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OUR COGIC PIONEERS: {You may find articles of many of our notable Patriarchs & Matriarchs on the Historic Reflections & the Missions Web Pages Respectively on this Website; Please surf to these web pages later to peruse articles concerning the History of Bishop C. H. Mason & all of his successors, and all of the National Supervisors of the Women's Department of the Church of God in Christ}
A} D. J. YOUNG B} E. M. PAGE C} PHOTO OF IMPORTANT PATRIARCHS D} SAMUEL NESBITTS DEFENSE OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COGIC & THE ELECTION OF BISHOP O. T. JONES, SR. AS SENIOR BISHOP OF THE COGIC AFTER THE DEMISE OF BISHOP C. H. MASON {For more detail on what actually transpired concerning the election of Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., you may later surf to the Historic Reflections Web Page on this website and click on Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr. from the Table of Contents}
E} BISHOP R. F. WILLIAMS F} EVANGELIST OTIS G. CLARK G} BISHOP W. M. ROBERTS H} BISHOP O. M. KELLY I} SIS. LUCY FLAGG CARPENTER ENTHRE J}davis MOTHER MARY DAVIS K} Dr. ODIE HENDERSON TOLBERT, JR. L} PRESIDING BISHOP CHARLES E. BLAKE M} BISHOP CARLIS L. MOODY, Sr.
COGIC PIONEERS YOU SHOULD KNOW
D. J. YOUNG
D. J. Young was a constant companion of Bishop C. H. Mason. He was a member of the association formed with C. H. Mason, Charles Price Jones and others in 1895. He was also a part of the committee formed which included C. H. Mason, and J. A Jeter charged with the task of giving a report on the Azusa Street Revival officiated by W. J. Seymour in Los Angeles, California. After attending the Azusa Street Revival in March and April of 1907, D. J. Young, along with C. H. Mason, and J. A, Jeter, received the baptism of the Holy Ghost accompanied with speaking in tongues according to Acts 2:1-4. D. J. Young was among the congregation and preachers who left the General Assembly of Charles Price Jones with C. H. Mason, when Mason was ex-communicated from the Church of God Association in August of 1907 because of his belief in the New Testament gospel concerning the baptism of the Holy Ghost. D. J. Young remained with C. H. Mason throughout the legal organization of the Church of God in Christ (September of 1907), and became the editor of the new periodical of the denomination ("The Whole Truth).
D. J. Young ministered in Pine Bluff, Arkansas for 7 years and established a church in Beaumont, Texas where membership grew from 50 to 250. D. J. Young, the first representative appointed to the Dallas, Texas region, met with a great deal of opposition from unified community homes, other churches and schools. There was bitter opposition against the COGIC church and the pastor. It seemed that the organization's efforts in Dallas were doomed until in January 1914 Bishop C. H. Mason, after carefully assessing the situation, "sent the young, energetic and astute Elder E. M. Page to take charge of the church". Page's reply to the stories of woe from the discouraged members was the reassuring statement: " If God is for you, He is more than a whole world against you, the church will carry on!" And so it did with Page's decisive leadership. With D. J. Young, the level of persecution was so widespread in Dallas, Texas in certain quarters that it flared into outbursts of violence, vandalism and sabotage against members and property of their church. Nevertheless, D. J. Young's efforts in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, and aiding in the exponential growth of the COGIC denomination was necessary, deeply felt and greatly rewarded; He was one of COGIC'S great pioneers.
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Pictured Above: Left - Bishop C. H. Mason; Right - Bishop E. M. Page
E. M. Page, the first Bishop of the Church of God in Christ who eventually was assigned as The Overseer of the state of Texas, wrote this passage in his autobiography: "I was deprived of a schoolroom education. However, I was undaunted in my quest for literary training. I studied hard at home by the scant light of the old pine knot fire. Laboring under untoward circumstances, i.e., meager resources, poor facilities, hard labor, with approximately nine months in the school room, exemplifies the object lesson of this story; The fact of the matter is that God can make a man. Not a self-made, man but a God made man."
Like many blacks whose lives were marked by the rise of Jim Crow, peonage systems of labor, and political disenfranchisement, Page determined to educate himself against all odds, an earnest quest for progress that many early observers of black Pentecostals overlooked. They tended to concentrate on the dancing down the isles of men and women or on people collapsing under the spirit. In all the clamor, the unique story of black Pentecostal's progressive ideals was muted.
The early Texas COGIC leader E. M. Page countered claims of "otherworldliness" by embracing the Progressive era, particularly its emphasis on social uplift through civic involvement and education. E. M. Page's foresight and example made him the perfect champion for the COGIC in Texas. He was born on the Marlin Stubblefield farm in Yazoo County, Mississippi, May 9, 1871. The eldest son of Richard and Pollie Ann Page, his firsthand knowledge of the rigors of rural life helped him develop the leadership and organizational skills needed to guide the early Church of God in Christ in Texas.
