Pastor asks council to consider hotel-occupancy funds for Pentecostal fellowship summit at Fort Bend Epicenter

Pastor Ben Davis of the Pentecostal of Rosenberg Church told the City Council that the Worldwide Pentecostal Fellowship intends to host its annual summit at the Fort Bend Epicenter in September 2026 and has applied to the city for hotel-occupancy grant funds.

Davis said the summit is a multi-night gathering with leadership development, youth and children's programming and evening services that draw large audiences. "It's a 3-night event that includes breakout sessions for women's ministry, dedicated children's programming, and special services that draw a large audience every evening," he said. He said the organization has held the annual event for 17 years and that past conferences have generated hotel and restaurant revenue in host communities.

Davis told council the organizers applied for city grant funds intended to support events that bring overnight visitors and generate tourism spending. He identified the Fort Bend Epicenter as the reserved venue and described the meeting as an opportunity to showcase Rosenberg to attendees from the U.S. and abroad.

Council members thanked Davis and asked clarifying questions about alcohol service, attendance patterns and hotel-night estimates. No formal action was taken; staff noted the grant application is under review and that any funding decision would return to council for formal consideration.

Ending: Council acknowledged potential economic benefits and directed staff to process the grant application through the city's established HOT-fund review procedures.