Calvary Convention Centre (CCC), venue of the 23rd Pentecostal World Conference in Kuala Lumpur, was dedicated Aug. 27. David Yonggi Cho, senior pastor emeritus of Yoido Full Gospel Church in South Korea and chairman of Church Growth International, did the honors.
In the dedication celebration affirming that “God has done wondrously” (Ps. 75:1), Prince Guneratnam, senior pastor of Calvary Church in Kuala Lumpur and chairman of the Pentecostal World Fellowship, said, “The CCC is a faith project in response to God’s call to Calvary Church Assemblies of God to be a fountainhead church.”
Cho and Guneratnam jointly unveiled the CCC dedication plaque before the congregation was ushered in and filled the newly built 5,000-seat auditorium.
“It is an honor for me to witness the faithful journey undertaken by [the] congregation of Calvary Church. Yoido Full Gospel Church celebrates this important milestone for religious freedom in Malaysia and evidence of the faith of Calvary Church in trusting God to complete this wonderful work,” Cho said in a written statement.
“I cannot think of a more appropriate way to launch the Pentecostal World Conference than with a celebration and the dedication of the Calvary Convention Centre to showcase God’s provision for us as a church,” Guneratnam said. “We are thankful for the successful completion of CCC, and we are delighted to be able to use this facility as a means of educational and vocational training, which is part of Calvary Church’s holistic approach to nation building.
“The journey to CCC has been about faith and trust in God’s vision for Calvary Church and remains focused on expanding its support towards its congregation and the people of Malaysia.”
Christian leaders from 69 nations joined the members of Calvary Church in celebrating the wondrous work the Lord has done. The church was honored to have two Malaysian cabinet ministers grace the occasion.
At the end of the dedication service, George O. Wood, chairman of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship and general superintendent of the Assemblies of God USA presented on behalf of the AG General Council of the U.S. a special recognition to Guneratnam and his church for the outstanding work it has done and continues to do.
Nearly 3,500 people—including 1,500 foreign delegates from 68 nations—attended the 23rd Pentecostal World Conference. The Rev. Ong Sek Leang, conference chairman, reported that so far this represents the largest gathering of delegates in Kuala Lumpur as well as being the largest in terms of the number of foreign delegates and nations participating.
In his opening address to the delegates, Ong said, “You will receive an impartation from the Holy Spirit and revelation that everything Jesus said to us is livable and doable.”
Among the key international Christian leaders present for the dedication celebration and the conference were Geoff Tunnicliffe, chairman of the World Evangelical Alliance; Soritua Nababan, president World Council of Churches, Indonesia; and Larry Miller, secretary of Global Christian Forum.
The 23rd Pentecostal World Conference is a triennial gathering of Pentecostal groups worldwide organized by the Pentecostal World Fellowship, a cooperative body established in 1947 of Pentecostal churches and groups worldwide of approved standing. To date, there are 59 global member organizations.
The Calvary Convention Centre has played host to international acts since it opened its doors, namely His Life, a highly acclaimed musical performed by Promise Ministries International, New York, with a 100-strong production cast and technical crew. Earlier this year, the church staged a musical, Heaven & Earth Rejoice! at the CCC that drew a crowd of 10,000 over Easter weekend. Pop duo Air Supply also performed at CCC in recent weeks.
Calvary Church was established in 1968 on what was then plantation land. The move from Damansara Heights to the new facility at Bukit Jalil provides church regulars with a world-class facility for services, conventions, banquets, seminars and even creative arts productions. The six-story multiplex provides ample seminar and meeting rooms, while the educational and training annex will include hostel facilities and rooms.
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