In August we will celebrate our 89th Anniversary, we the members of Joy Tabernacle Church (formally Joy
Tabernacle Church) can truly say "We've come this far by Faith, leaning on the Lord."
As we reflect on our Church's history, it was a hot Sunday in August 1916 that Morning Star Institutional Baptist Church was founded by Reverend J. H. Bruce and Reverend E. Duck. The Church was located in the South East section of Ybor City, known as the "Garrison." The Church was relocated on India Street, known as the "Sand" because the street was unpaved.
After the death of Reverends Bruce and Duck, Reverend E. K. McDuffie was called to Pastor this small wooden Church. The Church's membership continues to grow, however, a construction project was moving in the path of the Church therefore the government paid $1,100.00 for the Church's property. The little wooden had to be demolished and the wood from the Church was given to the membership for their wooden stoves. The Church was moved to the YWCA on Kay Street. Land was purchased on Seventh Avenue to build a Church; however, no Church was allowed to build on Seventh Avenue. By the grace of God Reverend McDuffie was able to exchange the Church's property for land on Fifth Avenue and Fifteenth Street, where the Church is located today.
The Basement was built first and services were held in the Basement while the remainder of the Church was being built. A few of the members held dinner sales from their homes to help the Church's finance, such members as Sisters Verna Sheffield, Ruby Gholston, A. Gilbert and Nancy Volt. Of these sisters only Sister Ruby Gholston is still living and active in the church. It was a great day when the members marched into the completed Church building, led by Pastor McDuffie. Pastor McDuffie was the pastor for more than twenty-five years. Reverend H. W. Wilcox was called as Pastor and in 1955 he rebuilt the edifice and changed the name to Joy Tabernacle Church.
Under the leadership of Reverend Wilcox the Church became a part of the Sate and National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., also District Association, Ministers and Deacon Congress, the Missionary Society and Sunday School Convention. Reverend Wilcox pastored for more than sixteen years. Reverend G. W. Warren was called and was instrumental in the purchase of the Church's parsonage, a Sound system and the Baptism Pool. After three (3) years Reverend Crenshaw became Pastor and contributed greatly toward the church. He was responsible for the Fellowship Hall being tiled and many members joined under this leadership. After two and half year's (2 ½) Reverend W. W. Woods was called to pastor the church. Under his leadership the Church purchased a van and started a Day Care Center. After five (5) years, in 1978, Reverend E. Washington was called as Pastor. Reverend Washington led the church in paying off the Parsonage, purchased the house next door to the Church and extensive repairs were done to the Church's interior and exterior.
After 13 years Rev. Washington resigned. Elder Johnny Wright became the Pastor. Under Elder Wright's leadership a beatification program was started. After two years Rev. Wright resigned.
In May 1998, Joy Tabernacle "called" Bishop Clarence E. Davis, Sr., Ph.D., a vision bearer to be its twelfth Pastor. Facing the New Millennium, Bishop Davis revealed the "vision" of reaching Tampa Bay, the Cities through-out the United States and the World to fulfill the "Great Commission as identified in Matthew 28"19 and 20.
Bishop Davis advocates the way to stop violence and crime is to bring the sinner to a saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Under the leadership of Bishop Clarence E. Davis, Sr. many innovative changes have occurred. Namely, the Royal interior change of the Church's Fellowship Hall, to bring out it's beauty of Kingship, as well as the refurbishing of the interior walls of the Sanctuary. Leading the congregation on to higher heights to carry out the vision for the Church, Bishop Davis has inaugurated the following ministries: The Executive Council, Praise and Worship, Music in the Sunday School, Evangelism Outreach, New Members Class, Christian Education Department, Christian Women's Ministry, Radio Ministry, Dance Ministry and Women in Pastoral Ministry to name a few.
In February and March of 1999 Bishop Clarence and Doctor Ada Davis (Pastor's Wife) journeyed to Nigeria West Africa to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The result of their Missionary work was the establishment of a Mission. For the first time in our Church's history Joy Tabernacle has a Missionary Church in the village of Ezombe, Nigeria, West Africa. Our Church family has paid for this new Church Mission building in the village of more than 50,000 people. While in Africa Bishop Davis by, the grace of God, was highly esteemed and honored in the ministry as he was elevated and anointed to the office of Archbishop as the Presiding Bishop of World For Jesus International Church Fellowship, Inc. Joy Tabernacle is a chartered member of Pastors on Patrol. This is a group of Pastors in Tampa who organized to evangelize the city and promote congregational fellowship among the churches. The Archbishop is also the President of Pastor In Prayer, a group of Pastors who pray for Tampa Bay as a whole, local Pastors and Churches and for all the local schools in general and specifically for Blake High School.
Focusing on our Youth, Joy Tabernacle Cathedral has recently been involved in the Father's Day Community event with Tampa Bay Buccaneer's Football Coach Tony Dung and monthly Nursing Home Visitations.
In September 2003 the congregation changed the name of the church to Joy Tabernacle Cathedral. The Church continues to "show forth the Praises of our God with gratitude and exuberance for our ups and downs, our joys and sorrows, our trials and our triumphs, our failures and successes. And --- No! We wouldn't take nothing for our journey behind us and the awesome unfolding of the one that lies ahead, as we press-on towards higher grounds, pursuing and serving our God, now and forever.
After Tampa Bay was hit with four (4) hurricanes in 2004 Archbishop Davis led the Joy Tabernacle in a complete renovation of the building, interior and exterior. The cost of the work will exceed $175,000.00 (completed without any debt to the Church).
There is so much more to Joy Tabernacle. What has been written are the major events in its 91 years of ministry to the citizens of Tampa Bay.
