OUR VISION

A ministry designed to educate, emancipate, and empower a people to ultimately make a difference in our personal lives and community.

OUR HISTORY

November 27, 1992

The Church unofficially started on November 27, 1992 in a prayer service at the home of Deaconess & Chaplin Romero on 18th Street in Brooklyn, NY with 9 people gathered for prayer.

March 11, 1993

The church was legally incorporated on March 11, 1993. The reason why we differentiate between legal and illegal formation is because there are a lot of churches operating illegally (i.e. not providing financial statements at the end of the year and no records being kept). Legally you are not a church until you are incorporated and it’s signed off by the state Attorney General. You also have to have 501c3 status, which allows the offers received to be tax deductible by the giver.

Gospel Truth

TOP was birthed out of the Lord putting Bishop Garnes out of his birth church, Gospel Truth Church. Bishop was about 25 when this happened. He was not sure why. If he had not been suspended from Gospel Truth, there would not have been Tabernacle of Praise. Years have passed and Bishop has a good rapport with Gospel Truth again. (They threw Joseph in the pit and he came back at the right time. They threw Moses out in the wilderness, only for him to return; later on to deliver a nation.)

Deliverance

Official services began in the living room of Bishop’s parents’ house. It was there many deliverances occurred. People got delivered from liquor. People who had challenges in their personal lives ended up getting married. Bishop’s father got saved just before he died while hearing the word of God.

March 18,1993

March 18,1993 Bishop met Archbishop J. Delano Ellis who was the founder of the reformation of the United Covenant Churches of Christ (UCCC)

Spring of 1993

In the spring of 1993 TOP moved from Bishop’s parents’ house to St. Augustine Episcopal auditorium on 96th St. and Winthrop Ave. They were comfortable in that place but eventually they were asked to leave. The building was broken into and TOP was blamed for it by the Landlord. They stated that the church did not close the place properly. They were thrown out in the middle of the week. The church had grown to 70 people at the time they were thrown out.

De Loraine Banquet Hall

That same week Bishop walked on Church Ave and ran into De Loraine Banquet Hall. Devils were there on Saturdays in the form of a night club, and they would come in and clean the place up and use it as the Church of the Lord Sunday mornings. They had to clean up every Sunday morning. At this point, there were 100+ people in TOP.

Missionary Olga

Shortly they moved again and the Holy Ghost came through Missionary Olga, and God spoke to Bishop that 1274 Utica would be TOP’s new home.

Today

Since we have grown into two services. Now we are part of the next move. We are here and together we will change the face of the community.

OUR BELIEF

What is TOP known for?

Our church is primarily known for and has developed the reputation for the preached word of God.

What kind of church are we?

We are a non-denominational church with a Pentecostal experience.

What is our identity?

We are a culturally diversified group of people with the common ground that Jesus is LORD and must be proclaimed throughout the world. The identity of our church has international flavor. There are 27 nationalities.

TOP Vision Statement:

A ministry designed to educate, emancipate, and empower a people to ultimately make a difference in our personal lives and community.

TOP Mission Statement:

A ministry that exalts the Lord Jesus Christ, spreads His unchanging truth with the purpose to edify and evangelize to the people, for the growth of God’s Kingdom.

THE NICENE CREED

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And we believe in one holy Universal Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

OUR MINISTRIES

GROUP MINISTRIES

The Circle of Trust (COT)

also known as the Men’s Ministry, is dedicated to the vision of Tabernacle of Praise Cathedral.  Our goal is for the men of this congregation to walk in their God given identities and seek to live powerful and positive lives by being caring husbands, loving fathers, good sons and strong leaders in our church and the community.  Our fellowships entail discussions around relationship with Christ, male-specific topics or thought-provoking movies.  We also come together to do various activities such as paintball, barbecues, basketball and other fun activities. To receive text messages regarding upcoming fellowships and activities text COT to 55469. We look forward to fellowshipping with you!

Crossover Youth Ministry

CYM exists to connect a generation of teens and young adults to their purpose and relevance found in Jesus Christ.

Daughters of Zelophehad Ministry or the Women’s Ministry

Helps to develop God’s women into soldiers for Christ.   Through our annual women’s conference and monthly Sistah to Sistah gatherings, our goal is to help women become closer to God, become strong mothers and wives,  become effective leaders in church and in their communities, become strong prayer warriors and become great women of steadfast and unwavering faith! We want every girl and every woman to be a role model for every other girl and every other woman.

