About Us
Our History
Our Journey began on October 24, 1944, a meeting was held in the home of the late Reverend and Ms. James Garmon. Lead by the late Reverend John D. Gordon who served as Moderator. There were 38 persons, faithful pioneers who attended this meeting.
At this meeting, they agreed upon our name, Tabernacle of Faith Baptist Church (Tab) and the calling of a dynamic, anointed 28-year-old man of God as its pastor, the Reverend F. Douglas Ferrell. Pastor Ferrell conducted Tabernacle’s first service on the first Sunday in November of 1944. In this first service, God, in His wisdom, added 190 more persons, who joined in Christian fellowship with the original 38 members!
The service was held at the Knights of Pythias Hall located at 1767 East 103rd Street in Los Angeles. Although the Lord blessed us to regularly pay our rent on the Hall, for the then exorbitant sum of $135.00 per month, we were given notice to move. A powerful radio ministry went into many homes and hospitals where many yearned for a word from God. The many who heard were drawn to the Tab and consequently became faithful members of an ever-growing church.
Later, he informed his members that he had purchased the land at the corner of 114th Street and Central Avenue in Watts and stressed that it would be built the “Lord’s Way” with tithes, offerings, and much prayer. Truly, God opened for us a “tent” door where we worshipped for ten or eleven months. It was in this tent that we were called upon to live up to our name, “Tabernacle of Faith,” because it rained many days and nights and we never lost hope.
Soon afterwards, Pastor Ferrell put into action his God-given talent for carpentry and design. With his natural skills and the help of several members of the Tab, including his father-in-law, George Nash, Brother G.I. Tate, James Cox, George Campbell, Robert Young, and others the plans and actual construct of the Tab began. Pastor Ferrell designed and built the Sacrament tables, pulpit furniture, pews, and chandeliers for the sanctuary. There was no mortgage, because as the church was being constructed, the debts were paid!
About Pastor Ferrell
Pastor Frederick Douglas Ferrell was born February 21, 1915, in Gonzales City, Texas. He and the former Miss Esther Nash were wedded on June 10, 1945. This union was blessed with three children: Frederick Douglas Ferrell, Sheridan Robert Ferrell, and Stephanie Camille Ferrell.
In 1962, Pastor Ferrell entered the political arena and unseated an incumbent who was a 25-year veteran of the California Legislature, becoming the first Black man elected from the 55th Assembly District. He served from 1963 voluntarily retiring from office in 1966.
According to his constituents, Pastor Ferrell was deeply concerned about events in the community and responded by becoming involved in the political life of the state and pressing forward to exert his influence to make life better for Black people of Los Angeles, in general, and the Watts community, in particular. His work as a pastor blended with his legislative duties focusing on youth and missionary causes.
While in the Assembly, he co-sponsored with Byron Rumford, the landmark legislation, Fair Housing ACT, AB 1240, which became known as the Rumford Act. This Act banned discrimination in the sale or rental of housing and to forbid lending institutions, mortgage holders, real estate brokers and others to practice discrimination in housing transactions.
Church congregations have always been a captive audience for politicians and as the first Black pastor elected to the Assembly, Ferrell held significant standing, especially among Black legislators – there were only three others – even though most of his members and constituents could not vote outside of his district. Notwithstanding, Tabernacle of Faith was one of the largest Black churches in Los Angeles.
10
Weekly Services
150
Congregation members
20
Bible studies conducted
4
Interfaith partnerships
Statement of Faith
This church receives the New Testament as its authority in matters of faith and practice. Its understanding of the Christian truths as contained therein is in essential accord with the beliefs of the Baptist Denomination. We as a body of believers have no statement or creed aside for the New Testament. We believe that the Old Testament and the New Testament are the inspired word of God.
What We Believe
We believe that the Scriptures are the inerrant and inspired word of God (2 Timothy 3:15-17)
We believe in Mankind’s Fall and God’s Redemption (Genesis 1:26-31; Romans 3:23; 5:12-21)
We believe in Baptism by Water (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4)
We believe in the Sacrament of Marriage between Man and Woman (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:21-24)
We believe in Sanctification from the time regeneration to consummation at Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 2:23)
We believe the Church is the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23)
We believe the Lake of Fire is reserved for those who reject the redemptive work of Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15)
We believe in the One True Godhead known as the Trinity (1 John 5:7-8)
We believe in the Salvation of Mankind (Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:8-10
We believe in the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:24-25, 28)
We believe in the Promise of the Father (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8)
We believe that Divine Healing is wrought by the power of God through prayer of faith and by the laying on of hands (James 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 43:4-5)
We believe the Blessed Hope that Jesus will return to gather His Saints to Heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
We believe in the Millenial Reign of Jesus Christ, which He and His Saints, from Heaven will rule and reign for one thousand years on earth (Revelation 20:1-7)