Faith Based Convention Congregates at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

COLUMBIA, SC – July 16, 2009 – The Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is pleased to announce the arrival of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith’s (COOLJC) 90th International Convocation to Columbia, SC.  Attendees will convene at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center beginning Wednesday, July 22 through Sunday, July 26.  Organizers of the event are expecting 6,000-10,000 people to attend from all over the U.S. and internationally including Africa, Canada, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the West Indies.  The convention will impact Columbia’s economy significantly.  The Columbia CVB estimates the economic impact to be $1.5 million.

Convention Committee Vice Chairman, Elder William Wilkins Jr says the COOLJC’s are tied to the Columbia community.  Columbia is the home of their Southern Regional Headquarters located at 4450 Argent Court.  He says, “We’ve built valuable relationships here in Columbia and we thank the support of Mayor Coble and the CVB staff.  Columbia is like a second home to us.”

President/CEO for the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism, Ric Luber states, “We are very fortunate to have a group like the COOLJC’s host their 90th International Convocation here in our community.  Their event is very valuable to our city and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support of Mayor Coble and the COOLJC committee leaders.  We are delighted to have them here to experience our great city again.”