“...[U]pon this rock I will build my church; and
the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16:18 KJV (public domain)
According to verbal research, 1902 was the beginning of Little Starlight No. 2 Baptist Church under the guidance of Reverend A. Walker. The name Little Starlight No. 2 Baptist Church was later changed to Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church.
On September 29, 1915, Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church was destroyed by a storm and rebuilt in 1916. The Building Committee consisted of the following members, Brothers G. Edmond L. Williams, J. J. Brown, G. Lewis, H. Pruitt, W. A. Smith, and W. A. Wood. R. H. Williams was the church clerk and Reverend L. C. Carter was the pastor.
Reverend A. Brazil and Reverend L. C. Carter served as pastors for Tabernacle from 1915 to 1921.
Reverend Simon Thomas served as pastor from 1922-1950. The deacons serving under Reverend Thomas were D. A. Jones, Jim Jones, George Lewis, Green Route, Jake Wicker, Joe Smith Sr., Sylvester Phillips, Charley Moore, Benny Jones, O. Dunaway, Henry Pruitt, Johnny Woods, Henry Craig, and Will Brown.
In 1936 a wood burning stove that was used to heat the school started a fire that destroyed St. Tammany Parish Training School for Negroes. The students were relocated to Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church for classes from 1936-1938 until the school was repaired. Being the only school in the parish for Negroes at the time, students from Folsom, Covington, Abita Springs, Madisonville, Mandeville, Lacombe, Pearl River, and Slidell attended classes at Tabernacle. The church was also used for Graduation Ceremonies for St. Tammany Training School students from 1940-1948. Tabernacle was the largest facility in Slidell for negroes that could accommodate the demands of a graduating class.
From 1951 to 1953, Reverend Deflander watched over the church. Then in 1954, Reverend Luther Smith was chosen to serve as pastor for two years. After Reverend Smith’s two years of service, the church was without a leader for one year and various ministers in the Slidell community brought the word from the Lord to the congregation.
The Reverend Rubin Watts became the pastor in 1957 and served until 1972. Two faithful members, James Moore and Joe Smith, Jr., were appointed to the Deacon Board under Reverend Watts’ leadership. Also, during Reverend Watts’ tenure, the church was rebuilt in 1966.
Reverend Johnny Craft brought the messages to Tabernacle’s congregation as acting Pastor from 1972 to 1975. However, in 1975, God called Reverend James Thomas to be the shepherd over the Tabernacle flock. He served until his death on June 1, 1990. Many accomplishments were evidence under Reverend Thomas’ leadership and guidance. Tabernacle was remodeled in 1984. David Smith, Edward Spencer, Esker Vaughn, Brooker Burnett, Alonzo Nevis, Roy Black, Eli Whorley, and Morris Payne were appointed to the Deacon Board. Two of the eight deacons appointed, Eli Whorley and Morris Payne, in later years were called by God to preach the gospel as well as serve as associate ministers.
In 1990, God called Reverend Gerald Cheatham to be the shepherd over the flock of Tabernacle. He served until March 21, 2007. The members joining the Deacon Board under Reverend Cheatham’s leadership were Leonard Craft, Willie Robinson, Furnell Victor, Edward Jones and Edward Spencer. During the year of 1992, Deacon Eli Whorley was called to the ministry. Deacon Leonard Craft was also called to preach the gospel as well as serve as an associate minister of Tabernacle along with Deacon Whorley. Reverend Dwayne Navarre joined the Tabernacle family and served as the youth minister and Reverend Harry
Wesley served as associate minister. In 2001, Reverend Terry McCree joined Tabernacle as an associate minister. Sister Joyce Lester was also another member under Reverend Cheatham’s leadership called by God to preach the gospel and was ordained in 2003.
Many additions and improvements were made during Reverend Cheatham’s leadership. The church bell was moved from its existing location in 1993 to a new location in the front of the church. A handicap accessible ramp was added to the church in April of 1995. Other additions included steps being affixed to the baptism pool, purchase of the two adjacent properties, a special event decorator, and a computer generated graphic designer.