More diplomatic than his predecessor (D. J. Young), Page won almost universal praise and respect from the community. As opposition decreased, the membership of the church grew to more than 100 members from January to May of 1914. As a "reward for Page's outstanding contribution to the Dallas church", Bishop C. H. Mason appointed him Overseer of Texas at the state convocation held in Houston in July 1914.
This convention took place at the "Mother" COGIC Church of Texas - {Center Street COGIC, now "First COGIC"} - founded in the Bayou City in 1909. Page Temple in Dallas, named in honor of E. M. Page, and an unnamed church in Hillsboro vie for 2nd place.
From 1914 on, the COGIC organization's efforts were defined by establishing churches and encouraging education. The COGIC Educational Board first considered founding a "Holiness" school in Texas at a "Ministers' and Workers' Meeting" in 1917, ten years after Bishop C. H. Mason founded the denomination and only 2 years after E. M. Page assumed the position as Overseer of COGIC efforts in Texas. Page Normal Industrial & Bible Institute was one of 3 COGIC schools established in the United States South. Saints Industrial and Literary School located in Lexington, Mississippi, though conceived the same year, was the first, and the Bible College in Little Rock, Arkansas, the second. In 1918 the Texas COGIC Educational Board purchased 268 acres in Hearne on Henry Prairie Road, where the administration building and the girls dormitory for the Page Normal Industrial and Bible Institute were the first two edifices constructed. O. T. Jones, Sr., in addition to offering character building lessons to students, demonstrated his commitment to educating COGIC youth during the Eighteenth Annual Convention of the COGIC in 1926, by donating $50 of the total $394 pledged for educational work. Bishop C. H. Mason matched the donation of O. T. Jones, Sr. Contrary to popular belief, the pioneers of the Church of God in Christ have always placed top priority on education--as according to the scriptures: " Study To Show Thyself Approved"
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Below, we're showing a photo reflecting many of COGIC'S pioneers as they were greeting the newly elected Senior Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., after the demise of Senior Bishop Charles Harrison Mason
Shown above as they greet newly elected Senior Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., Philadelphia: From Left to Right Second Row: Bishop D. Lawrence Williams, Norfolk, Va., Chairman, Board of Bishops; Bishop John White, New Orleans, La; Bishop L. H. Ford, Chicago, Illinois; Bishop W. G. Shipman, Detroit, Michigan; Bishop C. E. Bennett, Gary, Indiana; Bishop Wyoming Wells, Greensboro, N. C.; Bishop W. R. Nesbitt, Florida; Bishop J. S. Bailey, Detroit, Michigan; Bishop Samuel Crouch, Los Angeles, CA; Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., Newly elected Senior Bishop; Dr. Lillian Brooks Coffey, National Supervisor, Women's Dept.; Bishop A. B. McEwen, Memphis, TN.; Bishop J. O. Patterson, Sr., Memphis, TN.; And Bishop J. E. Bryant in foreground.
Below: Dr. Arenia C. Mallory, President, Saints Junior College, receives the Charles Harrison Mason Award from Dr. Christopher C. Owens. President, Religious Workers Guild, Inc., for outstanding service to humanity in the fields of Religion, Education And Socio-Economic Advancement
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Reflecting On The COGIC'S Pattern Of Organization, Its Constitution & His Personal Disagreements To Allegations Concerning Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., After He Was Elected As Senior Bishop Of The Church Of God In Christ
The Document Below Was Found In The Scrapbook Archives Of Bishop C. C. Owens {You may find additional dialogue on the ungodly transactions which actually took place in the election of Senior Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr. on the Historic Reflections Web Page of this website under Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., in the Table of Contents on that web page}
You may observe the various committees formed by Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr. and the names of the persons assigned to each of these committees respectively on the Historic Reflections Web Page under the Table Of Contents Heading of Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr.
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THIS STORY DEPICTS HOW GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS WHEN ONE HAS FAVOR WITH HIM
The late Bishop R. F. Williams was among the first five bishops who were selected and consecrated to the Bishopric by Senior Bishop C. H. Mason as Bishops to serve as overseers in the Church of God in Christ denomination in the year 1933. This was also the man that Bishop Charles Mason chose to become the builder of our National headquarters which is Mason Temple Church of God in Christ, 958 S. 5th Street, Memphis, TN., which has been changed to 958 S. Mason Street. He was the first National Chairman of the Church of God in Christ, and he was the first one to be appointed by Bishop Mason to the National Chairman of the Church of God in Christ, Inc.
Pictured Below From Left To Right: Bishop E. M. Page, Bishop R. F. Williams, Bishop C. H. Mason, The Mayor of Memphis, Bishop W. M. Roberts, Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., And Bishop A. B. McEwen This Program Poster Is Showing The First Five Bishops Which Were Consecrated As Bishops In 1933; The Photo of Bishop I. S. Stafford Was Absent From The Program {Bishop A. B. McEwen Was Not Consecrated With The Other Five Bishops-He's Just A Fill-In For I. S. Stafford}
He was born in St. Francisville, Louisiana, thirty-three miles from Baton Rouge; five miles in the country on the farm, in May 1897, to Albert and Vina Williams. His father died before he was born, but he was reared by an Uncle, Frank Haywood, a deacon of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church. He was converted under the pastorage of Reverend C. C. Richardson in the Mt. Olive Baptist Church at the age of twelve years, and was also called to the ministry in the same church at the age of twelve. He remained in Mt. Olive Baptist Church until he received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, Easter Sunday, 1914. He then became a member of a Holiness Church in New Orleans, under the the pastorage of Reverend R. W. Clark.
