During the late part of 1984, a church building was donated to Brooklyn Tabernacle for the purpose of starting a new congregation.  Members of Brooklyn Tabernacle, Michael and Maria Durso, were approached by the pastors of Brooklyn Tabernacle to lead the new extension.  They accepted God’s call.  The new church began in May of 1985, when a small team from Brooklyn Tabernacle came to assist in the work.  Steven and Mary Carey were asked by Pastor Jim Cymbala to help with the music ministry of the new church.  By September, the Carey’s felt led by God to stay and the Christ Tabernacle Choir was founded as part of the ministry of Christ Tabernacle Church.

Steven and Mary, having been members of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, began Christ Tabernacle Choir to help with the Sunday music ministry.  The first choir had nine members.  Over 25 years later, Steven is still choir director and now Senior Worship Pastor.  The choir has grown to 100 voices and is as ethnically and culturally diverse as the church.

In June 2001, Christ Tabernacle Choir recorded the album, We Win, with Integrity Music artist, Alicia Williamson. In 2003, they were featured on the GMA Dove Award nominated, Ira Stamphill project, Mansion Over The Hilltop.  That same year, they released their first album, Inhabit The Praise, which was nominated for a GMA Dove Award.  In 2004, Christ Tabernacle released their second album, We Have Overcome.  The recording was released alongside two full-length DVDs, Inhabit The Praise and We Have Overcome, which feature live concerts and testimonies from members of the choir and congregation.  The song “Presence of the Lord” from that project was nominated for a Dove Award in the category “Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year”.  In October, 2007 the Choir released their third recording, We Are One, along with a full length DVD of the live concert and testimonies.  Their fourth recording will be released in the Fall of 2010.

Christ Tabernacle Choir has encountered much success in the public eye.  Since its inception, Christ Tabernacle Choir has had multiple television appearances on NBC’s Today Weekend Edition, the Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony, at the 2004 Republican National Convention, and at Shea Stadium.  Christ Tabernacle Choir has also appeared with artists including Avalon, Kurt Carr, Ron Kenoly, Judy Jacobs, and William Murphy.  In July of 2007and 2008, they appeared as part of DirecTV’s Songs of Praise for America.

Christ Tabernacle Choir has also shared the stage with renowned artists such as Diana Ross, Ruben Studdard, Phillips, Craig and Dean, Geron Davis, Alvin Slaughter, Mary Alessi, and Martha Munizzi.  They have also been featured on recordings with artists such as Al Denson, Calvin Hunt, the Hoskins Family,  Brian Free and Assurance, and Ernie Haase and Signature Sound.   They have appeared on the Church Communication Network, Daystar Television Network, the Global Christian Network, Cornerstone Christian Television, and Crossroads Television of Canada.  They have also done ministry work in concert with Ron Phillips, Donnie McClurkin,  Andy Stanley, and Bill Hybels.

The Christ Tabernacle Singers are the traveling group of the Christ Tabernacle Choir, bringing a unique energy and spirit to the Choir’s repetoire.  They have been involved in ministry at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in recent months, as well as appearing in churches and music conferences in Toronto, New York, Illinois, Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana.   In October, 2007 they appeared on the Canadian Crossroads Television Network’ s 100 Huntley Street and Nite Lite Live programs, and in March 2008 were featured in the weekend services at Willow Creek Community Church, in Barrington, Illinois.