The Gospel Tabernacle
In the summer of 1954, the Lord blessed Brother and Sister Frazier and this congregation with property on the Wenagosa Road. The men began to work on the building. Bro. Dannie said he never had blisters like he got from digging the footing for the first building. They worked every free minute. They have told how they worked so hard one day putting up one of the walls, only to come back the next morning to find a big wind had blown it down. Bro. Edgar Sloan kept all the younger boys busy bringing him brick and mortar. They said he could lay the brick faster than they could bring them to him.
The first worship
service was held in the newly completed building the first
Sunday in September 1958.
Much has happened since then.
The need came for a bigger place of
worship, thus began the new sanctuary.
The first service was held in the new building
on Dec. 15, 1985. A dedication revival was held to give
this place of worship unto God.
Rev. C.B Wiley and Rev. Gary Hodum did the honors
of preaching these special services.
Since then the fellowship hall, evangelistic quarters and Sunday School Department have been added. The Lord truly blessed materially as well as spiritually. It has all been paid for by the people paying their tithes and offerings as the Bible commands to do, and a pastor and wife who took the funds and managed them wisely. Not one piece of merchandise or one supper was sold to finance any building. In 2001, Gail Frazier gave funds to build an Activity Building in memory of her husband, Leon.
On September 27, 1996, at the age of 80, the Lord called Sis. Frazier home to be with him. Bro. Frazier, 82 years of age, continued to pastor full time with the help of his son, Bro. Dannie Frazier. He faced some sad times with the death of his son Leon on May 24, 1997 and then his son and daughter-in-law, Dannie and Faye on December 25, 1997. Through these times of sorrow, he stood strong. He would often say to us, “We must keep on going.” His strong faith in God was certainly manifested through these times.
On September 24, 1998, at the age of 84,
the Lord called Bro. Frazier to his Heavenly home. For the first time in 40 years, the congregation at the Gospel
Tabernacle was left without a pastor, but Bro. and Sis.
Frazier had taught us to put our faith and confidence
in God, no matter what the situation.
We stood strong and hung on.