He was married in 1917 in New Orleans, Louisiana, with Rev. R. W. Clark officiating, to Miss Sadie Williams. Five children were born to this union.
He began his ministry in New Orleans, Louisiana, preaching in churches and on street corners. His first sermon in the Holiness Church was taken from Matt. 3:11, Text: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but He that cometh after me is mightier than I; whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." R. F. Williams was licensed by Reverend R. W. Clark of New Orleans, Louisiana.
After laboring with Elder Clark, Williams helped establish churches in Algerias, Louisiana, and new Orleans. His first pastorage was at Donaldsonville, Louisiana. Outstanding members of this first church were Rev. Samuel Bell of California and Rev. U. E. Miller, National Secretary of the Churches of God in Christ of Detroit, Michigan. U. E. Miller was the first minister saved under R. F. Miller. R. F. Williams' second church was at Burton, Louisiana. He also established a number of other missions in Louisiana and on the coast of Mississippi.
He moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1918 and was identified with the Church of God in Christ in the National Convocation. March 1919, he was ordained at the Wellington Street Church by Bishop C. H. Mason and other members of the ordination board. He established a church in North Memphis, called the King Street Mission, the same year, but later dissolved the membership into the Wellington Street Church. After this church he co-founded a church at Jackson, Mississippi with Elder Paul Brown and at Jackson, Mississippi with Elder D. R. Curry. He was a very anointed man of God who was usually found preaching on the streets while playing the guitar, or praying for someone on the road, or preaching in a corn field--starting missions and turning them over to others to pastor; He was more of an evangelist! While traveling through Georgia, Florida and other states, he managed with meager funds given to him, to support himself and his family. Bishop Mason had appointed R. F. Williams to represent the Churches of God in Christ at the Great Unity Council at Valdosta, Georgia, over which Bishop and Pastor I. S Stafford presided. Following his speech at the council, one hundred and sixty churches were united with the COGIC. He gave them the right hand of fellowship. Among these churches were 22 churches in Florida. Some outstanding men from these churches included such men as Reverends A. M. Cohns, W. R. Nesbitt, and McCrary of Philadelphia. Bishop C. H. Mason had also advised R. F. Williams to go back to Florida to take the office of Overseer of Florida, but he was so financially impoverished that he was unable to attend the National Convocation which followed this council; He was misrepresented by a minister of Florida, who was instead appointed Overseer of Florida. R. F. Williams was so broken-hearted that he resigned all the work in Florida, but he never felt bitter in his heart towards anyone.
After this he moved to Thomasville, Georgia, and by the sanctioning of Bishop Mason, he was to take over Alabama; But he couldn't borrow his fare to Alabama; so he continued to preach on the streets every day and the Lord restricted by ration every day to ten cents per day with which he purchased liver and white potatoes. In the morning his family had liver and potatoes for breakfast and gravy and potatoes for supper. One day he said to himself, "If the postman leaves me a letter from Bishop Mason with some money in it, I will go to Alabama". Sure enough the postman stopped at his gate with a letter. He ran to the house and opened his letter; It was from Bishop Mason who was in Los Angeles, California. It read as follows: Dear Sir: While praying this morning your suffering came before me. Here is a little help of seven dollars. May the Lord bless you. He went into the house and told his wife, whose baby was three weeks old, "that the Lord had sent me my fare to Alabama." He gave an old lady one dollar to nurse his wife, he bought $1.25 worth of groceries, and he left Friday night for Samson, Florida {keep in mind that the cost of living was drastically cheaper than it is in today's economy}. He met Sister Berry at Dothan, Alabama; She was 95 cents short of her fare. He had one dollar, so he purchased her ticket and got on the train. The Lord moved on the heart of some of the passengers to give him food. He arrived in Samson about 2 P. M. with 5 cents. He found ministers J. M. Mainor, J. H. Thomas, A. L. Burke, the Smith brothers, L. H. Ford and 44 scattered members that had dissented from the Triumph Church. They were to organize an independent church of which J. M. Mainor was slated to be the leader. R. F. Williams preached at the Methodist Church that night. Merchants closed their doors, and the people piled their groceries on the doorsteps and all around. Services continued until midnight. People were outside in the trees, on top of cars and there was no standing room inside. All were eager to hear the gospel. That Sunday at about 2 P. M., the dissenting group and the Methodist Church agreed that if the leaders would get together, they made a motion to all join the Church of God in Christ; So, the Church of God in Christ was born in the State of Alabama. There was great joy in the city; People were left rejoicing on the street. As He walked to the train, people followed him. He departed from Macon, Georgia to conform the Ash Street Church of which Elder F. W. Winan began pastoring. After his successful ministry in Georgia and Alabama, strengthening and indoctrinating the churches, he left for Memphis. From the Memphis convocation, Elder J. O. Croon was appointed Overseer of Georgia and Dr. I. S. Stafford was appointed Overseer of Michigan. For several years He confined his activities to the state of Alabama. He pastored and built churches in High Bluff, Dotha, Abbeville, Sapps, and East Birmingham. Among this group of churches He presided and remained pastor of East Birmingham and Abbeville. In East Birmingham He bought three lots and built a church and pastorage. The church was 40 X 63. The Abbeville church was 36 X 55. There are three acres of land, on which is located the Franklin Baldwin Institute of the Church of God in Christ; Two teachers were furnished by the state board of education to teach at the Franklin Baldwin Institute. The Smithfield church was 43 X 82. R. F. Williams was appointed Overseer of Georgia in 1920, and was ordained to Bishop in 1933.
