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Welcome Our Friends and Family Day
Special Guest Speaker
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MINISTER JOHN TILLMAN, JR.
Garden Oaks Church of Christ, Houston, Texas
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Minister John Tillman, Jr. has served the Garden Oaks church of Christ (GOCC) since he placed his membership in 1993. His service to this body began when he answered the invitation of Bro. and Sis. L. C. and Minnie Webb. From the time of his arrival, Bro. Tillman's guiding principles can be summarized in three straightforward priorities: Dedication to God, God's word, and God's people. Both as a minister and as an ordained elder from April 2008 forward, he has been at the helm of several projects, such as the Worship Center facelift, Blessings Connection TV Program, Garden Oaks Christian Academy, Food Pantry, Youth Program, and March Madness Annual Evangelistic Outreach. He has also developed GOCC's reputation in the brotherhood through his participation in lectureships and conferences around the nation and his service to Soweto, Johannesburg, and Cape Town congregations in South Africa.
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Bro. Tillman’s dedication to GOCC reflects his lifelong commitment to serving the family of God. In 1970, he graduated from Southwestern Christian College. He continued his education at several institutions of higher learning, including University of Houston, Houston Christian Institute, Abilene Christian University, Dallas Theological School, and the College of Biblical Studies. In 198O, he began preaching at the Wiergate church of Christ in Wiergate, Texas while also hosting a radio program in Jasper, Texas. In 1984 he returned to his hometown of Houston and began serving at the Fifth Ward church of Christ as the Youth Ministry and Education Director. In this role, he developed the Bible Hour and couples' ministries--among the first of their type in the city. From 1991 to 1993, Bro. Tillman served as the pulpit minister to the Grant Street Church of Christ in Beaumont, Texas. Ha was instrumental in merging this congregation with the Northside church of Christ.
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Bro. Tillman's belief that he could effectively promote the gospel for the benefit of God's people is closely related to his business acumen, and the blessings God bestowed upon him in his professional career. He enjoyed thirteen successful years with IBM. Bro. Tillman transitioned from selling typewriters to selling hamburgers. In his first year as an owner-operator with McDonald's, Inc., he was named "Rookie of the Year." For 30 years, he served as CEO Of his own company, eventually acquiring an impressive 15 stores. Attributing his success to God, Bro. Tillman ingeniously named his enterprise: "My McBlessings, Inc."
Intrinsically tied to his commitment to the family of God, Bro. Tillman is a devoted family man. He is the proud son of the late John Tillman, Sr. and late Nadine Tillman, and a brother to siblings (Vivian and Alfreda). He is the doting husband of 45 years to Sis. Marcia Crockett Tillman who has served as his faithful helpmate both in their professional business and in service to the GOCC family. They are the proud parents of John Paul (Andrea) and Tabitha. They enjoy the immense blessing of their grandchildren: Rileigh Grace, Jamal JaMercy, John Elijah, Tayliah, and Tanijah.
