CHURCH HISTORY
Establishment of our Local Assembly – Grace Baptist Tabernacle
An Independent Fundamental Baptist Church In 1977, Dr. Marshall Robinson founded an Independent Mission on Chamberlain Avenue which is known today as Grace Baptist Tabernacle Church. With Seven peoples, the families of Pastor Robinson and Brother Clarence Ray, attended the first worship service. After growing to a membership of eighty-five people, a date was set to declare the mission an organized church. However, two weeks before the ceremony a fire destroyed the building at Chamberlain Avenue. Services were held two weeks at the home of Sister Maxie Conner, the Pastor’s mother. The mission moved to the East Chattanooga Elementary School for about Two months and then relocated to a storefront on Dodds Avenue. In May of 1980, the mission was organized as an Independent Baptist Church.
Our mission is to preach the gospel and to mature those who accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior:
Associate Pastor, Richard Tate and Reverend Joe Campbell were ordained and installed as the first Associate Pastors. Brother R.V. Brown was ordained as the first Deacon. As attendance increased, the Dodds Avenue storefront could no longer seat everyone. Pastor Robinson and Brother Ray Fulton met and prayed for God’s direction. The following Sunday morning there was standing room only for the morning worship service. December of 1983: The congregation broke ground at the present location of 2551 Tunnel Boulevard. When Phase I was completed, Bro. Bernard King offered a prayer of dedication. A service was held in the lower level, which is now the Fellowship Hall. July of 1987: Bro. John Geeter Jr. was appointed Youth Pastor. February of 1992: Phase II (The Sanctuary), the upper level was completed. The congregation marched into the church singing “Amazing Grace”. Sister Sandra Settles and Bro. Ray Fulton offered prayers of dedication. June of 1994: The congregation celebrated the combined Church and Pastor’s Anniversary ceremony, symbolizing the paying off of the Church Mortgage. July of 1994: Dr. John Geeter Jr. was ordained as Youth Pastor.
January of 1998: Grace Baptist was chosen to host the “Torch Conference” the late Dr. Lee Robinson, founder of Tennessee Temple University was one of the guest speakers. Grace Baptist Institute opened its doors with an enrollment of fifteen students. Dr. Jessie Broadnax was chosen as the Dean. The Institute’s mission is to equip men for the ministry to which the Lord has called them.
June of 1999: A Deed Burning Ceremony was held at the 19th Church and Pastor’s Anniversary, This ceremony symbolized the paying off of the Church Mortgage. December of 2000: Grace Baptist Institute’s first graduation. Dr. Winston Leonard was the keynote speaker. The graduates were Sister Paula Allgood, Brother Marty Davenport and Brother Donnell Tolliver. They received a fully Accredited Degree. January of 2002: Four men were licensed to preach the gospel, Brother Marty Davenport, Ricky Allgood, Thomas Colin Settles and Greg Beck. February of 2002: The Ordination of Four Deacons: Brother Derrick Patterson, Ralph Freeman, Ricky Allgood and Darryl Higgins. April of 2007: The church body voted Dr. John Geeter Jr. as Senior Pastor. Dr. Marshall Robinson preached the Installation message, and Evangelist R.V. Brown gave the Charge. December of 2007: Grace Baptist Presented The “First Drive-Thru-Nativity”. January of 2008: Ordination of Bro. Marty Davenport as Youth Pastor. Bro. Darryl Higgins was License to Preach the Gospel. April of 2008: Grace Baptist incorporated a yearly 2-Day “Young Adult Revival” May of 2010: Grace Baptist Institute/College first graduation. Dr. David Carr President MBC, commencement speaker. Bachelor Degree conferred upon Rev. James Collins Jr.
June of 2011: Grace Baptist was host to the “IBF Annual Conference” October of 2012: The Ordination of Bro. Colin Settles as Pastor, Church Plant in Athens, Ga.
January 4 of 2015: Pastor John A. Geeter Jr. Resigned as Senior Pastor from Grace Baptist Tabernacle Church.
On January 1 of 2016 the church voted Jeff Carter to be the interim pastor.
June 26 of 2016: The ordination of Jeffrey Carter into the ministry as a preacher of the gospel, Pastor Jessie Broadnax preached the ordination and Pastor James Sanders gave the charge.
July 17 of 2016: The church body voted Pastor Jeffrey A. Carter as the Senior Pastor of Grace Baptist Tabernacle Church.July 31 of 2016: The Installation for Pastor Jeffrey A. Carter, Pastor Greg Dennis preached the installation, Bro. Ed Carter gave the prayer and Bro. Gerald Jones held the ceremony.
In January of 2017, Pastor Alvin Bonner was added to the ministerial staff, joining pastor Richard Tate as an assistant pastor. Pastor Tate would oversee the visitation and outreach ministry and Pastor Bonner would become the Sunday School Superintendent.
On June 25-28 of 2018, Grace Baptist Tabernacle, once again, hosted the annual IBF conference. The theme was "Cultivating the Spirit of Forgiveness."
October 2019: The Lord blessed the church to install its new
audio/visual system with three television monitors and a computer with
programming to display sermon outlines, scripture, hymn lyrics, videos
and more to help further the work of the ministry.
March 2020: like so many other churches, Grace Baptist Tabernacle had to
close the doors to its building for a time because of the worldwide
Covid19 pandemic. Pastor Carter continued to preach and teach on Sundays
and Wednesdays using Facebook and Zoom. Shortly thereafter, the church
would also have their Sunday school lessons on Zoom every Thursday.
Grace began to meet in their building again in June of 2020, following
social distancing guidelines.
April of 2021: The church installed a new digital LED marquee in the
front parking lot.
August 15, 2021: Brother Michael Mitchell Jr was ordained as a deacon.
February 27, 2022: Pastor Richard Tate and Pastor Alvin Bonner both
received their minister's license.
February of 2022, the church began the AWANA Children's Ministry under the direction of Mrs. Kristina Bond.
January 1, 2023: Bro. Brad Bond was voted to serve on the board of Trustees.
June of 2023: At the 39th Annual IBF Conference Hosted by Bannister Road
Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, Pastor Jeff Carter was selected
by vote to be the next Moderator of the IBF for a two year term.
June 25-27 of 2024: Grace Baptist Tabernacle hosted the 40th Annual IBF
Conference with the theme of "Edifying the Body of Christ" from
Ephesians 4:11-12. Dr. James Earls, the founder of the IBF, now in his
early 90's, who had been unable to attend the meeting for several years
because of his health was in attendance and was a blessing to the
congregation with his words of testimony.
