Our Founder

A recognized leader in community development, religion, and education, our Founder and Senior Pastor, Bishop Ocie Booker has become an indelible pillar in the community. Since his calling to the service of the Lord at the age of twenty-two, he has consistently displayed a well ordered life and ministry.

Bishop Booker's professional services path includes medical technician in the United States Army, leadership roles in First Jurisdiction-Illinois as district superintendent, Sunday School Superintendent, Chairman of Public Relations, and Administrative Assistant to the late Bishop Louis Henry Ford. He also served the International Church of God in Christ as a member of the Executive Committee of the International Sunday School Department as well as a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Bishops.

Bishop Booker has established a strong network of contacts in small and large religious, educational, political, and community organizations throughout the United States. The scope of his experience virtually extends beyond the normal call of duty. He will continue to provide leadership in future endeavors that include the construction of new churches, entrepreneurial training, cybernetics development (e-businesses, marketing, public relations), and organizational management (legal, architectural, funding, and fiscal).

With a focus on strategic educational solutions, Bishop Booker founded the Tabernacle Christian Academy in 1976 to offer quality education from a panoramic aspect. He sensed the moral decline in the public school system more than 30 years ago and decided to challenge parents everywhere to allow TCA to educate their children. Educating more than 16,000 children, more than 95% of those students have graduated and attended college. His work in giving children proper educational, personal, and professional tools has produced stable, highly accomplished adults who are leaders in their professions. In the 21st century, TCA is operating as an independent-co-educational, elementary and secondary school. Ocie has taken TCA from its eight initial students to become the largest minority owned private school in the state of Illinois.

Bishop Booker holds a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Theology from the International Seminary in Plymouth, Florida

Today, Bishop Booker resides with his wife, Jean, in South Holland, Illinois. They have three sons and nine grandchildren.