CBHanif@SFLTimes.com
WEST PALM BEACH —“God’s House on the Hill Serving Christ” is how historic Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church has been known. The TMBC family is honoring their head servant — the Rev. Gerald D. Kisner — on his 16th anniversary with the theme, “Celebrating the Past…Continuing the Vision.”
Since being elected pastor in 1995, Rev. Kisner with his wife Mami have advanced the great legacy of TMBC which observed its 118th anniversary Oct. 23. The rich history of the church, at 802 8th Street in West Palm Beach, began in the Styx on Palm Beach in 1893. A year later the church housed the first school for African Americans in Palm Beach County.
Destroyed by a storm in 1902, the church’s home soon was rebuilt. Severely damaged by Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, resilient Tabernacle’s wood-paneled ceiling, stained-glass windows and other historic features have been restored.
Through the years TMBC congregants have included such stellar public servants as the late educator U.B. Kinsey — for whom the county public school a stone’s throw away is named — and the late attorney Gerald Williams. In recent years Tabernacle has hosted Susan Taylor of Essence magazine, the cast of Showboat, the late attorney Johnnie Cochran, Dr. Cain Hope Felder of the Howard University School of Divinity and many of the finest preachers and teachers in the country.
Rev. Kisner’s tenure has included his initiation of the church’s annual retreat, Family Fellowship Hour and the Singles Ministry. Successes under his leadership have been as varied as the restoration and renovation of the church and fellowship hall at a cost of $2.7 million, and the notable compilation of African American website links on Tabernacle’s own tmbc1893.org website.
IF YOU GO
Events honoring Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church Pastor’s 16th Anniversary:
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m.
Church Prayer/Praise Service
Tabernacle Fellowship Hall
Friday, Dec. 9, 7-11 p.m.
Pastor’s Anniversary Dinner
Crowne Plaza Hotel
1601 Belvedere Rd.
West Palm Beach
Donation $50/person
Saturday Dec. 10, 7 p.m.
Gospel Concert
Tabernacle Church
Sunday, Dec. 11, 9:45 a.m.
Pastor’s Anniversary Service
Guest minister:
Rev. DeQuincy Hentz
of Shiloh Baptist Church,
New Rochelle N.Y.
Tabernacle Church
For more information email mcgeeme@bellsouth.net or call the church office,
561-832-8338.
ON THE NET
tmbc1893.org
Photo: Rev. Gerald Kisner
No Comment