Bishop Lillian Ward

Bishop Lillian Ward was born on April 28, 1928 in Mt. Olive, North Carolina and was the youngest child of the late Bishop Joseph and Mother Carrie McDougald and the family moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She attended the William Penn High School, where her favorite subject was math, she was a basketball star, and she graduated with honors. At the age of 13, she accepted the Lord as her savior, and was filled with the Holy Ghost at the age of 17. She worked diligently for the Lord in her father’s church. The Lord called her to preach, but she did not heed to the call of ministry until the age of 28 because her parents were not too keen on women preachers at that time. She joined the Holy Temple Church of The Living God in Pennsgrove, NJ. God saw her faithfulness, traveling 30 miles each way from Philadelphia to New Jersey. Bishop Ward acknowledged the call to leadership in 1966. She endured many burdensome days and restless nights as God was leading her to start her own church. In September 1967 being led by the lord, she began with prayer and Bible Study in her home, later in her sister’s home, the late mother Alice McDougald, and around Philadelphia.

God spoke to Bishop about coming to Camden, NJ. The Lord told her "no more services in Philadelphia" and made it clear that He wanted her to go to Camden. It was also the desire of our late Sr. Bishop A. H. White to have church in Camden. By faith, she began to look around Camden as to where she should start services. She did not know too much about Camden, but she knew God said, "Go!"

Faith Tabernacle opened its’ doors on September 7. 1969. Bishop Ward opened with her husband, her six young children, and one niece Jaqui Dunlap. Elder Coleman of Philadelphia was the first guest minister, and Mother Leila Collins was the first Church Mother. In January 1978, the Lord led Pastor Ward to 553 Spruce Street, a Catholic Church and historical site that had been vacant for over 3 years. God let Pastor Ward know that she had favor and he was going to give her that building, which he did. On Sunday, April 1979, with no mortgage to burn, Faith Tabernacle, marched from 1224 Broadway to 553 Spruce Street. Bishop Ward was employed as a School Coordinator with the Philadelphia BOE. She was a liaison between the school and the community showing Christian influence and leadership with the staff, parents, and students until she retired in 1984. Consecrated Bishop in 1981, she also graduated from the International Bible Institute and Seminary in 1986 receiving her Doctorate in Theology. Bishop was one of the first Pastor’s in Camden to start a Community Outreach Program, which is still the heart of Faith Tabernacle today and hosted the Camden City-Wide Revival for three years.

In 1994, being led by God, Bishop passed the Pastoral Mantle down to her daughter, Elder Barbara Ward Farmer. We congratulate our Founder to all, mother to some, friend to most and a stern no-nonsense, but loving leader to all who have crossed her path.