Marriage Ministry

The Tabernacle of Praise Marriage Ministry’s purpose is to support and enrich married and engaged couples to have healthy and successful unions.  We help couples by providing tools, resources, a supportive and empowering environment to share, learn and develop the skills needed to build and maintain strong Christ-centered marriages and families.

UNITY Liturgical Dance Team

Is a collaboration of all Tabernacle of Praise Dance Ministries, who have united forces in an effort to stomp on the enemy! Our sole purpose is to assist the vision of our Pastor, Bishop Eric D. Garnes in taking the “worship experience” to another dimension with a team of 100+ Levites. We assist in facilitating an atmosphere of praise and worship in the sanctuary, through ushering in the Holy Spirit, by means of laudation, high praises, and dancing unto the glory of God! Lifting up the name of Jesus Christ in order to assist in the deliverance of souls.

WOGDM

Our mission is to enhance the worship experience by bringing the holy scriptures to life through drama.

MINISTRIES TO SERVE YOU

Baby Dedication Ministry

A Baby Dedication is the act of giving back to God the gift He has given to parents.  It is an act of worship and thanksgiving in which Christian parents and godparents make a commitment before the Lord to submit a child to God’s will and to raise that child according to God’s Word and God’s ways.  Parents who dedicate a child are making a promise to the Lord to do everything within their power to raise the child in a godly way, until he or she can make a decision on his or her own to follow God.  Parents and godparents are instructed to raise the child in the ways of God and that they have equal responsibility for the child.

Baby Dedication Ministry – “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13

Baptism Ministry

Our focus and goal is to provide Biblical teachings to aid and equip the believer in fully understanding the theology of baptism.

Christian Education

Caters to the spiritual development of the entire family. We embrace the part of our church’s vision, which states, “The church will become Biblically educated”.  Classes meet every Sunday from 9:45 to 10:45, except for the months of July and August when the students are given a break for the summer. Classes include Kindergarten, primary, preteen and teen classes. Each Sunday caring, knowledgeable teachers who impart Biblical instruction from a well-devised curriculum greet the students.  Our theme for this year is Knowing Christ and Making Him Known. The students are given opportunities to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. We then show them through God’s word the ways in which they can grow as Christians. The students are also encouraged to tell others about Christ and about their Christian experiences.  In each class, teachers often facilitate interesting and thought provoking discussions.  The children are given memory verses and they are shown how lessons can be applied to their lives. The efforts of the students are celebrated in June every year. On Recognition Sunday, the students highlight Biblical information, which they have been learning.  They are also rewarded in the areas in which they have excelled during the year. The Christian Education Department of Tabernacle of Praise welcomes everyone to join us, so you can encounter a life changing experience for your family.

Christian Lifestyle

A ministry that teaches our children the word of God to help them understand Christian living and be effective in society.

Jethro Ministry

A ministry designed to take care of the members of Tabernacle of Praise Cathedral. The phrase, (accordingly states that membership has its privileges) and at Tabernacle of Praise – this holds true.  Every member is assigned to a Jethro Shepherd whose responsibility is to acquaint themselves with those members, encourage them and help to ensure their spiritual growth. The Jethro Shepherds are there to pray for their respective member in whatever capacity that is needed.  Our responsibility is to inform our pastor of any changes in the member’s life. The Jethro Shepherds are the extension of our Bishop, and assist him in reaching out to the membership of the House, so that no one is lost of forgotten.

Follow-Up Ministry

NOW THAT I AM SAVED…WHAT’S NEXT? Matthew 16:24 reads “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.”(KJV). FOLLOW-UP Ministry in line with the vision of Tabernacle of Praise (Cathedral) aims to see the vision of 10,000+ members strong come to fruition.  The Follow-Up Ministry is a ministry designed to meet the needs of New Converts and aid in their development and growth in Christ. We seek to share the Gospel and all its truths into the lives of those who have recently committed their lives to be in relationship with God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and His Holy Spirit. We teach New Converts that by the grace of God one’s identity in Christ, prayers, perseverance, consistency in attending worship service and Bible class will help them grow, mature and stand firm in their salvation. We will minister to our newly called brothers and sisters with agape love and show them the fellowship, friendship and brotherhood that are in the family of God here at the Tabernacle of Praise.

Missions Ministry

The aim of the Missions Ministry of Tabernacle of Praise is to go forth in the spreading of the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for this is the great commission Jesus gave us.  Our primary goal is to minister to the entire man (body, mind and spirit).  As missionaries, our job is to go out into the highways and byways of the world to make disciples.

