
How We've Grown
Pentecostal Tabernacle of BC (abbreviated to “Pentab”) had its first official Sunday Service on July 7, 2002 at the Holiday Inn, Metrotown under the direction of David and Karen Drysdale.
Three months after our inception we needed a larger facility to hold our services. We spent 3 ½ years at the Hilton Hotel in Metrotown setting up and pulling down equipment and chairs for each service.
On December 4, 2005, we moved from the Hilton Hotel to 3891 Kingsway, across from Central Park in Burnaby. Then on January 8, 2012, we moved back to the Hilton Hotel, where we spent another 2 ½ years.
In the summer of 2014, Pentab was given the opportunity to move into a property in Surrey: the historic Anniedale Elementary School, which can be seen along the Trans-Canada Highway. What had seemed like a distant goal became a reality for us. With these facilities, we are now able to facilitate personalized ministries so we can be of greater service and blessing to our community.
Then on September 25, 2016 our dreams went to another level. We began hosting our Sunday worship services at the newly built Mary Pattison Chapel, at the Pacific Academy Campus in Fraser Heights. Thanks to the Board members and Management team of the Pacific Academy family, whose far-reaching impact, mirrors the godly and generous servant-like spirit of the Pattison clan.
On Palm Sunday, March 20, 2016 the Pentab family voted to disaffiliate from the United Pentecostal Church International organization. As difficult as this process was, disaffiliation in no way means that we want to be disconnected from the many esteemed and precious men and women who have poured into our lives.
For us at Pentab, we are simply looking for more intentional ways to grow more interdependently with the universal Body of Christ, not limited to any one group. As long as you are truly for Christ, we desire to truly be with you. Our guide is Jesus' conversation with his dearly beloved disciple John, 39 "But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.:40 For he that is not against us is on our part. 41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward (Mark 9:39-41).
From approximately 30 people in our first Sunday service in 2002, Pentab has grown into a multicultural body of weekly worshippers from more than 30 different countries around the world.
Our dream is to impact our world with the Gospel of Christ, beginning with the city of Burnaby, the Lower Mainland, and the Fraser Valley; being cognizant that we do not have very much time before our Lord and Saviour comes back for His Church.
Our desire is to engage our world, inspire those who will give us a listening ear, and then facilitate unhindered growth for us all to become our best selves for God.
Love, forgiveness, restoration, passion, victory, faith, hope, salvation, peace, purity, and humility, heaven and Christ-centeredness are just some of the main themes intentionally woven into every service where we are afforded the opportunity to touch lives.
Since our first service, Pentab has been on a journey to truly know who the God of creation is, and what He desires for us. This has not always been a comfortable or easy journey. We have struggled to understand our identity, our purpose, and our message. But through this vulnerable and transparent approach, we believe an authentic ministry is being formed. We are not there yet, but we believe we are on our way. Our story continues and we would love for nothing greater than for you to be a part of it too.