Faith Tabernacle of Prayer for All People (formerly Faith Evangelist Deliverance) was founded by Rev. Dr. Talbert in June 1975. From June 1974 to February 1975, Dr. Talbert launched an intensive evangelistic ministry and was being prepared by God to undertake her greatest mission to shepherd God's people. After being faithful and in total obedience to God's call, this mission was undertaken.
The church began with just six women and one man with no building to hold services on a regular basis. Therefore, the small congregation met in the homes. From June 1975 to November 1975, services were held in this manner. In late November 1975, God saw fit to give us a building for assembly. It was a small two-story storefront located at 4202 Edson Place N.E. The building had been gutted out and was just shambles, but was converted by the owner into an edifice. Sunday school was held on the second floor and the first floor was used as the main sanctuary.
During those years, Edson Place received a lot of media attention because it was considered as a "hot spot." Nevertheless, the gospel was proclaimed and souls were saved, delivered and set free. Later, the building became too small to accommodate our needs, and we sought the Lord for a larger place. Dr. Talbert went to one of the leading lending institutes in the city to obtain funds to purchase a church. After facing much difficulty because our country was in a Recession, the Lord led our Pastor to call the bank's Vice President and tell him what she wanted. When she informed him she was in the business of getting souls saved, he said "Rev. Talbert, I'm going to help you." In July 1978 with 13 faithful members, we purchased our first church at 1601 23rd Street S.E., and stayed there for the next nine years and grew and prospered.
In August 1979, little did we know what lied ahead after attending a tent service one Saturday night on the Washington monument grounds. We met a great man of God, the late Apostle Johnnie Washington, founder of the Tabernacle of Prayer Worldwide Fellowship and a spiritual giant in the Lord. Dr. Talbert was inspired by his ministry and took up the torch to cry the same message he declared, "It's Holiness or Hell." We have been a part of the Tabernacle Fellowship since 1982.
After outgrowing our space again on 23rd Street, Dr. Talbert decided to build. From January 1988 to December 1990, we held services at Mary Church Terrell Elementary School. This was indeed a time of making. We cried, then laughed; lost, then gained; experienced, death, then life; engaged in constant battle, then rest; suffered sickness, then deliverance; and when it looked like the sun wasn't going to shine, God put a rainbow in the sky. We dedicated our current edifice in December 1990 after two long years of facing numerous obstacles and complexities.
Dr. Talbert and Faith Tabernacle, with people from all walks of life, are reputable and respected in the nation's capital for its ministry and outreach in the community, spreading the gospel, radio and television broadcasts, bible school, food and clothing banks, and summer camp, to name a few. Dr. Talbert is also the Executive Director of Reintegrating Alternatives Personal Program (RAPP), a transitional services provider; the Joe Arthur Talbert, Jr. Foundation, established in honor of her late son, Joe, to promote organ and tissue donor awareness and grant scholarships; and TAME ( Talk About Medical Experiences), organized to advocate for patient safety rights.
Through many winds of adversity, fiery trials and tribulations, God has sustained us as a family of believers, with deep abiding faith in His Word. We did not stagger at the promises of God through unbelief, but were strong in faith, giving glory to God and being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was also able to perform.
Indeed, we have come this far by faith and to God be the glory!
