Holy Tabernacle of God Missionary Baptist Church History

Holy Tabernacle of God Missionary Baptist Church began with a call from God on the life of Rev. Dextral D. "D.D." Alexander in 1972 and his response to that call. At that time, he wrote the name of the church on a small piece of paper, put it in an envelope, and placed it in the back of his favorite Bible. 

 

As the call grew stronger, he left home and lived on the beach for approximately three weeks as a homeless person, laying himself before God, listening for confirmation and instruction for the next steps. And they came.

 

So, with a small band of believers that had the faith to believe in God and the vision, Holy Tabernacle of God Missionary Baptist Church was birthed on May 13, 1977. On May 22, 1977, with nothing but the $46 tithe of one of the organizing members, we held our first service at the Inglewood Women's Club, 325 N. Hillcrest, Inglewood, California. Through prayer and faith, God provided from week to week the finances we needed to continue, and we grew. And from May 22, 1977 until April 26, 1981, this was our home.

 

In April 1981 we purchased our worship facility at 6701 West Boulevard, Inglewood, California, an old flower shop full of dirt and debris. The members came together and worked day and night to clean and beautify, to the best of our ability, so we could hold our first service there in May. God continued to increase our faith and honored our service in the community by allowing us to pay off our 30-year mortgage in 25 years.

 

Holy Tabernacle continued to grow from the 20 founding members to our current membership of over 450 on our membership roster, through the sharing of the gospel and ministering in our Harvest Area.

 

In October 2004, Reverend Xavier T. Carter, Pastor of Revived Faith Baptist Church, was retiring. Pastor D.D. and Pastor Carter were great peers and comrades in the ministry, which carried over in the two churches ministering and fellowshipping together on many occasions. As Pastor Carter retired, the two churches joined together and continued on as one church under the name of Holy Tabernacle of God Missionary Baptist Church. Our current worship facility at 2312 W Florence Avenue was purchased from Revived Faith. 

God directed members to organize our current seven ministries: Stewardship/Administration, Discipleship Development, Evangelism, Membership Care, Missions, Music and Worship, and Prayer, fully staffed with volunteer personnel and headed by trained ministers.  

 

Our motto is "Serving God by Serving Mankind" and is carried out throughout service to our community by meeting determined needs and on-going social service-type programs. We currently serve our homeless community by providing a hot, home-cooked meal every month, known as "Share-a-Meal."  The doors of the church are open on a daily basis to minister to those who come by in need of prayer, food, clothing and other assistance and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them.

 

Our dedication to carrying out the Great Commission given in Matthew 28:18-20 is reflected in our having planted ten new churches and sponsored three others already started. Through Pastor D.D. Alexander's love of international missions, we started churches in Kenya, South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland and Rio de Janerio, Brazil.

 

During our 45-year history, we have belonged to the Southern Baptist Convention, where Pastor Alexander was elected the first African-American Vice-President; the California State Baptist Convention, and the LAX Extreme Urban Center Southern Baptist Association. Our church is actively involved in all agencies related to these three major bodies of Christian work. We have members who have served on State committees and missions projects. Several of our members serve as officers and training class facilitators and in various volunteer functions when called upon.

 

On October 2, 2015, God called Pastor D. D. Alexander to his eternal rest and reward, but because of his teaching, training, love for his congregation, and above all, instilling the faith of our great God into the lives of his precious members, we continue to share the good news of God’s grace and mercy through the blood of Jesus Christ.  

 

In September 2017 we elected and in May 2018 we installed our God-given Pastor, Min. Orlando Hadnot. Pastor Hadnot has embraced God's vision for Holy Tabernacle, and he and Lady Shannon, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, will continue to lead Holy Tabernacle forward to fulfill God's purpose. 

 

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