Meet the Pastor

Apostle Darryl L. Gay

Although Darryl was raised in Church, had a praying mother who was anointed of God and operated in the miraculous, and served in many roles as a child and young adult, it wasn't until 1988 that he made Jesus Christ his personal Lord and Savior. During the next four years he grew in the Word, with the Holy Spirit bringing to life all the scriptures that he had read as a child and young adult. In 1992 this vessel of the Lord accepted his calling into the ministry as a Teacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Earlier that year Darryl met and married the woman of his prayers and dreams, Elaine. Elaine already had accepted the call of the Lord on her life and she was very instrumental with getting Darryl out of his comfort zone. During this time Darryl and Elaine met Apostle Danny Thomas. At that point the Holy Spirit started dealing with Darryl greatly and he began to accept the ministry gift of the Apostle, Prophet and Evangelist and he began to start ministering under the power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. In 1993 he graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelors Degree in Mathematical Statistics with a minor in Computer Science. His determination to excel in His walk with the Lord catapulted him a deeper relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit continued teaching him and in 1995 Darryl accepted the calling to the ministry gift of the Pastor and started having Bible study in his home along with his wife, Elaine. In April 1998, Darryl and Elaine started and incorporated Abundant Life Tabernacle of Faith Church with assistance from T.D. Jakes Ministries. In the last four years the Church has become an interdenominational, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural establishment where people lives are being radically changed by the Word of God and the power of the Holy Ghost. Pastor Darryl has been ministering to men through street ministry as well as Jail/Prison ministry for several years. The Lord has really used this avenue to deliver and bless many men lives. The Holy Spirit impressed upon Pastor to start ManTalk, a mobile ministry where he deals with controversial men issues and provide practical answers. The Lord has anointed this man of God greatly with apostolic order and prophetic utterance and he is being sought by many for an end time revelation of what the Lord is saying and doing in the earth realm. Through the divine providence of God His servant has become a great motivational speaker and a wonderful encourager. This powerful anointed vessel of the Lord has only begun in his quest to be all that the Lord has created him to be. The saga continues...

Honoring the Legacy of Elaine Martin Gay

Pastor/Prophetess Elaine Martin Gay was a gifted life coach, devoted wife, beloved mother, sister, niece, and friend. Although she has since gone home to be with the Lord, her legacy lives on through the various Ministries she instituted and managed at The Tabernacle of Tuscaloosa. Pastor Elaine effectively communicated the vision and mission of The Tabernacle's short term, midterm, and long-term goals of how to reach and minister to those hurting to the Associate Ministers. She was hands on with all Ministries and often gave counsel and advice to Apostle/Pastor Darryl concerning the Men's Ministries. She taught both the Children's and Youth Ministries. Pastor Elaine choregraphed and taught the Children, Youth and Women Ministries in Praise Dance. Pastor Elaine also spearheaded the Women's Ministry. She also wrote and directed plays that incorporated men, women, youth, and children. Pastor Elaine went and set up Children's and Youth Ministries at other Churches as well. She gathered, encouraged, taught Women Empowerment classes for women in The Tabernacle and for Journey In Motion Community Outreach Programs. Pastor Elaine's wisdom, attention to detail, and spirit of excellence is greatly missed because of her continual display of these and many other characteristics with every Ministry that she headed.

About Us

Vision Statement

The Tabernacle of Tuscaloosa is a 21st Century Church whose agenda is to continue establishing the Kingdom of God in the earth through preaching and teaching the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Doing this will empower those in the Body of Christ to walk in excellence and to understand their rights in the Kingdom. The Tabernacle of Tuscaloosa is a Church that actively seeks to bring others into the Kingdom of God by taking the Gospel and Love of Jesus Christ into the world through Evangelistic and Outreach programs designed to meet the needs of those in the local community and to the ends of the world.

Church History

The Tabernacle of Tuscaloosa was legally established in April 1999 under the direction of Bishop T.D. Jakes Sr. of The Potter's House of Dallas Texas. The Church was started in obedience to the Voice of God with a few members in the living room of Apostle Darryl L. Gay and Prophetess Elaine Martin Gay. Through prayer and evangelism, the Church has grown over the years to become a significant spiritual voice in the city.

Mission Statement

The mission of The Tabernacle of Tuscaloosa is to evangelize our homes, community, city, state, nation, and world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ - to bring people to a right relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

As a body of believers, we are committed to:

Convert the un-churched through Evangelistic endeavors
Disciple the Body of Christ through the Word of God
Empower and strengthen Christians to overcome obstacles
Mentor the next generation by exemplifying Christ daily