ABOUT US
We’re so glad you’re here!
God has established our church in this city to be a “place of becoming.” Becoming takes place as we pursue God, love with His heart, and devote ourselves to serving others into greatness. Our prayer is that each and every person that walks through our doors can experience the love of Christ in a new way. We hope that you will become part of all God is doing in and through our church family.
A Campus in Philadelphia
God has continued to bring us beyond our walls, our generation and imagination in miraculous ways. In 2022, Chicago Tabernacle participated in powerful Kingdom expansion with the launch of a new campus in Pennsylvania — Philadelphia Tabernacle. We are now one church in two locations, and Pastor Al and Chrissy are excited to have sent Pastor Josh and Susie Leblanc to serve the people of Philadelphia.
OUR MISSION
The mission of the Philadelphia Tabernacle is to be a place of becoming for all who long to know and serve the Lord. Becoming takes place as we pursue God, love with His heart, and devote ourselves to serving others into greatness. As we do this, we are transformed into His image and become all that God has called us to be.
LEAD PASTOR
Pastor Al & Chrissy Toledo
Al and Chrissy Toledo were both born and raised in New York City. Al, born of Cuban parents, was headed for a promising career as a professional baseball player when the Lord revealed Himself to him at the age of seventeen on a baseball field. After being drafted by a major league team and playing in college, Al began attending the Brooklyn Tabernacle, a short distance from the apartment where he grew up in. He sensed that God was calling him into ministry and left Brooklyn to attend Bible School in Rhode Island. While at Bible School, Al fell in love with Chrissy Cymbala, his longtime friend, who was serving on staff at the time leading the music ministry. They were married in 1992 and began serving in full time ministry together.
Chrissy, a pastor’s daughter, accepted the Lord at a very young age. She was blessed to grow up in that same inner-city church, the Brooklyn Tabernacle with people from all walks of life. Chrissy grew up loving her world. As a pre-teen, however, something began to happen in her heart, unbeknownst to her family and friends, that would set her down a road of turning her back on everyone she loved. Chrissy shares about the miracle that took place in her life in her book Girl In The Song.
Al and Chrissy have been happily married for nearly 30 years and have three adult children, and five grandchildren. In 2001, while on a trip to Chicago for a time of rest, God placed a seed of love in their hearts for the people of the city and in 2002 they took a great step of faith and planted the Chicago Tabernacle.
The Toledo’s feel privileged to have a front row seat to so many testimonies of God’s grace and power. It has been the gift that continues to energize their faith to live their lives in service to Him.
CAMPUS PASTOR
Pastor Josh & Susie LeBlanc
Pastor Josh grew up in the Midwest in the home of a pastor. After receiving a degree in Construction Management and Business from Ball State University, he moved to Chicago in 2007. Pastor Josh began a career in construction project management and started attending the church shortly after. During this time, his walk with the Lord deepened, and he began to sense a call to ministry. He joined the Chicago Tabernacle staff in 2011 and has served in various areas.
Susie came to Chicago in 2002 when her parents, Pastor Al and Chrissy Toledo, founded the Chicago Tabernacle. Susie felt a call to the ministry as a teenager and began serving at the church as an intern in 2008. She came on staff in 2009 and has been a part of the Creative Team since.
Pastor Josh and Susie are passionate about seeing people grow in their walk with the Lord and feel called to build and joyfully serve others to become what God has called them to be. They were married in the Spring of 2011 and had two sons: Wesley and James. In spring 2021, God began to prepare their hearts to take a step of faith into something new. During their first visit to Philadelphia, Pastor Josh and Susie walked down one of the significant downtown streets. They began to weep as God deposited in their hearts a deep burden to see the people grow and become. Since moving to the city in April 2022, they have fallen in love with the people and believe God wants to do great things in Philadelphia!