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The Revelation of Jesus Christ: Mission History

God had been preparing Reginald D. Tarver Sr. at the onset for his appointment as Founder and Pastor of Revelation of Christ Baptist Church located within the Washington Center for Aging Services (WCAS) in northeast Washington, DC. As a member of the Isle of Patmos Baptist Church (IPBC) where Reverend Tyrone P. Jones III was Pastor, Brother Reginald Tarver was selected to serve in the Deacon’s Ministry along with Brother Bobby Gist. Although both were short of the five year tenure qualification as members of IPBC, Rev. Jones felt they both met the qualifications of a Deacon: “men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit, and demonstrated wisdom. Additionally, Rev. Jones felt that many of the Deacons were up in age and by adding two relatively young men in the ministry it would be beneficial. Rev. Jones presented the brethren to the congregation who voted unanimously to accept them as Deacons in Training under the leadership Deacon Chairman Randolph Brown and later Normal Robinson in March of 1993 and Deacon Osie Jackson, who also served as Deacon Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

Deacon Charlie Burrell was instrumental in training Deacon Tarver in service and commitment; visitation, and most of all spiritual matters. Some of the first visits were primarily at WCAS where IPBC had many members. Deacon Tarver remained in training many years (approximately 8 years) due to Rev. Jones leaving the pulpit for health reasons while Reverend William T. Pugh served as Interim Pastor. Although not ordained, Deacon Tarver continued steadfast serving in the capacity as Deacon, continuing to lead devotions, singing in the Male’s Chorus, leading sport outreach ministries, teaching in Sunday School, and visiting the sick and shut-in at their homes, hospitals, and nursing homes, primarily at WCAS with Deacon Burrell. During this length of training Deacon Tarver, and avid Bible reader was led to Isaiah 40:28-31, “They that wait on the Lord”. In August of 1999, Dr. Calvin L. Matthews was unanimously elected IPBC’s fourth Pastor. The year 2001 was a transitional year for Deacon Tarver; Martha Smith, his grandmother, was admitted to WCAS on September 11, 2001 also known infamously as 911. Now Deacon Tarver would be connected to WCAS both through IPBC and as a family member of a loved one. 2001 also culminated with the long awaited public catechism and ordination as Deacon. Deacon Robinson, who was Vice-chairman at the time, prepared Brothers Reginald D. Tarver, James Reid, and Mikal Godbolt. In June of 2004 at a men’s retreat in Chantilly, VA near Dulles International Airport, Deacon Tarver was called into The Gospel Ministry; a calling which prompted Pastor Matthews to ask Deacon Tarver, “Why kick against the pricks?” In November of 2004 Deacon Tarver gave his initial sermon from Ezekiel 28:11-15 (later given the subject title “The Bling or the King”).

Already associated with WCAS through IPBC and as a family member, Minister Tarver also applied for the Manager of Information Technology at WCAS, motivated by the possibility of being around his Grandmother in her twilight years. Although Minister Tarver was hired in May of 2005 his grandmother Martha had already transferred into more immediate and intensive care facilities. This proved to be a pivotal time in ministry. Although Minister Tarver had a plan all worked out, God had another plan for His servant, and that would be at WCAS. Early on, after being called into the preaching ministry, Minister Tarver was asked by the Activities Director, Celeste Brooks, to speak at the Bible Study that WCAS has every Wednesday. The Bible Study had been conducted by Deacon McElwaine from Bethesda Baptist Church for approximately 11 years. Although with good intentions, no one communicated that Minister Tarver would be the guest preacher to Deacon McElwaine. Since Minister Tarver would preach in his teaching slot there was an awkwardness; the Deacon yielded but was understandably perplexed. Moving forward Minister Tarver made sure that Deacon McElwaine always knew when he would be preaching. The very next time it was arranged and communicated for Minister Tarver to preach the Deacon McElwaine addressed the elders and told them he needed to “apologize to the young minister for acting like this ministry was his when in fact it is God's.” And how he had been blessed by the preached word. He then spoke prophetically and said, "We never know when the Lord will take us home so we have to make things right each and every day while we are here". The very next week the Lord took Deacon McElwaine home. That prophecy came to fruition so swiftly it was amazing. Minister Tarver was asked to pray and afterwards was told to conduct the weekly Bible Study. This was truly a "Ram in the bush" moment that could only have been from God. His Word resonated so much from the weekly Bible Studies that Minister Tarver was asked to do an additional Bible Study to the residents of the Center Care, the day care program as well.

