 1:1, 14, 3:16; Matthew 1:18-25; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:6-10; I Corinthians 15:3-7; Hebrews 4:14-16; I John 2:1-2}
We believe in the Holy Spirit: who is the Third Person of the Trinity and the divine agent in nature, revelation, and redemption; that He convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment; that He regenerates, indwells, baptizes, seals, and anoints all who becomes children of God through Christ; that He further empowers, guides, teaches, sanctifies, and fills believers who daily surrender to Him.  {John 3:5, 14:16-17, 26, 16:7-14; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:13; II Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 1:13,5:18}
We believe in Salvation by Grace through Faith: that salvation is the free gift of God, neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any virtue or work of man, but received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom all true believers have a present possession of the gift of eternal life, a perfect righteousness, kinship in the family of God, deliverance and security from all condemnation, every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness, and the divine guarantee that they shall never perish; that this salvation affects the whole man; that apart from Christ there is no possible salvation. {Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; John 1:12, 3:14, 10:28-29; Romans 8:1; Philippians 1:6}

Vision Statement

The Tabernacle of Praise Christian Church is the body of Christ, and with the Holy Spirit as our daily Comforter and our Guide, we are able to perform great works that benefit one another, exercise our faith, and minister to the needs of an ever-growing congregation and the surrounding community.  Every baptized believer in Christ in this church family has been endowed with spiritual gifts and abilities to perform in some area of ministry.  Our greatest challenge is allowing these gifts and abilities to be developed, shaped, exercised and nurtured by God.
Accepting this challenge means:

• Choosing freely to live a Christ-centered life that is totally committed and conformed to the will of God
• Gaining an understanding and a good working knowledge of the Word of God, through diligent study, which serves as the foundation for keeping the vision ever before us
• Relying totally upon the Holy Spirit to guide, discern truth, communicate God’s will, and control all action, thought, motives and deeds
• Willing to make the necessary changes in our lives for the good of the body, understanding that God is committed to developing us into spirit filled Christians who reflect His image

As we pledge ourselves to the work before us today – that of building a spirit-filled life, one that is committed to God, His work, His will, and His people – our vision must be about MINISTRY!

• Ministry to our families and our youth
• Ministry to our men and boys
• Ministry to our women and daughters
• Ministry to single parent families
• Ministry to displaced and dysfunctional families
• Ministry to the helpless and the homeless
• Ministry to all persons in need

We will accomplish this vision by:

• Erecting a facility to accommodate the growth of our congregation comfortably in an environment conducive to worship and spiritual growth, with a focus on state-of-the-art educational facilities for effective Christian Education endeavors
• Growing spiritually and numerically so that capable and devoted persons are developed, who will offer their services, spiritual gifts, and abilities to keep this church open to the community every day of the week to minister to the church and community needs
• Giving according to God’s Word to support all endeavors of ministry
• Developing activities and counseling centers for troubled families
• Establishing a major economic development program with service enterprises that rescue our neighborhoods from economic impoverishment and also employs and empowers people at the same time.
• Establishing housing projects for seniors, struggling families, abused women, and abused children
• Establishing funding for scholarship funds and creating new scholarships as required to assist our young people with their college education and other higher education
• Establishing health care programs for families and seniors who cannot afford proper medical treatment

This is indeed a tremendous task set before us but all of this and more can be accomplished.  I know we can do it because my Bible tells me in Phil. 4:13; “that I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.”
So just remember:

• OUR  MISSION is to attract and win souls to the Lord, develop them to Christlike maturity and empower them for a meaningful ministry in the church and a life mission in the world in order to magnify God
• OUR  BUSINESS is to develop effective lives for God’s glory: bring them in…build them up…train them forth…and send them out
• OUR  PRODUCT is changed lives

We are indeed a blessed people and we are well on our way, remembering if God be for us – who can be against us!  As we move forward to meet this great challenge of the 21st century, let nothing and nobody turn you around for the “best is yet to come.”

