From Living Room to Legacy

Timothy and Shunnae McBride’s cross-country journey of faith

Along with his wife, Shunnae, Bishop Timothy (T.J.) McBride founded Tabernacle of Praise, a multisite church with campuses in McDonough, Jonesboro and Griffin, Georgia. Years ago, Bishop McBride contacted me via my website to have a conversation about his growing congregation. Right from the beginning I loved him. His sheer honesty, vulnerability, gratefulness for the Lord’s work in his life and self-awareness were refreshing.

He contacted me not because there was a problem or trouble. Rather, he didn’t want to miss out on what God had purposed for him and needed an external, experienced perspective. The anointing on his life continues to multiply as he courageously obeys the direction of God on his life. You will find his insights encouraging, redemptive and challenging.

Dr. Sam Chand: How did you experience God’s call to plant a church? How did He speak to you, and how did you obey?

Bishop Timothy McBride: In 2003, I was serving as minister of music at Greater St. Paul Baptist Church in Oakland, California. We knew our time → 
was coming to an end in serving in this ministry, but we weren’t clear about next steps. We felt like there was a call on our life to pastor, but weren’t completely sure.

My wife, Shunnae, suggested we attend the Weapons of Power Conference 2003 in St. Louis hosted by Dr. Juanita Bynum. While there, many messages came forth about moving into a new season. We heard passages preached from Genesis 12 about Abraham leaving his home and following God. We also heard passages from Exodus about leaving Egypt and going into your “Promised Land.” It was there we received confirmation from God to leave the Bay Area and move to Atlanta, Georgia.

My wife and I and our three children, Ashli (6), Andrew (4), Alexis (3), jumped in a 1992 Ford Thunderbird and drove from San Francisco to Atlanta. All we had was a promise from God that He would guide us and provide for us. For several months we stayed in a home in Griffin, Georgia, with my Uncle Ernest and Aunt Vivian Crawley until we were able to sustain ourselves. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a job or a place to stay, but we had faith!

Sam: So, did you pursue employment until you were able to plant a church?

T.J.: I was blessed to become a full-time musician at Divine Faith Ministries International in Jonesboro, Georgia, under the leadership of Bishop Donald Battle. We served in the music ministry for two years. But we knew it was time to launch the ministry God had assigned for us in the beginning.

In June of 2005, we had our first Sunday service in the living room of our home. We started with six people who agreed to be our founding members for Tabernacle of Praise Church. After a month of service, the Lord allowed us to lease several spaces in the McDonough Place strip mall. It was here that God began to grow the ministry and many souls were saved.

In 2007, the church came together and began to assist in the renovation of our new edifice at 96 South Zack Hinton Parkway in McDonough. In January 2008, we held our first services in our new place of worship. Because of the rapid growth of the ministry, we moved to as many as three services on Sunday mornings. During this time, we leased 1.5 acres of land and several modular buildings to launch the TOP Community Development Corporation. We launched the Boys Mentorship Program, After-School Enrichment Program and the Food and Clothes Pantry.

Sam: What does the ministry of Tabernacle of Praise look like now?

T.J.: In 2013, we were blessed to relocate to our new facilities at 1640 Highway 42 North in McDonough, Georgia. In 2014, we launched the TOP Early Learning Daycare Center which serves the youth in our community. In 2015, we launched our TOP Christian Academy, which serves K-5th grade students. In 2016, we launched our second campus in Jonesboro, Georgia. In 2021, we launched our third campus in Griffin, Georgia. In 2023, we launched the TOPCI Bible College which serves to equip the saints. We also launched the TOP Opportunity Zone in Johannesburg, South Africa, which serves the youth in the local villages and communities.

Tabernacle of Praise is a community-minded church. We have been able to host Easter food giveaways, Thanksgiving food giveaways, Christmas toy drives and many other community impact initiatives. We are partners with various nonprofit organizations in our community, and we sponsor several missionaries around the world.

Sam: What were some of the challenges you faced in planting Tabernacle of Praise?

T.J.: The first five years were the hardest years of our lives. We didn’t have any money, property or resources to assist us. All we had was our faith in God and a great vision to serve our community. During the beginning years, I worked several jobs to keep our income steady while my wife did an awesome job of caring for our children. We had several vehicles repossessed and suffered many financial hardships. Our power, our water and our phone were disconnected several times, but we kept on walking by faith and not by sight. During these moments, we learned valuable lessons of how to trust God, even when you can’t see Him.

Sam: What do you wish you had known then that you know now? What would you do differently? What would you do the same?

T.J.: If I were to counsel anyone, I would tell them to make sure you have a financial plan in place for your family and ministry before you launch. I would also encourage anyone to keep the lines of communication open in your family as you cultivate your marriage and raise your children. Ministry is not for the weak, and it takes a toll on your family physically, emotionally and financially.

I would also encourage anyone to balance the time you spend with your family and ministry. Ministry takes a lot of time and effort, but your family must come first. Our family came under great attack due to my error of making the ministry my top priority over my family. Through years of counseling and guidance of the Holy Spirit, God has restored my marriage and my family. We’ve been through ups and downs, but God has remained faithful.

Even though the lessons I learned established a deep faith in me, it came with emotional scars that took years to heal in my marriage and family. The success of the ministry is a testament to God’s grace and faithfulness in my life. But I don’t take it for granted what God has done in my life. We have been blessed to help thousands of people in their Christian journey. We give God all the praise for the great things He has done!

Sam Chand is a leadership consultant and the author of numerous books, including his most recent title, Voices: The Power, Pain, & Purpose of Voices. Sam is the founder of Dream Releaser Enterprises and the publisher of AVAIL Journal.