He served the state of Georgia as Overseer for 23 years. During this period the church grew from seven original missions to thirty-three churches, then to one-hundred and twenty-three churches now in Georgia.
Williams was appointed national Chairman of the Churches of God in Christ, President of the Home and Foreign Mission Board, and Vice-President of the Education Board. In 1931 He was appointed Overseer of Ohio during the Annual Convocation and took over the work in 1932. The first convocation was held at Woodland Center, 46th and Woodland in June 1932. The first church He organized was on 57th and Kinsman Road with sixteen members. The Officers were Deacon L. G. Maddoz, Lover Perry, and Ervin Griffin. Brother Hornsby Ward was the Superintendent of Sunday School. Williams came to Cleveland bent on saving his predecessors from leaving the brotherhood. He built what is called the depression church in Cleveland. This church was the incentive for the work in the Brotherhood; buildings went up all over the brotherhood. His bank appraisal for Woodland Temple in 1949 was $200,000.00 including furniture.
He attended Public and Private schools of Louisiana. Aside from high school work, he attended Selma University. He took some short courses at Baptist College in Birmingham, Alabama. Williams attended Cleveland Bible College four years and graduated with a bachelor degree in Theology. He had taken special graduate work at the downtown branch of Western Roserve University, studying Business Law and Philosophy. Corresponding courses had been taken in Philosophy. He received the Doctor of Divinity Degree from Greater Payne University of Birmingham, Alabama. Including 33 years of training and experience under Bishop Mason, Williams treasured his 33 years of training under Bishop Mason more than all the other schooling He had had elsewhere. Ere, long, long ago Williams had learned that the wisdom of the world is foolishness unto God and he counted all these things but lost; "That I may gain Christ; That I might know Him in the power of His Resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering, being made more comfortable unto His death."
When he came to the state of Ohio, there were 17 missions and 263 members. Today there are forty-three churches, and they owned over one-half million dollars worth of property. There were eight large brick institutional churches. Their National report then was a hundred and twenty-five dollar budget, then it became thirty-three hundred dollars, and had been paid in full for five consecutive years. The National Temple at 958 South Fifth Street in Memphis, Tennessee had been destroyed by fire for several years. In 1940 in a conference with Bishop Mason, he appointed Williams as building commissioner. His first step was to secure an architect, Elder Taylor and Superintendent of Construction, Elder U. E. Miller. He then went about to secure a budget under the supervision of Bishop C. H. Mason. Mason Temple was completed in 1945. For additional details concerning Mason Temple complete with pictures of our Nation Headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, please surf to the Historic Reflections Web Page on this Website under COGIC History.
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Born Feb 13, 1903
This Is Evangelist Otis G. Clark Currently At 108 Years Old
At the age of 18, Elder Otis G. Clark fled from Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1921 after the Ku Klux Klan started a race riot and began shooting many blacks and burning down their homes. The race riots began in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma where many blacks owned successful businesses due to the oil boom. Otis said that his mother's home was burned down, and he fled, by way of the railroad (as a hobo) to Los Angeles, California in search of his biological father. He became a good friend with Steppin' Fetchin and began working for many of the movie stars, such as Joan Crawford, Clark Gable and Charlie Chapland. Otis Clark and his wife actually lived in Joan Crawford's home. He was the butler and his wife was the cook. Otis began living a fast life, and during the Prohibition Era, at the age of 25, Clark was tossed into jail for boot-legging whisky. While in jail, the Salvation Army would come to minister to the prisoners, and as a result, Otis Clark became a Christian.
