And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)
There’s no other way to put it.
Charles W. McCarley was only being forthright.
Or as the young people would say, he was only “keeping it 100.”
HANDPICKED BY GOD — It is, by all accounts, because of Elder Charles McCarley’s fervent desire to demonstrate love the way God specifically commands us that the historic Tabernacle Of Praise Church has become the beacon of light for which it is widely known in Buffalo, New York as well as throughout the Body of Christ.
“I became unsatisfied with ministry as usual,” McCarley, during an interview this week with Making Headline News, said, when asked when did sense that God was strategically preparing him for ministry. “I believed there had to be more to this then just church Sunday after Sunday.”
That, as a result, practically sums up why McCarley, 44, felt it was time to ask God for a broader sense of direction, to order his steps the more if you will…you know, to position and develop him so that he could, in turn, exemplify a proverbial monumental impact, particularly as it pertains to advancing the kingdom.
“I began to search for God and, within that search, it taught me how to love people and that sparked my heart toward the community,” McCarley explained. “Our church has to be community centered so that they can see the love of Christ through the people of God.”
It is, by all accounts, because of McCarley’s fervent desire to demonstrate love the way God specifically commands us that the historic Tabernacle Of Praise Church has become the beacon of light for which it is widely known.
GOD’S LEADING LADY — What’s even more intriguing, let alone an even greater blessing is that McCarley’s beloved companion, fellow Buffalo native Rachel M. McCarley, is right there alongside him, collectively helping him shepherd God’s people for such a time as now.
Located at 319 Northland Avenue in Buffalo, New York, Tabernacle of Praise appropriately accompanies what its beloved man servant labels a rather exclusive tag that reads: “Where wounded lives and broken hearts find new life in Christ Jesus.”
Amongst the grandest reasons for such a radiant spiritual catchphrase is that people — believers especially — are hurting and broken which, according to McCarley, means the church is the institution that has The Answer.
“Jesus!” this young, vibrant pastor says with such authority, knowing full well that only what he does for Christ will last.
That, of course, means also that because of who is and because of the divine calling on his life, McCarley doesn’t shy away from the notion that he’s been set aside for God’s use, to have a massive kingdom impact — even if it means doing so outside of the traditional walls of the church.
LEAST THEY FORGET — A church that was founded by the late Deborah Scott, whom McCarley describes as his godmother and “a dynamic woman of God who was called by the Lord and heard His voice,” it wasn’t until Scott had become stricken by cancer that McCarley began to witness God strategically thrust him to the forefront, during which he commenced to have more of a significant role in ministry.
How else to explain why even to this very day, Tabernacle of Praise is known mostly as a church whose mission is to serve its community and, most importantly, to ensure that it presents what McCarley describes as “continuous opportunities” for every man, woman, boy, and girl, or that message of hope, which is Jesus Christ.
A church that was founded by the late Deborah Scott, whom McCarley describes as his godmother and “a dynamic woman of God who was called by the Lord and heard His voice,” it wasn’t until after Scott had become stricken by cancer that McCarley began to witness God strategically thrust him to the forefront, during which the former Youth Pastor commenced to have more of a significant leadership role in ministry.
Tabernacle of Praise is known mostly as a church whose mission is to serve its community and, most importantly, to ensure that it presents what McCarley describes as “continuous opportunities” for every man, woman, boy, and girl, the message of hope, which is Jesus Christ.
“She founded Tabernacle Of Praise Church along with her husband Morris Scott,” McCarley said. “She worked this ministry until she became terminally ill with cancer. I didn’t know that she was ill. She didn’t tell me anything, but yet was setting me up for something special.”
The rest, as they say, was history.
That’s because the final months of Scott’s life had essentially proven to be a God-orchestrated defining moment, of sorts, for McCarley, considering he began to preach during the church’s early morning service.
Little did he know, however, God was yet working behind the scenes on his behalf while simultaneously preparing Tabernacle Of Praise for its founder’s ceremonious departure.
YES LORD!!!! “I am still working this vineyard and, oh the joys that I have experienced,” McCarley said. “But there is always that though that, ‘I wish that she was here to see what God has done in such a short time.’ I continue to honor my godmother and the legacy she left. To God be the glory.”
Scott, in fact, eventually lost her battle with cancer approximately seven months after McCarley began preaching during the church’s initial Sunday service.
“She and God had a plan I knew nothing about,” McCarley said. “The church was now familiar with me and told the Bishop that it was their desire to keep me as the new pastor when the time had come.”
Fortunately for McCarley, he’s been Tabernacle Of Praise’s most featured member for a little more than five years.
And counting.
“I am still working this vineyard and, oh the joys that I have experienced,” McCarley said. “But there is always that though that, ‘I wish that she was here to see what God has done in such a short time.’ I continue to honor my godmother and the legacy she left. To God be the glory.”
What’s even more intriguing, let alone an even greater blessing is that McCarley’s beloved companion, fellow Buffalo native Rachel M. McCarley, is right there alongside him, collectively helping him shepherd God’s people for such a pivotal time as now.