Restoration Ministry

Standing on 3 John 1:2, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (NKJV); Tabernacle of Praise Restoration Ministry is devoted to glorifying God and strengthening His Church.  Using a Biblical approach, Counselors help God’s people discover and understand who they are in Christ—overcomers and more than conquerors. This ministry is committed to equipping the people of God, and building up their faith, by providing a safe, caring and confidential setting for people to discuss and work out the issues of life. Restoration Ministry is available to members of TOP and their families who need individual and family counseling when they are hurting and facing various challenges in life.

The Ushers Ministry

In keeping with the vision of our leader and visionary, the primary goal and purpose of the Ushers Ministry is to assist and serve the congregation and to represent Christ who is the Lord and Savior and head of our lives.  Our purpose is to peacefully receive worshipers and usher them into the presence of the Lord.  We are the instrument that introduces individuals to every practical expression of the church mission and to the presence of the Almighty.  We will continue to strive toward excellence as directed by the visionary of this house, with love and humility allowing us to be approachable and accessible to our worshipers.

OTHER VARIOUS MINISTRIES

Apostolic Knights of Pentecost

Our mission is to provide a safe and secure environment in our place of worship and to enforce policy to maintain the order of the church.

Capital Campaign

The goal of the Capital Campaign Ministry is to create and implement initiatives to build capital for the erecting and maintaining of our new Multi-purpose facility.

Care Ministry

Our mission is to greet and welcome our first time attendees and provide them with a sense of belonging.

E. D. Garnes Ministries, Inc.

Established in 2001 by Bishop Eric D. Garnes to provide stimulating education, spiritual enlightenment and guidance both inside and outside of the church walls.

A strong proponent of education, Bishop Garnes has made it a priority of E.D. Garnes Ministries to provide leadership training for clergy and non-clergy alike, aiding in the development of core competencies and the implementation of organizational strategies.

We develop educational tools through multiple formats of media, lectures and seminars to equip Christians with the essentials necessary to execute their God given assignments.

Our greatest desire is to enhance church leadership through education in the areas of protocol and order — creating the most effective leaders of the 21st century.

With the understanding of the dynamic world around us, E.D. Garnes Ministries is focused on creating a synergistic balance between the mind, body & spirit.
Simply stated – E. D. Garnes Ministries is committed to building spiritual excellence!

Evangelism Ministry

Our mission is to take the gospel outside of the four walls to impact and gain souls for the Kingdom of God.

Media Ministry

Our mission is to enhance the worship experience through sound, video and lighting.

Music Ministry

As a Psalms 150 church, we strive to praise God with the incorporation of a myriad of musical styles, expressions and instruments. Music is a vital part of our church. It sets the atmosphere for our worship gatherings. Music is such a powerful tool. It has the ability to INVOKE the presence of God. It can EVOKE memories of how good God has been to us and it can PROVOKE the enemy.  1 Samuel 16:23 says “And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took a harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.”

At the Tabernacle of Praise (Cathedral) our worship is energetic and engaging – an experience, which everyone can take part. It is our desire that you leave with a praise, a deeper yearning for Christ and a song that will get you through the week.

Come and experience worship with us!

St. Luke’s Pavilion

We are Health care professionals who bring awareness to the congregation about specific and various health subjects.  Additionally, we act as first responders during services in the event someone becomes ill.

TOP Community Development Corporation

A separate community development corporation of our church, with a mission to be part of the solution to the problems plaguing our community. We seek to accomplish this goal by creating programs and offering services that will give individuals the resources to journey towards empowerment.

MEET BISHOP GARNES

Bishop Eric D. Garnes is a Modern Day Visionary, a Ministry of Protocol trailblazer and a Magnanimous Shepherd. He is the living epitome of the scripture, “Train up the child in the way he should go so when he is old he will not depart.” Proverbs 22:6. He attributes is unwavering spiritual strength and love for worship and praise to his being reared in a strong Christian home.

He completed his undergraduate studies with a Bachelor of Arts at the College of New Rochelle, New York Theological Seminary Division. Bishop Garnes completed two graduate studies programs with a Masters of Divinity Degree from the International Theological Seminary, and a second discipline with a Masters in Professional Studies degree with a concentration in Urban Theology & Leadership from Alliance Theological Seminary. Bishop Garnes earned his Doctorate of Ministry degree from Drew University and completed his academic requirements as a “Hilliard Fellow” designed to develop special academicians and scholars in church renewal. Presently, Bishop Garnes is an Adjunct Professor at Alliance Theological Seminary in the Graduate School of Nyack College.

