Reverend Peter Hayeh Wholuba was born in Liberia West Africa. After attending elementary school at George Phillips School on the United Pentecostal Council of the Assemblies of God (U.P.C.A.G.) mission in Bonike, he was sponsored to the United States to complete his education. He completed high school and four years of Bible school in New York. God spoke to someone’s heart (unknown until this day) to pay for Peter to attend Southeastern Bible College (now Southeastern University) in Lakeland, Florida. After completing his education at Southeastern, he married and settled in Lakeland. While working with a local church in Lakeland, he was able to meet many people in the area.

In late July 1977, while teaching bible studies in homes, God began to confirm his will for Reverend Wholuba to extend the growth of the U.P.C.A.G. by starting a church in Lakeland. One day while talking to a former school associate, Peter was told of a church building on Myrtle Street and Tennessee Avenue that was not being used. The owner of the building was contacted and agreed to show the building. While touring the building, Reverend Wholuba and the owner of the building received confirmation from God that it was His will for this work to begin at this specific location.

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 Reverend Wholuba 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 mantel and bring this work to a higher level spiritually and naturally. After paying off the mortgage on this building and making many improvements to the building, God opened the doors for Bethel Gospel Tabernacle to purchase another building on Ruby Street in Lakeland.

Currently there are several ministries in operation at Bethel Gospel Tabernacle (BGT). The ministries include, but are not limited to, Outreach, Women’s, Men’s, Benevolence, Youth, and Evangelistic.  We are very excited about what God is doing, and will do at Bethel Gospel Tabernacle. 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.