After being released from jail, Clark had heard of the Pentecostal Movement at a revival he had attended at the Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles, CA. He says that he was privileged to serve as the driver for Mother Lillian Brooks Coffey, who was the State Mother of The Church of God in Christ, and after attending revivals with mother Coffey, he received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and was forever changed. Otis Clark also had the privilege of meeting and serving his mentor, Bishop C. H. Mason, who was the founder of the Church of God in Christ, and who he referred to as "Dad". As you know, Otis was deeply involved with the original Azusa Street Mission which was started by W. J. Seymour who was referred to as the "Father of 20th Century Pentecostalism". Clark knew everyone in the Azusa Street Movement, and before the Azusa Street Mission was torn down, he was eventually given the Power of Attorney over the Azusa Street Ministry by Bishop Driscoll. Otis Clark still has the original document in his possession. I even discovered a booklet pertaining to the Azusa Street experience of Bishop C. H. Mason and others which evangelist Clark had compiled in my father's library {library of Dr. C. C. Owens}. In 1942 Otis was officially ordained as a preacher and world evangelist by Bishop Samuel M. Crouch of Los Angeles, California who was over the Foreign Mission's Department of the Church of God in Christ; Otis Clark is currently (as of July 2011) the oldest living evangelist in the world at the age of 108 and has been serving as an evangelist for over 80 years, which is longer than the life expectancy of the average person! Currently Elder Clark is a participant in the Life Enrichment Ministries of Seattle, Washington along with his adopted (in the Lord) daughter and granddaughter (They were assigned to watch over him at their church, fell in love with him, and adopted him as their dad). Elder Clark still travels extensively to places such as Africa, Jamaica, and all over the world preaching the gospel. He was married four times, had one daughter, and out-lived all of his family members!
Elder Clark is a direct link to the Azusa Street Pentecostal Movement, and as an international evangelist, Elder Otis Clark, in addition to compiling booklets explaining the Azusa Street Movement, and how Bishop C. H. Mason and others received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, he also compiled booklets explaining the building of the historic Mason Temple, and the life and history of many of the pioneers of the Church of God in Christ {Some of which were found in my father's (Dr. C. C. Owens) library}; In fact, he compiled the booklet pertaining to the life and history of Bishop R. F. Williams {the previous story} reflected on this Web Page. Elder Otis Clark continues preaching and writing about the oracles of God to this day; He is yet spry and has a quick sense of humor, eats what he desires, takes no medications, has all of his teeth, and has his own car. Otis Clark maintains that his favorite scripture is "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved--God will give you eternal life; If you're on the Lord's side, you are on the winning side."
You may surf to see him on YouTube at www.youtube.com and type in: Keeping Up with Otis Clark-CBN.com; The World's eldest living Evangelist; Bishop Otis Clark (at 107); A 106 year old minister, Otis Clark - Kenneth Copeland Ministries; Otis "Dad" Clark's 105th birthday; Bishop Clark preaching at 107;
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OVERSEER OF ILLINOIS
Pictured Above Is A Photo Of Bishop William Matthew Roberts, The Father Of Bishop Isaiah Roberts. Bishop W. M. Roberts took all of he and his wife's savings of only $100, and, with the leading of the Lord, used the money to bail Bishop Mason out of jail. Bishop W. M. Roberts Was Also Among The First Five Overseers Of The COGIC To Be Consecrated To The Office Of The Bishopric In 1933.
Bishop W. M. Roberts Was One Of The Early Pioneers Of The Church Of God In Christ. He is pictured below (far left) with Bishop C. H. Mason (center) and Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr. (far right). Bishop W. M. Roberts made many serious sacrifices to promulgate the gospel and impact the exponential growth of the Church Of God In Christ.
Bishop W. M. Roberts Was One Of The Early Pioneers Of The Church Of God In Christ. He Was Invited To Come To Chicago For The Purpose Of Starting A Mission By A Group Of Women: They Were Sis. Lillian Brooks (Later Coffey), Sis. Anna Davis, Sis. Mary Duncan (Later Davis), Sis. Mary Pierce, Sis Olina Lerge & Others (13 Women In All) - At The Time, There Was No COGIC In Chicago. Bishop Roberts had served under Bishop C. H. Mason in Memphis, Tennessee prior to 1916; Certainly Mother Coffey had communicated with Bishop Mason requesting that he send a preacher to Chicago (preferably Elder W. M. Roberts) since several pastors had abandoned the mission, for they had said that it was impossible to plant a holiness church in such a rebellious and wicked city as Chicago. Bishop Roberts Accepted The Offer And Brought His Son Isaiah Roberts (1 Out Of 10 Children) With Him, And Later In 1917, Accompanied By His Wife And 9 More Children, Moved To Chicago And Established A Ministry; So, it would be safe to say that the prayer band which was organized by Mother Lillian Brooks Coffey became the first Church of God in Christ in Chicago. After Moving His Missions Twice (31st & LaSalle and 37th & Federal), In 1925 Bishop W. M. Roberts and the saints acquired two lots at 40th & State and Roberts Moved His Congregation To 40th And State Where He Built A Church From The Ground - "Roberts Temple COGIC". Bishop W. M. Roberts Saved Souls, And Promulgated The Gospel Throughout The Region. As A Matter Of Fact, Roberts Temple, Located At 40th & State, Was The First COGIC Church In Illinois, The First Denomination In Illinois To Broadcast On The Radio And The First Church In Chicago From Which Dr. Christopher C. Owens Preached In 1944. Bishop Roberts served as overseer of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa, Arkansas Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Many preachers who gained prominence in the ministry "sat at his feet." Some were elders: Carey White who joined him in Chicago from Memphis, Bishop O. M. Kelly, Bishop F. G. Green, Bishop E. E. Lenox, Bishop Cain Scott, and Bishop J. O. Mason.
