History 

In 1960 while studying for the ministry, Bob Doom and Phil Porter had a vision for starting a fundamental Baptist church in the city of Martinsville.Two years later, a small group of believers began meeting together in a cow barn at the fairgrounds; and within a year, twenty-eight charter members formed the Martinsville Baptist Tabernacle under the leadership of William Holden.

Over the next several years, the members of MBT continued to see God’s leadership as they purchased the current property on Burton Lane, built the first auditorium, and continued to expand to meet the needs of the growing ministry. Those expansions included classrooms, a gymnasium, a kitchen, and various renovations, as well as the adding of Tabernacle Christian School.

In 1993, Pastor David Zempel accepted leadership of Martinsville Baptist Tabernacle.Pastor Zempel has continued to lead the church in expanding its adult and youth ministries to include a radio broadcast for the community,GEMS for mothers of young children, Wednesday Bible studies for all ages, and much more.The church has also expanded it facilities once again with the most recent building program — a 500-seat auditorium that will eventually contain expanded music facilities as well.

Today, Tabernacle continues to thrive as an independent, fundamental,conservative, traditional ministry. This means we as a local church seek to fulfill our calling to be a “peculiar” (set-apart) people by standing steadfast in the Truth declared in God’s Word and doing that which would honor a Holy God rather than conforming to the world around us.