The first service was held in August 1977 with Reverend Peter H. Wholuba and seven females (Barbara Wholuba, Mozelle Moore, Kathleen Faison, Janie Cason, Marcell Moore, Michelle Moore, and Anita Wholuba). Two people were added to this membership at the first service (Johnnie Mae Johnson Martinez and Lorraine Ware Donaldson). God continued to add members to this work and opened doors for this group of believers to fellowship with other churches.
Although Rev. Wholuba founded Bethel Gospel Tabernacle, he knew that his mission was to return to Liberia as a missionary. During the first quarter of 1978, God opened the door for him and his family to be short-term missionaries on the Bonike Mission Station in Liberia, West Africa.
Because of God’s omniscience and omnipotence, He saved and equipped Charles Edward Williams to receive the pastoral mantle and cause this work to continue to grow both spiritually and naturally.
After paying off the mortgage and making many improvements to the building on Myrtle and Tennessee, God opened the doors for Bethel Gospel Tabernacle to purchase and move to a new building on Ruby Street in Lakeland.
Currently there are several ministries in operation at Bethel. These ministries include but are not limited to Outreach, Women’s, Men’s, Youth, and Evangelism.
We are very excited about what God is doing, and will do at BGT. We believe that God has given every man a talent that can be used to further the work of God here on earth. We will receive the promises of God as we continue to be obedient, steadfast, unmovable, and abound in the work of the Lord. Forasmuch as we know that our labor is not in vain in the Lord.