The names of his children were: Callie, Minnie Pearl, Mamie, Gertrude, Isaiah, Willie, Ruth Naomi, Carrie, John Paul, and Robert. During the Women's Convention under the presidency of Mother Lillian Brooks Coffey, Bishop W. M. Roberts, again surrounded by praying women (the previously mentioned group), slipped away home to be with the Lord.
Below is a photo of Bishop Isaiah Roberts {right} seen with Bishop E. E. Lenox {left--Prelate of Southern Illinois in Chicago, Illinois}.
Bishop Isaiah Roberts was the eldest son of Bishop W. M. Roberts, and of course, AFTER THE DEMISE OF his father, he took over his dad's church {40th Temple at 40th and State Street, Chicago, Illinois}; Bishop Isaiah Roberts was the Prelate of the Northern Illinois Jurisdiction at the time.
Below {Left to Right}: Dr. Christopher C. Owens, Founder of the Religious Workers Guild, Inc.; Bishop E. E. Lenox of Chicago; Bishop Isaiah Roberts of Chicago; Unknown; Bishop Isaiah Roberts had just received an award from the Religious Workers Guild, Inc.
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Pictured Above, Bishop Christopher C. Owens, The National President Of The Religious Workers Guild, Was Presenting The "Charles Harrison Mason Award" (The Highest Award Given By Our National COGIC) To "Mr. Church Of God In Christ " Bishop Otha Miema Kelly. He Was Appointed By Bishop Mason To Become The Overseer Of Eastern New York And Later Appointed As Part Of Bishop Mason's Executive Commission, And Still Later, Recommended To The General Assembly By The Presiding Bishop - Bishop J. O. Patterson, Sr. To Be Named The 1st Assistant Presiding Bishop Of The COGIC In 1976. Bishop O. M. Kelly Was Loyal, Wise, Sober, Strong, And Rendered Unequivocal Support To The Leaders Of The COGIC.
Bishop O. Kelly, In Addition To Fervently Serving Every Department Of The Local And National COGIC And Building Churches And School Chapels From The Ground All Over (Mississippi, Memphis, New York), Also Found The Time To Author A Book Entitled "The Profile Of A Churchman" Concerning His Life Long Work In The Church. The Book, As Acknowledged By Dr. Ithiel Clemons, Reflects A Clear Picture As To Why Bishop Kelly Was Referred To As "Mr. Church Of God In Christ"
No one's life parallels more closely and is so intricately interwoven with the origin, development and maturation of the Church of God in Christ than Bishop O. M. Kelly
Otha M. Kelly was born September 12, 1897 - the same year that the COGIC was established. A country boy, Kelly emerged from the barren, piney woods of Mississippi with inexhaustible energy, dauntless courage, incredible zeal, and burning ambition. As a black, born and reared in poverty and suffering, he had a tremendous compassion for people - all people, especially those in need. O. M. Kelly, whose life was touched early by Bishop C. H. Mason, details a crystal clear pattern of triumph over limitation, even in racist America.
Otha M. Kelly had been saved for approximately 4 years when he began attending a new mission pastored by Elder W. M. Roberts who had just brought his family to Chicago in 1916. Kelly attended a revival held at the church (in 1917), which was conducted by Rev. S. H. Jones of Nashville, Tennessee, and received the baptism of the Holy Ghost after having been prayed for by Rev. Jones. O. M. Kelly said: "Something was happening to me. A deep fervor for the things of God was growing inside of me. it was a driving unction from the Holy Ghost."
Kelly said: "Elder Roberts was an exceptional Bible teacher. He would teach for two or three hours each Sunday morning and I would just sit in awe of his explanation of the scriptures. In me, as well, the word of God was becoming "alive". I could quote scripture after scripture with no trouble. My memory was keen. One Sunday morning, when Elder Roberts gave me the opportunity to speak, reaching the pulpit, I preached everything I knew in about 5 minutes. The talk was from Psalm 150, "Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power." Then I sat down. I had put everything I had into it. God was calling me into the ministry; I was ready for a life of service to him." It was on February 12, 1920 when Kelly married Maudell Davis. He remembered this date as the time when God gave him the woman who would stand with him to fulfill his life's calling as a man of God.