On August 29, 2005, the church was severely damaged by the wrath of Hurricane Katrina. Forty-seven families along with family pets used Tabernacle as a shelter despite the rising water. The evacuees were forced to move in the elevated choir area to escape harm’s way. Although, the church was severely damaged, many of the families continued to live in it for several months. After a period of time, the city declared Tabernacle uninhabitable. Therefore, various churches in the community, Christ Episcopal Church, Macedonia Missionary Baptist and Mt. Olive A. M. E, extended invitations to the Tabernacle family to hold Sunday services in their sanctuaries. Then in March of 2007, Minister Ella and Mr. Freddie Doyle offered the Doyle’s Funeral Home Chapel to the congregation to serve as a temporary home until the church is rebuilt.
The congregation was without a leader from March 2007 to April 2008. The Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Association appointed several ministers to preach the word on Sundays. However, Reverend Norman J. Farve was appointed by the Association to conduct service and serve communion on the second Sunday of each month.
In April of 2008, Reverend Norman J. Farve was called by God to become the spiritual overseer, leader and pastor of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. He and his wife, Minister Paulette, have been a blessing to the congregation. Under the leadership of Pastor Farve, the church purchased new property located on the corner of Guzman and 3rd Street (Sergeant Alfred Drive). The membership has grown from 32 members in 2008 to a present day count of 472. The church has added new ministries. 1.) Nurses’ Guild 2.) Brotherhood 3.) A Women’s Ministry 4.) A Health Ministry 5.) The Culinary Ministry.
Also under the leadership of Pastor Farve is a growth of anointed leaders. The Minister of Tabernacle now includes: Paulette Farve, Henry Burnett, Rita Cooper, Ella Doyle, Irven Guss, Samuel Jones, and Mary Jones. Three (3) new deacons were also ordained under Pastor Farve. They are: Deacon Tirrel Sylvas, Deacon Larry Abrams, and Deacon John “Jay” Craft. Tabernacle welcomed to the Deacon Board Jimmy Strickland and Robert Gill. In February 2014, Deacon David Smith was also re-instated to the Deacon Board.
The new edifice was dedicated on October 24, 2010 and Phase 2 ( The New Fellowship Hall) was dedicated on November 24, 2013. A 29 –passenger bus was donated to the church on April 26, 2015.
On September 29, 1915, Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church was destroyed by a storm and rebuilt in 1916. The Building Committee consisted of the following members, Brothers G. Edmond L. Williams, J. J. Brown, G. Lewis, H. Pruitt, W. A. Smith, and W. A. Wood. R. H. Williams was the church clerk and Reverend L. C. Carter was the pastor.
Reverend A. Brazil and Reverend L. C. Carter served as pastors for Tabernacle from 1915 to 1921.
Reverend Simon Thomas served as pastor from 1922-1950. The deacons serving under Reverend Thomas were D. A. Jones, Jim Jones, George Lewis, Green Route, Jake Wicker, Joe Smith Sr., Sylvester Phillips, Charley Moore, Benny Jones, O. Dunaway, Henry Pruitt, Johnny Woods, Henry Craig, and Will Brown.
In 1936 a wood burning stove that was used to heat the school started a fire that destroyed St. Tammany Parish Training School for Negroes. The students were relocated to Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church for classes from 1936-1938 until the school was repaired. Being the only school in the parish for Negroes at the time, students from Folsom, Covington, Abita Springs, Madisonville, Mandeville, Lacombe, Pearl River, and Slidell attended classes at Tabernacle. The church was also used for Graduation Ceremonies for St. Tammany Training School students from 1940-1948. Tabernacle was the largest facility in Slidell for negroes that could accommodate the demands of a graduating class.
From 1951 to 1953, Reverend Deflander watched over the church. Then in 1954, Reverend Luther Smith was chosen to serve as pastor for two years. After Reverend Smith’s two years of service, the church was without a leader for one year and various ministers in the Slidell community brought the word from the Lord to the congregation.
The Reverend Rubin Watts became the pastor in 1957 and served until 1972. Two faithful members, James Moore and Joe Smith, Jr., were appointed to the Deacon Board under Reverend Watts’ leadership. Also, during Reverend Watts’ tenure, the church was rebuilt in 1966.
