Our Bishop

Senior Pastor & Executive Director of Women of Destiny

Bishop Richard & Geri Heard
Before becoming Senior Pastors of Christian Tabernacle, Richard and Geri Heard traveled as crusade evangelists for 19 years in 87 nations. The small Houston congregation they accepted in 1988 has now grown to a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic membership of 4,000, composed of believers from more than 30 nations of the world.

Since 1990, fifteen churches in the Houston area have been founded or have come under Bishop Heard’s spiritual covering. Traveling extensively across America and 93 nations, he addresses pastors and front-line missionary evangelism leaders at numerous conferences and seminars. Because of his forceful ministry of impartation, God’s presence and glory is released when the Word is delivered.

In 2001, a consuming passion to reach the world for Christ motivated him to personally establish the East Africa School of Biblical Studies in Tanzania. With graduates numbering more than 1,650, these native pastors have been trained and equipped to evangelize their nation. An apostolic spirit of fatherhood has empowered him to touch more than 2,000 churches and pastors around the globe who now look to him as father, mentor, and leader.

Bishop Heard himself has never ceased to grow. Even with his busy schedule, he has earned two doctorates in Theology and Educational Psychology and is working on a third. His first book, Spiritual Coverings, published in July 2007, will be followed by numerous other titles designed to equip spiritual leaders for service.

Geri Heard, the first lady of Christian Tabernacle, is thoroughly involved in church activities. She is Executive Director of Women of Destiny, Contact Pastor for Helping Hands Ministries, and a member of the Council of Ministries Board.

While Bishop Heard has traveled the world, Pastor Geri has been the stabilizing force to keep their family strong and united. From their two children, Jonathan (wife Jeni) and Rachele Nowling (husband Jeff), the Heard family has been blessed with seven grandchildren, Andrew, Taylor, Michaela, Aiden, Scotlyn, Chaslyn, and the latest addition, Jonathan.