About Us: Church History

Church History  |  Vision Statement  |  Staff

Highpoint Christian Tabernacle was founded in August 1985 by Pastor Thomas H Vinson and his wife, Evangelist Carolyn Vinson. They began conducting worship services in their home after being commissioned by God to make their home in the City of Marietta, Georgia.

Pastor Vinson was born and raised in Middletown, Ohio. He was saved at the early age of 15 under the ministry of Elder Alfred Perry at the Bethlehem Temple Apostolic Church in the City of Middletown.

Pastor Vinson remained faithful to the church in Middletown until being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1965. He served his tour of duty in Texas and in Denver, Colorado. There is where he met and married his wife, Carolyn Beechum, in 1968. They both were employed by the IBM Corporation in 1968 and continued to live in Denver until being transferred to Dayton, Ohio in 1972.

Pastor and Evangelist Vinson lived in Ohio for eight years and attended the Pentecostal Bibleway Apostolic Church in Oxford, Ohio under the leadership of Pastor Lenora Jenkins. It was there they both acknowledged their call to the ministry and received their licenses to preach.

In 1980, God allowed the Vinsons to return to Denver where they were reunited with the House of Joy Miracle Deliverance Church which was pastured by Apostle Reuben Beechum, Evangelist Carolyn Vinson’s late father. They served faithfully in the church for four years. Pastor Vinson served as Brotherhood Chairman and was very active in the ministry.

Evangelist Vinson served as Youth Leader and also founded the House of Joy Children’s Choir which went on to receive national acclaim for their children’s choir album. She also was the church organist, a well known newspaper columnist and radio personality.

It was at the House of Joy that God spoke to Pastor and Evangelist Vinson concerning the pastorate that awaited them. In 1984, God saw fit to move the Vinsons to Marietta, Georgia to embark upon that mission.

In 1988, the ministry’s growth dictated a move to a small church building owned by the Calvary Children’s Home, which was the second of four moves that had been prophesied.

After working for the IBM Corporation for a period of 23 years, Pastor Vinson resigned his position in March 1990 to become the full-time Pastor of the Highpoint family.

In August of 1993, Pastor Vinson led the church to it's present location, 3269 Old Concord Rd., in Smyrna, Georgia.

The Vinson's have been blessed with six lovely daughters, two son-in-laws, six grand-daughters and two grandsons.