Pastor Chris L. Tharp and his family assumed the Pastorate of First Pentecostal Church of Henderson in January 2005.Prior to coming to Henderson Pastor and Mrs. Tharp have served in full time ministry since 1982 serving as Youth Pastor, Youth Ministry consultant for the United Pentecostal Church and pastor in Baltimore MD. and Kingsport TN.

Pastor Tharp graduated in 1982 from Jackson College of Ministries with a Bachelor of Theology degree. He has instructed at his alma mater and has also authored "What in the Word Do You Believe", a study guide on Pentecostal doctrine that has been used extensively among North American youth groups and in several foreign fields.
In 1980 Pastor Tharp married Vonda Craft. They now have three children and two grandchildren.