First Pentecostal Church of God

First Pentecostal Church of God is more than just a place to worship, it’s a family with deep roots, a living testimony of God’s faithfulness from generation to generation. Our story began in the early 1960s with my parents, Reverend Lewis Nelson (W.L. Nelson) and Sister Nelson, who laid the foundation for a church built on prayer, faith, and a passion for winning souls.

When God called Sister Nelson home, her daughter, Joyce Nelson Pattison, stepped into leadership, continuing the vision and keeping the spiritual fire alive. Our family has always been deeply musical, and that gift has been woven into the very fabric of our worship. We blend the treasured hymns and altar services of old-time Pentecost with powerful new songs of praise, creating an atmosphere where both the seasoned saint and the first-time visitor can feel God’s presence.

From the moment you walk through our doors, you’ll be welcomed into a warm, Spirit-filled environment where hearts are open and the altars are always ready for prayer. We believe in powerful preaching, heartfelt worship, and giving the Holy Spirit full liberty to move. We invite you to come and experience it for yourself,

Here, you’re not just attending a church, you’re becoming part of a family with a legacy, a mission, and a heart for revival

The sign now in front of First Pentecostal Church of God, lovingly placed in memory of the Nelson Family, who have been a faithful part of this church since 1962. For over six decades, the Nelson’s have served, worshipped, and poured their hearts into the ministry here. Their unwavering faith and dedication to God’s house are forever woven into the foundation of this church. Today, as the sign welcomes our community and points the way to the house of the Lord, it also stands as a testimony to a family who lived for His glory, a beacon of hope to all who pass by. May it continue to shine as a beacon of hope, just as the Nelson Family has done for generations.

“This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.” – Psalm 118:23 In 1962, Reverend W.L. Nelson was asked to take the church when there were only four members, and the doors were about to close. As an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God for many years. After much prayer, and asking for God’s Will, he decided to lead faithfully, until his health began to fail, due to Parkinson’s disease in 1979. Reverend Nelson passed away on November 7, 1986.

Sister Nelson, an ordained minister with the Pentecostal Church of God, then stepped in as pastor, leading with grace, faith, and unwavering commitment until her passing on July 3, 2010. A beloved and Godly woman, her funeral service was held at Highland Terrace Baptist Church, with over 800 people in attendance, a reflection of the lives she touched.

Following her passing, her eldest daughter, Joyce Pattison, also an ordained minister, became pastor of First Pentecostal Church of God, and her husband, Rev. Dwayne Pattison, served as co-pastor until his passing on August 2, 2020.

In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Joyce Pattison
First Pentecostal Church of God