Leaders of Today and Tomorrow Arise Workshop Featured Speaker
Pastor Claudia Smalls
Tabernacle of Praise Baptist Church
Topic: "How Can Praise be for Today and Relevant for Tomorrow"
Tabernacle of Praise Baptist Church
Topic: "How Can Praise be for Today and Relevant for Tomorrow"
Pastor Claudia Smalls has a tremendous love for the word of God as well as the people of God. Her passion to teach and preach with clarity and understanding brings to life the scriptures that God has provided as a road map for daily living. Her mandate came from the Father and she has obediently accepted and now fulfilling the call as Pastor of Tabernacle of Praise Baptist Church.
Rev. Smalls’ journey began on Sunday April 6, 1996 when she received her license to preach the gospel at White Rock Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, NY under the leadership of Rev. John O. Fowler. While there, she worked diligently in the church as a Missionary, Sunday school teacher, Assistant Youth Director and a member of the senior choir. During this time, Rev. Smalls also received great teaching through the Baptist Training Union, where she received a certificate in Biblical Studies. After moving to Atlanta in July of 1997, Rev. Smalls visited several churches but eventually joined the Sylvester Baptist Church where she was later ordained by Rev. Jimmy Fletcher in May of 2000. She served the congregation at Sylvester as an Assistant to the Pastor, a Praise and Worship leader, Vacation Bible School (VBS) Coordinator, Women Ministry leader, Bible Study teacher and Youth Advisor. In May of 2010 Rev. Smalls received her BA degree in Biblical Studies from Beulah Heights University in Atlanta, GA.
The mantel of Pastor was imparted to Rev. Smalls by God on October 9, 2011 when she became the founder and leader of Tabernacle of Praise Baptist Church. Many were in attendance to celebrate the birthing of this new ministry which was ordained by God. Pastor Smalls believes that Ephesians 4:11-12 is a great summation to this great call to ministry - And he gave some apostles; some prophets; and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. When we look at this scripture in the Greek there is no separation between pastor and teacher – if you are a pastor, you must be a teacher. She says as the pastor you are the overseer of the congregation’s spiritual life but as the teacher you are instructing them in the word of God, which is necessary for growth and development.
Pastor Smalls was born on August 7 in a small community in Beaufort, South Carolina called Paiges Point. She is the 6th child of Harold and Edgelee Robinson Black. She is married to Samuel of 35 years and together they have 5 sons and 13 grandchildren. Rev. Smalls has worked for Morehouse College for the past 7 years as an Administrative Assistant in the Department of Business Administration.
When all is said and done Pastor Smalls believes in the command given by Jesus in his sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:13-16 – that we are to become Salt in the earth and Light to the world. As the church just celebrated its first year of existence Pastor Smalls holds on even more to one of her favorite scriptures I Peter 5:6, Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.
Rev. Smalls’ journey began on Sunday April 6, 1996 when she received her license to preach the gospel at White Rock Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, NY under the leadership of Rev. John O. Fowler. While there, she worked diligently in the church as a Missionary, Sunday school teacher, Assistant Youth Director and a member of the senior choir. During this time, Rev. Smalls also received great teaching through the Baptist Training Union, where she received a certificate in Biblical Studies. After moving to Atlanta in July of 1997, Rev. Smalls visited several churches but eventually joined the Sylvester Baptist Church where she was later ordained by Rev. Jimmy Fletcher in May of 2000. She served the congregation at Sylvester as an Assistant to the Pastor, a Praise and Worship leader, Vacation Bible School (VBS) Coordinator, Women Ministry leader, Bible Study teacher and Youth Advisor. In May of 2010 Rev. Smalls received her BA degree in Biblical Studies from Beulah Heights University in Atlanta, GA.
The mantel of Pastor was imparted to Rev. Smalls by God on October 9, 2011 when she became the founder and leader of Tabernacle of Praise Baptist Church. Many were in attendance to celebrate the birthing of this new ministry which was ordained by God. Pastor Smalls believes that Ephesians 4:11-12 is a great summation to this great call to ministry - And he gave some apostles; some prophets; and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. When we look at this scripture in the Greek there is no separation between pastor and teacher – if you are a pastor, you must be a teacher. She says as the pastor you are the overseer of the congregation’s spiritual life but as the teacher you are instructing them in the word of God, which is necessary for growth and development.
Pastor Smalls was born on August 7 in a small community in Beaufort, South Carolina called Paiges Point. She is the 6th child of Harold and Edgelee Robinson Black. She is married to Samuel of 35 years and together they have 5 sons and 13 grandchildren. Rev. Smalls has worked for Morehouse College for the past 7 years as an Administrative Assistant in the Department of Business Administration.
When all is said and done Pastor Smalls believes in the command given by Jesus in his sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:13-16 – that we are to become Salt in the earth and Light to the world. As the church just celebrated its first year of existence Pastor Smalls holds on even more to one of her favorite scriptures I Peter 5:6, Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.