On a tree-lined stretch of Sunset Avenue in northwest Pasadena, Deliverance Tabernacle Church Pasadena holds a steady rhythm of worship, prayer, and Bible teaching that has marked the neighborhood for years. The Pentecostal congregation at 1299 Sunset Avenue, just south of the 210 freeway, calls itself a community of believers who seek to love God and love people, and its front door opens wide to anyone walking in - first-time visitors, long-time members, and curious neighbors alike.
Sunday Morning Worship Experience
The church's flagship gathering is the Sunday Morning Worship Experience, held each week from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. The service is built around music, prayer, and life-changing teaching from the Pastor, with a loving family atmosphere that the leadership considers a defining feature. Services are described as centered on God's grace and driven by God's Word, moving from singing songs to praying together to learning from Scripture. Guests are welcomed with a smile, a friendly handshake, or an "air hug," and the church makes clear that this gathering is a place to belong whether it is someone's very first time in any church or whether they have grown up in Christian community.
For those who cannot attend in person, the service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, allowing the congregation to worship together in real time from wherever they are.
Tuesday Night Bible Study
Midweek, the church gathers for Prayer and Bible Study on Tuesday nights from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm. The Tuesday gathering functions as both a prayer meeting and a Bible study, and the church frames it as an entry point for people who are seeking, skeptical, or simply curious. Doubt, the church says, is not the absence of faith but a part of the substance of it, and the Tuesday night Bible study is designed as a safe space to ask questions and explore what one believes.
Pastor Terry and First Lady Robin Turrentine
Pastor Terry L. Turrentine and his wife, First Lady Robin Turrentine, have led Deliverance Tabernacle Church since 2011. Both bring a love for people and a servant's heart to every area of ministry. Pastor Terry is a retired Social Security Claims Representative whose years of public service inform a steady, practical approach to pastoring. First Lady Robin has spent many years working with children, and her care for young people shapes much of the church's family ministry.
The couple are parents of three adult children and a grandchild, and the family assists in the work of the church. They are described as leading the congregation "for such a time as this," a phrase borrowed from the book of Esther that captures their sense of calling.
A Generational Legacy
Deliverance Tabernacle Church entered a new chapter of leadership in 2011, when Pastor Terry succeeded his father, Dr. C. L. Turrentine, as pastor. The transition continued a faithful legacy of service and dedication that runs through the family. Rooted in a deep love for people, the generational handoff reflects the church's enduring commitment to meeting both the spiritual and practical needs of its congregation and community.
The church has signaled that a fuller video on its history and legacy is coming soon, but the through-line is already clear: a Pentecostal congregation shaped by decades of pastoral continuity, now in its second generation of Turrentine leadership.
What the Church Believes
Deliverance Tabernacle describes itself as a community of believers in Jesus, and its doctrinal foundation is laid out under three headings: Christ-Centered, Community-Focused, and Purpose-Driven.
On the Christ-centered side, the church affirms faith in the one true God, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Bible is held as God's inspired Word and the foundation for belief, teaching, and daily living, and the church teaches that through the power of the Holy Spirit, lives are renewed and transformed in Christ.
Community-focused language runs through everything the church does. Members are taught that faith is meant to be lived out together, and the church is committed to building meaningful relationships marked by love, care, and mutual support. Worship, fellowship, and service are tied together as the means of creating a place where everyone belongs.
The purpose-driven dimension centers on glorifying God by sharing the Gospel, strengthening believers, and equipping people to serve. The church sees itself as called to impact lives both locally and globally, living out faith through action, obedience, and compassion.
Core Values
- Biblical authority
- Intimacy with God
- Activated disciples of Christ
- Prayer is essential to ministry
- Love God, love self, love others
- Dependency on the Holy Spirit
Mission and Vision
The church's mission is to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ through both words and actions, welcoming everyone regardless of ethnicity, guiding those seeking salvation, and supporting believers as they live a committed life with Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The vision is anchored in Matthew 28:19 - 20: "Therefore go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you, always, to the end of the age." Discipleship, baptism, and teaching are the framework for the church's local and global work.
Ministries at Deliverance Tabernacle
Deliverance Tabernacle organizes much of its life around a handful of ministries that give members a place to grow, serve, and belong.
