TBC • History of Tabernacle • Orlando FL

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How We Got Here

In August 1966, after counseling and fervent prayer, the Lord used Reverend D.M. Hardison of Norfolk, West Virginia to challenge Dr. Bob Ware, a young pastor in Edenton, North Carolina to the spiritual needs of Orlando, Florida. Dr. Ware resigned his pastorate in Edenton to come to Orlando and start Tabernacle Baptist Church in November 1966. After a week long revival held in a tent erected at 2830 South Orange Avenue, the church was officially organized December 8, 1966 with forty-four charter members.

In his organizational sermon, Dr. Bob Gray, then pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, exhorted the new church to be diligent in their efforts to win souls, lift up Christ at all cost, support the pastor, and build a great church for Christ. Tabernacle Baptist Church continues today reaching souls for our Lord.

The first home of the church was the Orlando Auto Auction at the corner of Kaley and Division Streets. Five months later, due to the lack of building space, the church moved to the closed Lucerne Baptist Church building at 1019 South Division Street. The average attendance was fifty-seven each week. In August 1967, three and a half acres of property at 6000 West Colonial Drive was acquired; the first building was constructed that same year. Since then, the church has built seven buildings and acquired several properties with houses and duplexes. The auditorium was completely renovated to colonial style and decorated in gray and burgundy in 1984. The former Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission two-story building was purchased in 1992 to house the church administrative offices.

Granted a year long sabbatical for 31 years of faithful service to Tabernacle Baptist Church, Dr. Bob Ware left Orlando in April 1997 to pursue mission work in India. In his absence, Tabernacle Baptist Church continued the Lord’s work under the leadership of Dr. Steve Ware.

In February 1998, while Dr. Bob Ware was still on the mission field, his letter of resignation from the pastorate of Tabernacle Baptist Church was read to the church membership to be effective May 1, 1998. A pulpit committee was formed to pursue the task of finding a new pastor. On February 25, 1998, by unanimous vote of the church membership, Dr. Steve Ware became the new pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church.