Bishop Garnes has progressed steadily up the steps of the Episcopacy towards the office he now holds as Presiding Bishop and General Overseer of the United Covenant Churches of Christ whose churches are comprised of more than 20,000 members globally. The succession and growth of this altruistic man of God is listed in great magnitude, and only God knows what’s next for this vibrant, energetic and studious man-of-God.

This anointed man of God is the Senior Pastor of Tabernacle of Praise (Cathedral), located in Brooklyn, New York—a church where the Spirit of God fills the temple—and it is growing by leaps and bounds. His goal and aspiration is to change the face of Utica Avenue, transforming it into an earthly empyrean. Bishop Garnes is married to a virtuous woman in the Lord, Lady Delicia Garnes, Ph.D. who assists him diligently in the uplifting of the ministry. They are the proud parents of two children, Darian Daniel Rene (son), and Bryanna A’Delicia Garnes (daughter).

Meet Lady D

Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in the East Bay section of California, it is evident today that she was divinely prepared and born for such a time as this. Lady Delicia Benjamin Garnes truly supports her husband in the ministry serving as the Church Administrator. In addition, she serves in various roles and oversees several ministries within Tabernacle of Praise. She is without a doubt, a modern day Virtuous Woman (Proverbs 31).

Lady Garnes was born to be a survivor and a successful woman of God, even if the odds were against her. Because education was always important, after graduating from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, she continued to broaden her horizons and graduated from Long Island University’s C.W. Post Campus with a Masters in School Guidance and Counseling. The blood and the adrenaline continued to flow, thus she has completed a successful journey by receiving her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University.

Lady Delicia Benjamin Garnes is on a journey of success in Christ and her career. Currently, she is the Associate Dean of Information Technology at the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University, as well as an adjunct professor for the departments of Computer Science and Education.

Bishop and Lady Garnes are blessed to be the proud parents of their son, Darian, and daughter, Bryanna.

Lady Delicia Benjamin Garnes has been the recipient of several awards. She is an example to women that you can fight and win the battle when you stand still and see the salvation of God. She is also an illustration to the flock of believers that woman are precious and divinely made by God to handle anything. She is recognized for her wisdom to communicate, with the “mature” as well as the “young.” She is a wife, a mother, a career woman, a friend, a “First Lady,” and definitely a special woman of God.

"We glorify God for this fine woman and shall pray her through the purpose and destiny that God has prepared for her."

OUR CLASSES

At Tabernacle of Praise, we wholeheartedly believe in the importance of education and becoming diligent students of the Word of God. As such, we offer various classes to enhance one’s Christian walk and develop one’s relationship with Christ.

From beginner’s Foundation Class to Dunamis Levels I and II for those further along in their walk with Christ, we offer classes that meet everyone’s spiritual needs.

“Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
-2 Timothy 2:15

ALPHA ACADEMY

When: Quarterly

This class is specifically for new converts and new members to Tabernacle of Praise. The purpose of Alpha Academy is to educate those who are new to the church or new to the faith, on the church and our history. You will learn about the various ministries, meet the ministry leaders, as well as hear a few welcoming words from the senior pastor, Bishop Garnes.

SIGN UP for Alpha Academy Here:
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FOUNDATIONS

When: Fridays – 7:30PM – 9:30PM

A Bible class specifically tailored to those individuals who recently received The Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. It is designed to disciple and equip Christian believers in understanding the key foundational elements of the Word of God.

DUNAMIS I AND II

When: Tuesdays – 7:30PM – 9:30PM

A Bible class designed to assist and equip believers with the knowledge and understanding that will enable them to walk in the things of God. This class takes believers into the dimension beyond salvation to them grasp the experience of the Christian journey. Giving believers the ability to access the sovereignty of God and developing believers to walk in the authority of Jesus Christ.

*Please note that our Leadership classes have replaced Dunamis I and II classes for 2017. The Leadership classes are held on Mondays from 7:30PM – 9:00PM. Please see our calendar for the class schedule as the class does not meet every Monday.

CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

When: Sundays – 9:45AM – 10:45AM

This is our children’s Bible study where we teach our children the Word of God to help shape their Christian lives and help to develop their relationship with Christ.