Wahoo Kids Afterschool and Day Camp
The Wahoo Kids Afterschool Program provides a safe, nurturing space for children to learn, grow, and explore after the school day ends. Through academic support, creative activities, and character-building experiences, the program helps each child develop confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning. Wahoo also runs a summer day camp across two four-week sessions running from early June through the end of July, giving kids a faith-rooted environment during school break. The day camp connects with families through an outside childcare listing under the name Wahoo Camp Daycare.
Women of Purpose Ministry
Women of Purpose focuses on empowering women to grow in faith, leadership, and service. The ministry fosters community, mentorship, and purposeful living, gathering women around shared study and mutual encouragement.
Grace Upon Grace Senior Ministry
Grace Upon Grace serves and honors the wisdom of the church's senior members through fellowship, encouragement, and spiritual growth opportunities. It is the church's primary avenue for ministry to older adults.
International Ministry
The International Ministry connects with believers around the world, spreading the Gospel, supporting global missions, and building cross-cultural partnerships. Within this broader work, the church's strongest overseas tie is to the Kenya 5th Jurisdiction.
The Kenya Mission and Bishop Turrentine
In a sacred consecration ceremony, Pastor Terry L. Turrentine was set apart as Bishop of the Kenya 5th Jurisdiction, a role that reflects both his calling and his commitment to serve the church on an international level. The Deliverance Tabernacle Kenya Mission is described as a vital extension of the church's commitment to spreading the Gospel and serving communities beyond its local borders. Through prayer, outreach, and partnership with local leaders, the mission supports churches, schools, and community programs that meet spiritual, educational, and physical needs. From providing resources and mentorship to organizing worship services and ministry training, the work in Kenya reflects the church's belief that faith is active and transformative.
The mission emphasizes relationship-building rather than one-way giving, empowering local leaders and creating opportunities for holistic growth in Christ. Every contribution, prayer, and volunteer effort plays a role in advancing the work overseas.
Serving the Local Community
Alongside its internal ministries, Deliverance Tabernacle runs regular outreach efforts aimed at the surrounding Pasadena neighborhood. The church has hosted free health clinics, where community members receive free blood testing and health resources from a local clinic partner. Those events are framed as a way to provide accessible care and resources to people who need it most, and they reflect the church's stated value of being purpose-driven beyond the walls of the sanctuary.
The Community page on the church's site points members toward three avenues of involvement: joining a ministry team, volunteering at events and outreach programs, and contributing financially. Whether serving seniors, empowering women, supporting international missions, or leading worship, the church invites members to find where their gifts and passions align.
Worship and Teaching
The worship style at Deliverance Tabernacle is best described as charismatic and Spirit-centered, with prayer as an essential thread through both Sunday worship and Tuesday Bible study. Music is presented as a central part of the gathering, paired with biblically grounded preaching from the Pastor.
Sermons are recorded and posted, with two recent messages featured on the church's site. "Flame On" speaks to the idea that God has placed a fire within each believer, a flame meant to burn brightly and light the way for others. "Thank You, Jesus, For My Mind" focuses on surrendering one's thoughts to God so that wisdom, creativity, and discernment can grow. Full sermon archives are available on the church's YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Joining in Person
Visitors who want to make their first visit more intentional can fill out a Guest Check-In form on the church's site, sharing their name, contact information, and how they heard about the church. Guests can indicate whether they would like to join the church, are interested in volunteering, or simply want more information, and there is space for questions, comments, or prayer requests. The form includes options like "family or friend," "invite card," "internet search," "social media," or "passed by church location," giving the church a sense of how newcomers are finding their way to Sunset Avenue.
For those who want to give, the church offers online giving through Givelify, making it possible to support the mission digitally. The giving page frames generosity as a way to sustain ministries, outreach programs, and church operations, with every gift enabling the church to serve the community and spread the Gospel.
A Pentecostal Home on Sunset Avenue
At its heart, Deliverance Tabernacle Church Pasadena is a Pentecostal family rooted in a particular street corner of Pasadena. From the Sunday morning worship experience to the Tuesday night Bible study, from the Wahoo Kids afterschool program to the Kenya 5th Jurisdiction, the church's ministry flows from a single conviction: faith is meant to be lived out together. Pastor Terry and First Lady Robin Turrentine, with their family beside them, continue to lead a congregation that is actively extending that conviction - across the street, across the neighborhood, and across the ocean.