Church History

Church History

Originally, the church met at the local American Legion Hall in Madison. Then in 1992 we moved to The Town of Madison’s historic Chapel building which, at the time housed the Town’s Beach and Recreation Department. Finally, in 1996, services moved to the upper room of the Town of Madison’s Memorial Hall, adjacent to the Town Green on Meeting House Lane, where we still meet today (See our Sunday Service page). Though our meeting place is in Madison, Connecticut, our mailing address is in the nearby town of Branford (See Information About Our Church for contact info).

Shear-Jashub Christian Tabernacle is a true Bible church, upholding the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture. The church believes in the born again relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and the reality of the gifts of the Holy Spirit for today (see our Articles of Faith for more information). While the church is not a Messianic congregation, there is a strong emphasis on the Jewish roots of our faith, and the church seeks to be the home for both believing Jews and Gentiles.

At Shear-Jashub we believe that trying times are ahead as we see prophetic events unfold in our daily news. It is so important that believers know and understand the completeness of God's Word and have the fullness of His Holy Spirit in order to stand and not fall, to be prepared and not confused, and be true pillars even while that which is in the world around us crumbles. And to this end we are dedicated.

Ephesians 6:13

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

(NKJV)

Shear-Jashub Christian Tabernacle was formed in 1984 as a non-denominational Christian church in Madison, Connecticut. The church’s ministry from the beginning was to preach the gospel and bring others into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, with emphasis on building up the body of believers through solid, anointed Bible teaching. Gregory J. Scalzo, one of the founding directors, was ordained as the church’s pastor early in 1984, and his teaching ministry has been central to Shear-Jashub’s outreach. In 1985, the Internal Revenue Service determined that Shear-Jashub Christian Tabernacle was a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and a recognized church.

We are often asked about the name of our church. Shear-Jashub comes from the book of Isaiah the prophet. It is the symbolic name of Isaiah’s oldest son in Isaiah 7:3 and means in Hebrew, “A Remnant Shall Return.”

Isaiah 7:3

Then the LORD said to Isaiah, "Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-Jashub your son, at the end of the aqueduct from the

upper pool, on the highway to the Fuller's Field… (NKJV)

'Shear-Jashub' is also translated as "a remnant shall return" or "a remnant will return" elsewhere in Isaiah:

Isaiah 10:21

The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God. (NKJV)

Isaiah 10:22

For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of them will return; the destruction decreed shall

overflow with righteousness. (NKJV)

In 1997 the church began its radio ministry outreach. The Shear-Jashub radio program began to air on WFIF 1500AM Life Changing Radio (also simulcasted on101.9 FM), and originally featured a back and forth teaching format between Pastor Greg and his wife Patty. Today, new 15 minute programs air weekly on WFIF at 9:30 A.M. on Sunday mornings. These broadcasts are taken from Pastor Greg's Sunday sermons and teaching series, with introductions by Patty Scalzo. Sermons can include in-depth teaching series, such as the completed through-the-Bible "Heavenly Authority" series and the current series on the “Book of Romans,” as well as topical and special sermons. You can listen at any time to this week's broadcast, as well as a vast library of prior programs and Classic Shear-Jashub, by going to our Listen to Shear-Jashub Radio Programs page. The longer series such as “Heavenly Authority” are also featured on Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.

In 2020, when Covid hit, the church began livestreaming the Sunday service on the Shear-Jashub Christian Tabernacle YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/ShearJashubChristianTabernacle). Following Sunday worship, the church goes live with the sermon portion of the service followed by the Lord’s Supper, comments and conversation by Pastor Greg and Patty, and closing prayer and blessing. Pastor Greg and Dr. Francis-Daivd share the responsibility of bringing forth the message from God’s Word. The video remains on YouTube for 24/7 access and is also posted up on Rumble.com (https://rumble.com/ShearJashub) and on this church website (Sermon Videos). Between this growing video library and the radio archive, Shear-Jashub provides a wealth of free Bible teaching to help Christians grow in their walk with Jesus.