Bishop John H. Boone
A Strong Foundation
Since the early 1940’s The Historic Boone Tabernacle Church of God in Christ has been a religious and spiritual “centerpiece of Kansas City”, located strategically in its downtown area. Boone Tabernacle has been the location for national and international ministries, proclaiming the full Gospel of Jesus Christ with Holy Ghost power. Most notable among the pioneers of the holiness-Pentecostal message in America was Bishop John H. Boone. He was a builder of a network of 12 churches and became the first official pastor and directed the building of Boone Tabernacle. The official history of COGIC lists the name of our founding pastor,
Bishop Boone, as one of the original 12 co-founders of our reformation. He commended Bishop C.H. Mason as General Overseer and “Chief Apostle” of our great fellowship in 1907. During a time when 12th Street was swelling with African-Americans migrating from the south for jobs, education, entertainment, and escaping harsh racial bigotry, Boone Tabernacle became a beacon of hope, help, and spiritual wholeness. Filled with the holy desire to spread the Gospel, Bishop Boone and wife, Missionary Tina, came to KC from the state of Arkansas and Indiana. This itinerant pastor designed, engineered, contracted, financed church construction and evangelized this community.
He also provided employment and economic opportunities through his construction projects across the nation. He was known to say, “I don’t teach or preach to make you happy. I teach and preach to make you righteous!” As the church grew under his leadership, Mother Tina Boone was appointed State Supervisor of Women for Nebraska and Western Missouri by the late Bishop V.M. Barker. Other faithful servants during Bishop Boone’s tenure included Mother Minnie Clay, Sister Lizzie Fanniel, Sister Emma Woodard, and Elder Wilbur Smith. Noted contributions were also made by Elder Joseph N. Owens and wife Bessie
Elder Floyd H. Thuston
Steady Growth & Development
Subsequently, the late Bishop Charles Pleas appointed Elder Floyd H. Thuston as Boone’s third pastor. He and wife Supervisor Roberta Thuston led the church through 40 years of steady growth and development. One of the most joyous accomplishments of that era was the liquidation of a long-standing construction debt to Bishop Boone’s widow in 1973. Additionally, a total renovation of the sanctuary followed, plus the building of the annex and the purchase of property east of the church.
Superintendent-Pastor Thuston’s courage, humility, wit, historicity, wisdom and measured power were exceeded only by his deep Christian spirituality (and don’t forget his piano and table tennis prowess). Locally and nationwide this congregation became a noted spiritual monument of sanctified worship and community stability. The community changed distinctly, 12th Street changed drastically, and the times changed dramatically. But this historic church remained a spiritual anchor during changing times.
Mother Roberta Thuston, a model help meet, remained the unique partner in this ministry and was appointed Jurisdictional Supervisor in 1983. Simultaneously she served as an NAACP activist, school teacher, and First Lady of another congregation in Chanute, Kansas. After four decades of superb leadership, Superintendent Floyd Thuston was elevated to pastor-emeritus by the late Bishop W.H. McDonald in October of 1998.
Bishop L.f. Thuston
A New Vision
That same year, his son Elder Lemuel F. Thuston was appointed pastor. A son of Boone with 20 years of prior successful pastoral experience in Texas and elsewhere, Pastor Thuston has courageously and thoughtfully led this historic church to the next dimension. His leadership team has birthed an increase of 32 new ministries, paralleled by capital improvements. In 2001, what is known as the Old Testament was totally refurbished including land acquisition to the south and parking lot to the east; television and radio ministries followed. A signal tribute to our church occurred March 26, 2004. Our pastor was elevated to the high and holy office of jurisdictional bishop by the Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, Bishop G.E. Patterson.
On June 13, 2014 we broke ground for the NEW tabernacle and we celebrated the re-naming of Virginia Avenue to Rev. Floyd H. Thuston Way. General Board Bishop Sedgwick Daniels of Milwaukee officiated.
Without slowing the pace and quality of pastoral leadership nor shepherding this diocese of 62 churches, our pastor was elected Vice-Chairman and subsequently the Chairman of the International Assembly of the Church of God in Christ in 2016. As our church continues to grow in membership we are more committed than ever to outreach in Greater Kansas City and across the glob!