OUR LEGACY: A JOURNEY OF FAITH AND PURPOSE
The Beginning
On Sunday, September 1, 1968, under the leadership of our Founders, Apostle C.L. Johnson and the late Lorene
G. Johnson, Tabernacle Holiness Church was established with just 13 adults and their children.
Our first services were held at the Community Center on Jessamine Street in Darlington, SC. After a few
months, the church moved to a new location on South Edwards Avenue.
During that time, the Lord richly blessed the ministry, allowing us to build a church located at 124 Jordan
Street. In June 1972, Tabernacle Holiness Church held its first service in the new sanctuary. From that moment
on, God continued to add to the ministry.
A Greater Vision
In January 1995, God gave Apostle Dr. C.L. Johnson Sr. a divine vision: to purchase the former Sherman
Manufacturing Building on South Main Street in Darlington and renovate it into a church and community
center.
By God’s grace, the property was purchased and the vision came to life within six months. The new building
was dedicated, and the church was renamed: Tabernacle Worship Center (TWC).
From these humble beginnings, a ministry was born that reached people from all walks of life.
A Ministry for the Whole Person
Apostle Dr. C.L. Johnson Sr. envisioned a church that went beyond the Sunday morning service—a place that
ministered to the whole person: spirit, soul, and body.
Beside him in ministry stood his beloved wife, First Lady Lorene Johnson. In the early days, she played a vital
role in shaping and implementing ministries within the church. Her legacy continues to inspire and impact
lives today through the many hearts she touched with her labor of love.
Impacting the Community
Under Apostle Johnson’s leadership, TWC became a church with purpose-driven outreach, partnering with:
-Workforce Initiative Act
-Emergency Shelter services
-Vocational Rehabilitation programs
These partnerships allowed the church to assist troubled youth and recently released inmates through
counseling, mentoring, and job placement.
Apostle Johnson’s sermons consistently brought biblical wisdom into everyday life, always guided by his
obedient spirit and full reliance on the Holy Spirit. Through God’s grace, he has preached, taught, and
ministered for over 52 years.
Passing of the Baton
On May 3, 2020, Apostle Dr. C.L. Johnson Sr. officially retired and named Elder Q.R. Smith as his successor. On
Saturday, May 29, 2021, Elder Q.R. Smith was installed as the Senior Pastor of Tabernacle Worship Center.
After serving four faithful years as Senior Pastor, God laid it upon Pastor Smith’s heart to pass the baton once
again. On March 30, 2025, Elder Timothy L. Ballard Jr. was elected as the next Pastor of Tabernacle Worship
Center.
We will continue to move forward in faith and unity, remaining committed to being:
“The Place Where You Encounter God Through Worship.”
A Church Where Ministry Means People
What began with 13 faithful adults has become a thriving ministry, still rooted in the belief that “ God is Able”
We honor our past, celebrate our present, and look forward with expectation to the future God has in store.