God gave O. M. Kelly a lesson in faith when he had terrible pains in his stomach. The doctor's diagnosis was that he had a terrible case of appendicitis which had continued too long and he refused to operate because it would have been too dangerous. His family and many of the saints began praying; it was obvious that many of the saints had given him up to die, for they began inquiring whether or not his insurance was paid up! Kelly began to plead with the Lord to spare his life and raise his body up. For the next two days it seemed as if his life was hanging in the balance; But the following day the horrible pain had miraculously vanished. He said that back in Mississippi his father had already told his mother to not worry about him, for the "Lord's already shown me that the boy is going to live." His dad stopped praying about the healing and began thanking God for the healing. God had given Kelly a new "faith" to believe the impossible. It was a mighty lesson in faith that he would need ahead for his countless struggles ahead.
While he was maturing in the Lord, Kelly worked closely with some of the COGIC'S ablest leaders - including Bishop C. H. Mason, Mother Lizzie Robinson, Mother Lillian Brooks Coffey (Long before she became the National Supervisor of the Women's Dept.), and O. T. Jones; At the time, Sis Lillian Brooks Coffey lived in Chicago, and he learned many valuable lessons from her with the work in the Y.P.W.W. Dept. The other Church officials previously mentioned would frequently travel through Chicago, working with W. M. Roberts.
After being ordained by W. M. Roberts, Kelly began evangelizing in practically every state, and ultimately the Lord was leading him to migrate to New York; It was sad leaving pastor W. M. Roberts, for he was like a father to O. M. Kelly, and of course, W. M. Roberts didn't want Kelly to leave Chicago either. So, Kelly finally left for New York. Kelly moved to New York around 1930. Even though Initially it was a sad going away, Overseer Roberts sent Kelly away with his blessings.
It was Kelly's responsibility to pick up and drop off Bishop Mason from the train stations during his constant traveling back and forth, not only previously back in Chicago, but now, also in New York. After listening to the encouragement and wisdom of Mother Lizzie Roberson, even though Kelly wanted no parts of a messy bickering situation, he decided to accept the challenge of becoming the chairman of the board of elders to rally the brethren to support the acting overseer (Elder Bryant) in the state of New York. Elder Bryant had not been able to put an end to all the internal struggles over finance and organization within the state. Bishop Mason had earlier suggested to Elder Bryant that he should perhaps leave the job for someone else and return to his church in Brooklyn. The disgruntle brethren were constantly squabbling with everyone jockeying for positions of leadership; Possessing great integrity, compassion, speaking skills and leadership capabilities, later Bishop C. H. Mason's confidence in O. M. Kelly increased to the point that he felt that Kelly was the best choice for the job at hand. As a result, even though a preacher yelled openly and warned Bishop Mason to appoint someone else, Mason said not a mumbling word and appointed O. M. Kelly as the Overseer of New York. Kelly later was appointed a bishop and even later as one of the commissioners of the COGIC. in 1951 - 1952 during the declining years of C. H. Mason (actually in June of 1951, Kelly was appointed, along with Bishop J. S Bailey of Michigan and Bishop A. B. McEwen of Tennessee to form the nucleus of the Church's special commission). The commission was created at a time to oversee the entire work of the Church of God in Christ, and to assist Bishop C. H. Mason.
After Bishop Kelly became state overseer and bishop, he had a much closer relationship with Bishop Mason. Each year Bishop Mason would travel through New York and spend several days with Kelly in his home; Those were precious moments! The Lord brought Bishop Mason along at various times to pray with and instruct Kelly. Mason was a genuine man of prayer and knew the way to the throne of God. God sent Bishop Mason along to revolutionize Kelly's prayer life. Bishop Mason didn't pray much at night, but in the morning, he spent two or three hours every day on his knees. When he got tired of praying on his knees, he'd take the pillow off the bed, sit down on it and keep on praying. Kelly said that Mason's prayer life taught him what God can do with a man if he'll learn how to pray and wait on God for the answers.
According to Kelly, Bishop Mason, or "Dad", as everyone called him, was never in a rush or hurry. He would always take time to pray - no matter what, but he was always punctual - never late or slipshod about meetings or appointments. Mason was never much for eating, in fact, Kelly stated that he couldn't have survived off of what he ate, but Mason would always have a prayer on his lips. God had explained much of the deep things of the Spirit to Bishop Mason, and he was filled with God's heavenly wisdom.
Although Mason's personality was forceful and demanding at times, Bishop Mason was an humble and meek man at heart. God had given Mason the wisdom like Solomon that he could mediate disputes in such a way that people would end up shouting and praising God. The church's outreach continued to grow in such a way that three additional men were appointed to the special commission to assist in the burden of decision making. Bishop J. O. Patterson was chosen in 1952, and three years later, Bishop U. E. Miller, S. M. Crouch, and O. T. Jones, Sr. were added.
Mason was genuinely meek and loved people. According to O. M. Kelly, in his book "Profile Of A Churchman", Bishop Mason could have been a billionaire with the unbelievable sums of money people gave him. Instead, he sent that money around the world spreading the message of Jesus Christ. When he died on November 17, 1961, at the age of 95, there was less than $10 in his personal affects. O. M. Kelly spent the rest of his years building churches, building a chapel at Saints College in Lexington, Mississippi and being a financial blessing to the National COGIC. O. M. Kelly did not dwell on the successes of the past, but he continued to move forward with the Lord, pressing toward a new mark - relying on Paul's advice to the Philippians in 3:13, 14.
