Praise Tabernacle, Inc. was founded by the late Rev. Rosa Lee Lilly who was called into the Pastorate following the death of her husband Rev. Samuel J. Lilly Sr., the Pastor of Mission #4 Church of God in Christ. After 3 years without a pastor and special consecration of prayer and fasting, Rosa Lee Lilly willingly and courageously accepted her call to pastorate.

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The church seceded from the C.O.G.I.C. organization and was renamed Lilly’s Chapel Pentecostal Church in memory of the late pastor. Pastor Rosa Lilly was an anointed woman of God and the church soon grew too large for their location at 128 W. 124th Street in New York City. A search campaign was launched for a larger house of worship. The Polish Hall in Jamaica, New York was chosen for the new site for the church. The old Polish Hall was a meeting place that consisted of a bar, dance hall with a stage, adjoining kitchen, coat rooms, betting/ gambling rooms, trophy hall, meeting rooms and rooms portioned off for various uses. The grounds outside resembled a small forest.

The name Praise Tabernacle had been revealed to Pastor Rosa Lee Lilly in a vision during a shut-in in the winter of 1978. God miraculously supplied all the finances necessary to purchase the property, allowing Praise Tabernacle, Inc. to be established June 27, 1979, mortgage free. Drastic renovation took place from the inside out, back to front, top to bottom.

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Following the passing of Pastor Rosa Lee Lilly in February of 1989, the church began actively seeking for a Pastor to fill the leadership vacancy. After much prayer, fasting, and interviewing, the members of Praise Tabernacle, Inc. selected the Reverend Dr. Caesar R. Cabiness to succeed Pastor Lilly.
Bishop Cabiness served as interim Pastor one year prior to his official installation which took place in September of 1992. The work of strengthening the body of Christ began. With his feet planted firmly on the promises of God and his mind focused on progress, Bishop Cabiness surrounded himself with a staff of Ministers and leaders that would reflect the “mind of Christ.”

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Under the leadership of Bishop Cabiness, the teaching ministry was revitalized and the Te’Hillah School of Urban Ministry was birthed. Bishop Cabiness has been instrumental in establishing Praise Tabernacle as a viable resource base within the community. The church has been elevated in ministries to serve the needs of the whole man. Progressive building renovations have taken place, inclusive of the construction of parking lot facilities. With these and many other projects on our agenda completed, and some still in planning we look forward to God’s blessing, God’s sanction, and God’s leadership in moving forward with our effort to further the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to assisting our community in establishing a new image.