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Germantown Church Of Christ

In September of 1948 a small group of Christians, most of whom lived in the Germantown area and attended the Union Avenue church of Christ, organized a Tuesday evening Bible class with W.S. Long as their teacher.  Initially, they met in the home of Dalton and Mozelle Priestley at what is now called 1466 Poplar Estates Parkway.  Incidentally, the late Mozelle Priestley was a daughter of J.D. Tant, a well-known pioneer preacher of many years ago.
Johnny and Pauline Brewer were part of this founding group - and provided much of the information regarding the early days.  Richard Irvin, presently a member of our congregation was the little boy shown in the only picture we have of those recent years.  His mother still is faithful to the Lord's church, but lives in Naples, Florida.
At the first meeting of the young church, one lady confessed her faith and obeyed the gospel.  In November of that year, the group began to hold services in the old Germantown City Hall as the Germantown church of Christ.  bill Lynn, a member of the church, was employed as a part-time minister.  Doug Davis became the first full time minister in 1954, followed by David Underwood in 1956.  David served the congregation until 1965 when he and Myra left for the mission field in Nigeria. 
Over the years, many good men have served as pulpit minister.  Dave Phillips has been the pulpit minister since 1992.  Our present ministry team consists of Joe Brumfield (senior high youth minister), Glenn Daily (spiritual leadership development minister), Eddie Lewis (education minister), Andrew Howell (junior high youth minister), and Ron Roberson (involvement minister). 
This church has always been involved in mission work - individually and collectively.  In recent years, our congregational efforts have increased.  We now are the principle means of support for three international mission efforts.  Lesley and Loopie Williams are missionaries to Papua, New Guinea.  Paul and Charita Nash are missionaries to Cuernavaca, Mexico.  Sasha and Natasha Maluga are working in Donetsk, Ukraine, where Sasha preaches at the Budjonevsky church.
The church at Germantown did not have elders until 1964 when John Cox and Wilborn Jones were appointed to serve as its first elders.  Presently, the elders serving the congregation are Barry Chapman, Glenn Daily, Tom Donaldson, Walter Edge, Byron Howell, Jerry Lee, Ty Miller, Joe Skelly, Larry Scroggs and John Thomas.
The land at 7007 Poplar was purchased in May, 1950 and the education wing of the building was completed in 1954.  This building consisted of classrooms on the first floor and an auditorium on the second floor plus a residence for the minister and his family at the back of the building. 
In 1965, a larger auditorium, including a baptistery and additional classrooms on the lower level was completed.  More construction was completed in 1984, adding an educational/fellowship building to provide more classrooms to meet the needs of a growing congregation.
In October of 1990, a fifteen acre parcel of land was purchased at 8723 Poplar Pike for the purpose of constructing new facilities.  Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new building complex were held Saturday, May 18, 1996.  On July 27, 1997, David Underwood conducted the last Sunday morning service at the old church building on Poplar.  The first worship service at 8723 Poplar Pike was August 3, 1997 and was conducted by Dave Phillips.
Following the move into the new facilities, a six and one-half acre parcel of land adjoining the west side of our property became available, and the church purchased it in 1998.  The majority of this land has been developed and used as expanded parking along the northwestern portion of our property.
'Fellowship Park' is the area at the extreme southern end of our property now being developed use by the congregation and the community.  A walking track, recreational softball field/soccer field, and a pavilion provide an ideal atmosphere for groups of any size to grow through fellowship.
A new education building, the second phase of a three-phase project on Poplar Pike, was completed and functional by the summer of 2003.  This building houses classroom space for adults as well as children, and features a large youth room on the second floor.
Prior to leading the closing prayer for our groundbreaking at 8723 Poplar Pike, I made the following statement, which I think still resonates with the intention of the Lord's church at Germantown:

With God as our Father, Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit as our strength, and the Bible as our guide, we gratefully dedicate ourselves to the task of worship, love and service.  Our purpose is to proclaim the riches of God's word, to help those who are spiritually and physically in need, and to build up the bond of love that exists between the family of believers at the Germantown church of Christ.

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germantown church of christ

Faith Presbyterian Church

8816 Poplar Pike
Germantown, TN 38138-7743
(901) 754-4840

Faith Presbyterian Church in Germantown, TN is a private company categorized under Presbyterian Church. Our records show it was established in 1987 and incorporated in Tennessee. Current estimates show this company has an annual revenue of unknown and employs a staff of approximately 10 to 19.

We have two worship services:

Contemporary Worship at 9:00 a.m.

Traditional Worship at 11:00 a.m.

and Sunday School at 10:00 a.m.

Essentials of our Faith

All Scripture is self-attesting and being Truth, requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The infallible Word of God, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is a complete and unified witness to God’s redemptive acts culminating in the incarnation of the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible, uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks. On this sure foundation we affirm these additional essentials of our faith.

1. We believe in one God, the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To Him be all honor, glory and praise forever!

2. Jesus Christ, the living Word, became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. He who is true God became true man united in one Person forever. He died on the cross a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. On the third day He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Mediator.

3. The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to our hearts. He convicts us of sin and draws us to the Savior, indwelling our hearts. He gives new life to us, empowers and imparts gifts to us for service. He instructs and guides us into all truth, and seals us for the day of redemption.

4. Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God’s free grace. God credits His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justifies them in His sight. Only such as are born of the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus Christ become children of God and heirs of eternal life.

5. The true Church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit are united together in the body of Christ. The Church finds her visible yet imperfect, expression in local congregations where the Word of God is preached in its purity and the sacraments are administered in their integrity, where scriptural discipline is practiced, and where loving fellowship is maintained. For her perfecting she awaits the return of her Lord.

6. Jesus Christ will come again to the earth personally, visibly, and bodily—to judge the living and the dead, and to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22:20)

7. The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the gospel throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations. Obedience to the Great Commission requires total commitment to “Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.” He calls us to a life of self-denying love and service. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10)

The Essentials are set forth in greater detail in the Westminster Confession of Faith.

In Essentials …Unity

In Non-Essentials … Liberty

In All Things … Charity

Ministries

Faith Presbyterian Church has ministries for all ages.  Please click one of the links to the right for current news about our activities:  check out the categories, click on a recent post, or click on a date on the calendar for any news updates that day.

Here is a brief overview of some of the ministries we offer:

Adults
Men’s Bible study:  Tuesdays, 7:00 a.m.
Women’s Bible study:  Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.
Sunday School:  Sundays 10:00 a.m.
Missions
Stephen Ministry
Outreach

Youth
Sunday School: 10am
Element (6th-8th): Sundays from 5-7pm
Crave (9th-12th): Tuesdays from 6-8pm
DDT (Boys 6th-8th): Every other Thursday from 5-7pm
Visit the FPCY website here!

Children
Preschool, ages 2- 5 Tuesdays & Thursdays 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Children’s Church, Sunday mornings
Genesis & Caterpillar (K – 5th)
Summer camp, ages 3 – 9

Music
Adult choir, Wednesdays, 7:15 p.m.
Praise band, Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m.
Children’s choir, Wednesdays 6:15 p.m.
M.A.D. Camp (Music, Art and Drama), 2nd – 8th grades

WWG (Wednesdays with God)
5:45 – 6:30 p.m. – Dinner
6:15 – 7:15 p.m. – Children’s choir & Bible study
6:30 – 7:15 p.m. – Adult & Youth Bible study

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