About Us
Grace Baptist Tabernacle began due to a commitment by Dr. Marshall Robinson to preach the Gospel to the world. This commitment began when he gave his life to Jesus Christ in 1971 and was ordained into the ministry. He enrolled at Tennessee Temple University where he graduated in 1977. shortly after graduation, he established an indepedent mission in the 2500 block of Chamberlain Avenue. The first worship service was attended by six people-the families of both Pastor Robinson and Bro. Clarence Ray. The Lord blessed the ministry and caused it to grow to a membership of eighty five people, through door-to-door visitation and soul winning coupled with the clear preaching of the word of God. A date was set aside to declare the mission an official church organization, but two weeks before the ceremony, a mysterious fire devasted the building at Chamberlain Avenue. Services were held the following two weeks at the home of the Pastor's mother, the late Sis. Maxie Conner. The group later moved to the East Chattanooga Elementary School for approximately two months after which services were moved for a third time to the Farley Street Baptist Church, a newly converted mission. Unfortunately, the increased movement caused a critical drop in membership. But through many prayers and much perserverance, this little mission that was conceived in the heart of God, officially organized as Grace Baptist Tabernacle Church on June 8. 1980. Dr. Bruce Lackey preached the organizational message. Missionary Sam Chastain rendered words of encouragement and Bro. Randy Peterson offered prayers of thanksgiving. After a year and a half, the church moved to a Dodds Avenue storefront. The ordination and installment of two minsters, (Bro. Richard Tate and Bro. Joe Campbell) and one deacon (Bro. RV Brown) soon followed. There, the Lord blessed the work tremendously and attendance increased until the building could no longer hold the congregation. Pastor Robinson and Bro. Ray Fulton met on a Saturday and prayed for God's direction as to whether or not they should stay in that location (Dodd's Avenue storefront) or move to a larger building. The following Sunday, their prayers were confirmed as there was standing room only for the morning service. In December 1983, the congregation broke ground at the present location of 2551 Tunnel Blvd and the first phase was completed with Bro. Bernard King offering the prayer of dedication.