MEN OF VALOR — “I became unsatisfied with ministry as usual,” McCarley, during an interview this week with Making Headline News, said, when asked when did sense that God was strategically preparing him for ministry. “I believed there had to be more to this then just church Sunday after Sunday.”
“My family support system has been great,” McCarley said. “I couldn’t do this without them…first being my wife, who is a phenomenal vocalist, who sings and helps train others in our ministry in the art of music and has a great anointing over her life for women’s ministry. My mother has been one of the founding members of our church since the beginning. Even my 14-year-old daughter, Elissa McCarley, helps with some of our media and sings on the praise team.”
Given the solid, notable foundation that was established long before he was assigned to ministry, it’s no wonder McCarley is walking in his purpose with such boldness and authority.
With God, his Helper, steering the way.
LEADING GOD’S PEOPLE — Given the solid, notable foundation that was established long before he was assigned to ministry, it’s no wonder McCarley is walking in his purpose with boldness and authority — with God, his Helper, steering the way.
McCarley, in fact, is the product of a tradition-rich family of preachers, most notably Bishop Clint Roberts of First Born Apostolic Church in nearby Erie, Pennsylvania, Reverend Bernie McCarley, the Founder of St. John Baptist Church in Buffalo (one of city’s most prominent churches) and Devon McCarley, his sister who has a Master of Divinity.
“I have been in the church all of my life,” McCarley said. “I always had dreams of being a musician in the church and as I grew I pursued those dreams. My mother (Carolyn McCarley) was a hard worker, taking care of her family. My father (C. Dennis McCarley) was a strong, God-fearing man, who had great creativity and talents. He was a father figure to many.”
MAKING MASSIVE KINGDOM STRIDES — Because of who is and because of the divine calling on his life, McCarley doesn’t shy away from the notion that he’s been set aside for God’s use to have a massive kingdom impact — even if it meant doing so outside of the traditional walls of the church.
Interestingly, what proved to be arguably the biggest difference while being raised in a Christian-oriented environment is that McCarley’s parents kept God the Focal Point of their family.
All of which practically explains why he’s having such a remarkable kingdom impact in this, the infancy stages of his pastoral tenure.
CHANGING A GENERATION — Located at 319 Northland Avenue in Buffalo, New York, Tabernacle of Praise appropriately accompanies what its beloved servant labels a tag that reads: “Where wounded lives and broken hearts find new life in Christ Jesus.”
“My parents put the fear of God and the love of God in me at a young age, believing that I had a purpose on my life at a very young age,” McCarley said. “With their investments in me, I became a talented drummer, traveling with a few jazz and gospel artists. Everything I know musically was birthed within the church.”
Most importantly, virtually every kingdom-based contribution he executes is a constant reminder, of sorts, as to why God thought it necessary five-plus years ago to assign McCarley to what undoubtedly is the grandest assignment of his young life.
And boy oh boy, he’s surely raising the bar, thus creating a remarkably exquisite legacy in the process.
With God, his Helper, steering the way.
There’s no other way to put it.
EDITOR’S NOTE:If you are a pastor or minister, entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, or model who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre T. Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.
Andre T. Johnson is Founder/Publisher & Editor In Chief of Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former sports reporter for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson is the former chief adjutant to Bishop Andrew Jackson, Sr. of Faith Temple Ministries Church of God In Christ. Based in Dallas, Texas, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division. To reach Johnson, call him at 901-690-6587 or send email to [email protected] or [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.
ABOUT ANDRE: Andre Johnson is a longtime sports journalist and a 2000 graduate of the University of the Memphis with Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. A native of Memphis, Johnson is a former sport reporter Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper and Memphis Sport Magazine. He worked as full-time staffer for The Commercial Appeal from 2000-2002, in which he was the beat reporter for the Memphis Houn’dawgs of now-defunct American Basketball Assocation and the Memphis Xplorers of the arenafootball2 league. He has interviewed numerous sports personalities, most notably Archie Manning, LeBron James, George “Iceman” Gervin, Issac Bruce, Laila Ali, Vince Carter, Paul Westphal, Phil Jackson, Ken Hamlin, Cortez Kennedy, Michael Oher, Kobe Bryant, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Marc Gasol, Dwight Howard, James Harden, Patrick Willis, Stanley Morgan, Dirk Nowitzki, Rick Carlisle, Mark Cuban, Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, John Force, Lamar Odom, Alexandra Stevenson, Derek Fisher, Penny Hardaway, Phillip Rivers, Colin Kaepernick, Jim Harbaugh, Tyreke Evans, Kirk Ferentz, and O. J. Mayo, among others. To reach Johnson, send email to: [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.
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“I began to search for God and, within that search, it taught me how to love people and that sparked my heart toward the community,” McCarley explained. “Our church has to be community centered so that they can see the love of Christ through the people of God.”
“I am still working this vineyard and, oh the joys that I have experienced,” McCarley said. “But there is always that though that, ‘I wish that she was here to see what God has done in such a short time.’ I continue to honor my godmother and the legacy she left. To God be the glory.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are a pastor or minister, entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, or model who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre T. Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.