In July of 2010, the nursing home operations at WCAS were acquired by the Stoddard Baptist organization. Soon afterwards Minister Tarver would be promoted to Director of Information Technology to both WCAS and Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home (SBNH). The Bible Studies were embraced by the religious organization which evolved more opportunities for Minster Tarver to preach, pray, conduct home going services, minister to staff, residents, and leadership. Minister Tarver is asked to pray every day and at every business meeting he attends. Eventually, the President and CEO of Stoddard, Steve Nash, asked Minister Tarver to conduct a prayer service in the chapel at WCAS every Friday. These prayer services are open to all and anyone passing by. 2013 was also a busy year for Minister Tarver. Having already received a Bachelor of Divinity, he also received the Masters of Theology from the Wilbur Henry Waters School of Religion and Theological Seminary in May; and he was catechized and ordained in July the same year.

For the past 12 years at WCAS Sunday services at the chapel were being led by Reverend Wade T. Powell, Pastor of Faith Baptist; a small congregation. In February of 2013 Pastor Wade asked Minister Tarver if he could be available for the Good Friday service since this would be his first time away. At first, Minister Tarver thought Pastor Powell wanted him to preach one of Christ’s last seven last sayings on the cross when in fact he was asking him to coordinate the whole program. The Good Friday program was such a success that Minister Tarver was asked and agreed to conduct Sunday services when Pastor Powell would be absent (normally 3 or 4 Sundays per month). This sentiment was also voiced by Stoddard’s Chaplin Cornelius Carter, Pastor Emeritus of Cannon Baptist Church. Pastor Powell shared with Stoddard his retirement from the ministry and subsequently Faith Baptist disbanded.

Sunday services at WCAS continued in the chapel and were highly spirited but the church infrastructure was missing. Led by the Spirit, now Reverend Tarver spoke to the Administrator, Denise Chadwick Wright, President and CEO Steve Nash, and CFO Mahesh Tyagi about leasing the chapel for the purposes of organizing a new mission and church. Prior to these discussions, Reverend Tarver sought guidance from his Pastor, Dr. Calvin L. Matthews of Isle of Patmos Baptist Church about starting a new church at WCAS. Pastor Matthew asked Reverend Tarver, “Is the Lord leading you to do this?” This question was appropriate, required reflection, and with it the assurance of that this appointment was evident that God had been preparing Reverend Tarver for this ordained moment in time. This appointment was not motivated by self ambition, nor power, or privilege. At every step of this appointment the evidence of divine preparation was taking place; from Reverend Tarver’s first steps within WCAS as a young Deacon under the leadership of Deacon Charlie Burrell; becoming a family member of a loved one, his Grandmother Martha Smith who was admitted there on 9-11; being hired as Manager of IT and then promoted to Director; already having IPBC connections by preaching on occasion on the first Saturday of the month, and at times during the annual Christmas IPBC visit to WCAS which has been ongoing for eighteen years under the leadership of Reverend Virginia McCrae who head’s up the Senior Ministry at IPBC; the elder Deacon McElwaine of Bethesda Baptist, who shared his convictions with prophetical implications; becoming the “ram in the bush” for the Bible Study after Deacon McElwaine’s passing; continuous growth in Bible Study and formal education at Wilber Henry Waters School of Religion and Theological Seminary, Inc.; and the confirmation that took place in the chapel.

Officer Robert Pringle, a security officer whose company was employed by WCAS shared with Reverend Tarver early on that he was a minister, and an Elder. When they started to greet and speak more there was always teaching, and preaching, and fellowship of the goodness of God in the few minutes they shared. One day in the early summer of June 2014 Officer Pringle asked if Reverend Tarver could pray with him. Not knowing what it was to be prayed about Reverend Tarver agreed and asked Elder Pringle to meet inside the chapel. Elder Pringle revealed that his family, gifted singers, had been approved by WCAS to provide outreach ministry on the different nursing units and minister to the residents on a regular basis. This prompted Reverend Tarver to invite the Pringles on any Sunday where it was convenient for them. Reverend Tarver knowing how difficult it is for church members to visit other churches due to their commitments in their own storehouse, was adamant about coming only when they had time. Elder Pringle then told Reverend Tarver that he and his wife, Evangelist Gloria Pringle, were in fact looking for a church home. In that instant, it seemed as though time was suspended, and it left no doubt that a new church, a new branch of Zion, the Revelation of Christ Baptist Church, would soon be organized. After ironing out particulars of the lease agreement Reverend Tarver and Ms. Chadwick Wright completed signing of the lease on December 3, 2014. Prior to the signing of the lease, Reverend Tarver took the necessary steps to incorporate the Revelation of Christ Baptist Church on November 14, 2014 securing the following legal documents of operation in Washington, DC:

Certificate of Incorporation
Clean Hands Certification
Employer Identification Number (EIN) from IRS
Bank Account documentation

Isaiah 40:28-31

“Hast thou not known? hast though not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding. “

“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.”

“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:”

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”

AMEN