Reverend Johnny Craft brought the messages to Tabernacle’s congregation as acting Pastor from 1972 to 1975. However, in 1975, God called Reverend James Thomas to be the shepherd over the Tabernacle flock. He served until his death on June 1, 1990. Many accomplishments were evidence under Reverend Thomas’ leadership and guidance. Tabernacle was remodeled in 1984. David Smith, Edward Spencer, Esker Vaughn, Brooker Burnett, Alonzo Nevis, Roy Black, Eli Whorley, and Morris Payne were appointed to the Deacon Board. Two of the eight deacons appointed, Eli Whorley and Morris Payne, in later years were called by God to preach the gospel as well as serve as associate ministers.
In 1990, God called Reverend Gerald Cheatham to be the shepherd over the flock of Tabernacle. He served until March 21, 2007. The members joining the Deacon Board under Reverend Cheatham’s leadership were Leonard Craft, Willie Robinson, Furnell Victor, Edward Jones and Edward Spencer. During the year of 1992, Deacon Eli Whorley was called to the ministry. Deacon Leonard Craft was also called to preach the gospel as well as serve as an associate minister of Tabernacle along with Deacon Whorley. Reverend Dwayne Navarre joined the Tabernacle family and served as the youth minister and Reverend Harry
Wesley served as associate minister. In 2001, Reverend Terry McCree joined Tabernacle as an associate minister. Sister Joyce Lester was also another member under Reverend Cheatham’s leadership called by God to preach the gospel and was ordained in 2003.
Many additions and improvements were made during Reverend Cheatham’s leadership. The church bell was moved from its existing location in 1993 to a new location in the front of the church. A handicap accessible ramp was added to the church in April of 1995. Other additions included steps being affixed to the baptism pool, purchase of the two adjacent properties, a special event decorator, and a computer generated graphic designer.
On August 29, 2005, the church was severely damaged by the wrath of Hurricane Katrina. Forty-seven families along with family pets used Tabernacle as a shelter despite the rising water. The evacuees were forced to move in the elevated choir area to escape harm’s way. Although, the church was severely damaged, many of the families continued to live in it for several months. After a period of time, the city declared Tabernacle uninhabitable. Therefore, various churches in the community, Christ Episcopal Church, Macedonia Missionary Baptist and Mt. Olive A. M. E, extended invitations to the Tabernacle family to hold Sunday services in their sanctuaries. Then in March of 2007, Minister Ella and Mr. Freddie Doyle offered the Doyle’s Funeral Home Chapel to the congregation to serve as a temporary home until the church is rebuilt.
The congregation was without a leader from March 2007 to April 2008. The Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Association appointed several ministers to preach the word on Sundays. However, Reverend Norman J. Farve was appointed by the Association to conduct service and serve communion on the second Sunday of each month.
In April of 2008, Reverend Norman J. Farve was called by God to become the spiritual overseer, leader and pastor of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. He and his wife, Minister Paulette, have been a blessing to the congregation. Under the leadership of Pastor Farve, the church purchased new property located on the corner of Guzman and 3rd Street (Sergeant Alfred Drive). The membership has grown from 32 members in 2008 to a present day count of 472. The church has added new ministries. 1.) Nurses’ Guild 2.) Brotherhood 3.) A Women’s Ministry 4.) A Health Ministry 5.) The Culinary Ministry.
Also under the leadership of Pastor Farve is a growth of anointed leaders. The Minister of Tabernacle now includes: Paulette Farve, Henry Burnett, Rita Cooper, Ella Doyle, Irven Guss, Samuel Jones, and Mary Jones. Three (3) new deacons were also ordained under Pastor Farve. They are: Deacon Tirrel Sylvas, Deacon Larry Abrams, and Deacon John “Jay” Craft. Tabernacle welcomed to the Deacon Board Jimmy Strickland and Robert Gill. In February 2014, Deacon David Smith was also re-instated to the Deacon Board.
The new edifice was dedicated on October 24, 2010 and Phase 2 ( The New Fellowship Hall) was dedicated on November 24, 2013. A 29 –passenger bus was donated to the church on April 26, 2015.