The history of tabernacle of prayer

The University of Southern Mississippi, in Hattiesburg, MS, is where college students from across the country came for a meeting with destiny. In the late 1980s, Pastor Micah J. Scott, Sr. was the president of Prayer-Time Fellowship, a Christian student ministry at USM. This fellowship met twice weekly for worship in the USM campus chapel. Upon graduating, many of the Fellowship students felt called by God to remain in Hattiesburg. Still, they wanted to continue growing in their walk with the Lord. As a result, Ecumenical Services began on Sunday mornings on the campus until the Lord burdened Pastor Scott's heart to start a ministry in Hattiesburg. The ministry name "Tabernacle of Prayer" was birthed through much prayer, counsel, and wisdom.

Tabernacle of Prayer's first official Hattiesburg location was a storefront at 1005 Hardy Street. The official service for Tabernacle of Prayer was on May 10, 1989, with less than 20 members. Within 2 years, in June 1991, we purchased an old piano warehouse at our current location, 500 Williams Street. However, with Pastor Scott's visionary leadership and faith, the members joined forces. They began to build a place for the ministry to expand. Passersby often remarked that they knew the 'old warehouse' would be a church one day, and now it was on its way!

Shortly after the purchase, Pastor Scott also purchased a previous Muslim meeting building that occupied 903 Elizabeth Street (the parking area directly behind the church). We renovated the building and held powerful services there: souls were saved, bodies healed, and equipment stolen. That is correct; someone stole the electronic equipment, which did not deter Pastor Scott and the few members. We filed the insurance claim and kept on praising the Lord!

We held our first official Church Anniversary service in May 1993 at the 500 Williams Street property. Elder Timothy Scott, Jr., Pastor Scott's brother, spoke an inspired message during the service, encouraging the church to "Launch Out into the Deep." Pastor Scott's father, Bishop T.T. Scott, Sr., volunteered untold hours and days to help us complete the woodwork and frame the building. The unskilled volunteers who helped Bishop Scott learned how to paint, lay tile, hang sheetrock, and many other skills that allowed them to finish the sanctuary we experience today. 

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina badly affected the church building. Still, Pastor Scott organized services immediately, believing it was crucial to encourage the community during such a crisis. Temporary services were held in the old Anatomies building in Hattiesburg, on Green St. Still, after prayerful consideration, Pastor Scott determined that God called us to East Hattiesburg. Under Pastor Scott's guidance, Tabernacle of Prayer has continued to grow and acquire surrounding property while reaching the lost and advancing the kingdom of God.