Below, we see Bishop O. M. Kelly leading a revival down Harlem's 125th Street
The Dedication Of The Chapel At Saints College In Lexington, Mississippi Pictured Above Are From Left To Right: Clara Cantrell Clemmons, Bishop C. W. Williams, Bishop O. M Kelly (Affectionately Called Pops Or "Mr. Church Of God In Christ"), Bishop C. C. Owens. They Were Attending The Dedication Ceremony For The Chapel For Which Bishop O. M. Kelly Donated To The Church Of God In Christ At Saints College In Lexington, Mississippi (He Had It Built From The Ground in 1968); This dedication was on Friday, April 19, 1974.
Dr. Arenia Mallory (President Of Saints College) Gave A Request To Bishop Kelly To Do Something Special For The College, And As He States In His Book (The Profile Of A Churchman): The Life Of Otha M. Kelly In The Church Of God In Christ), God Gave Him The Unction To Build A Chapel For The Saints College On The Campus In Lexington, Mississippi; God's Work Will Be Accomplished Through His Servants; During The First Few Months, $35,000 Started rolling in. God had placed his blessings on the project.
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Pictured Above From Left To Right: Bishop Moses Cross (Chicago, IL), Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., Bishop L. M. Driver (Son of The Pioneer E. R. Driver), Dr. Christopher C. Owens (President & Founder of The Religious Workers Guild), Bishop Willie L. Porter (Memphis, TN) You May Click On The Above Picture To Surf Up To The Table Of Contents Or Continue To Scroll Downward!
Program Coordinator For The Religious Workers Guild, Inc.
Above - (Left To Right): Sis. Vernon Oliver Price, Sis. Lucy Flagg Carpenter Enthre (Author of Poem Below), Dr. Christopher C. Owens, President & Founder Of The Religious Workers Guild, Inc. Of The Church Of God In Christ, and Mother M. McGlothen, The 4th National Supervisor Of The Women's Dept. Of The COGIC. Bishop Owens Is Presenting Mother Mattie McGlothen The Bishop Charles Harrison Mason Award From The Religious Workers Guild, The Highest Award Offered By The Church Of God In Christ At The Time.
Below is a poem by Lucy Flagg Carpenter Enthre Concerning The Dress Code Of The Church Of God In Christ "Back In The Day"
J} Mother Mary Davis
We would like to acknowledge the fact that in addition to Mother Mary Davis being an integral part of the prayer band that Mother Lillian Brooks Coffey had organized, among the 13 women, there were also: Sis. Anna Davis, Sis Mary Pierce, and Sis Olina Lerge.
In the 3rd paragraph above, we are referring to the Northern Illinois Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ for which Mother Davis became the State Supervisor of the Women's Department. Later the Northern Illinois Jurisdiction was called the 5th Jurisdiction. She also served as the Interim State Supervisor of the Central Illinois Jurisdiction of the Women's Department under the Presiding Bishop L. H. Ford; To eliminate any confusion, the Central Illinois Jurisdiction was later referred to as the 1st Jurisdiction of Illinois.
K} Dr. ODIE HENDERSON TOLBERT, Jr. This Is Another COGIC Pioneer You Should Know
Dr. Odie Henderson Tolbert, Jr. was nurtured in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Odie confessed his love for Christ and dedicated his life to God and to the service of the Lord. He was raised at the New Chicago Church of God in Christ during his teenage years, but he later joined the Pentecostal Temple COGIC under the leadership of the late Bishop J. O. Patterson, Sr. Since Odie was gifted with a beautiful singing voice, he decided to join the sanctuary choir and the Pentecostal Male Ensemble.
After graduating from Lemoyne College in Memphis, Tennessee, Odie was later drafted into the United States Army on July 23, 1963 and served two years. During the latter part of his active duty, he sustained a sensorineural hearing loss and was granted an honorable discharge in 1965. Following his duties in the army he returned to Chicago, Illinois where he worked and pursued a master's degree from Northern Illinois University and graduated in 1969. He was offered a catalogue librarian position at the Memphis State University in August of that year. Odie became the first African American librarian for Memphis State University and worked there for over 33 years. He received many awards and accolades and was honored by the University. Later, Odie wrote his autobiography, "New Chicago and Beyond".
Odie's work was recognized by the National Church of God in Christ, for he served the Church as the National Archivist from 1986 - 2000. As a matter of fact, Odie participated in compiling a vast portion of the archived information pertaining to many of the patriarchs and matriarchs who pioneered and impacted the exponential growth of the Church of God in Christ as noted in the book authored by Dr. Ithiel Clemens entitled: "Bishop C. H. Mason" And The Roots Of The Church Of God In Christ "CENTENNIAL EDITION"
Odie was well versed with the archived information and performed the massive leg work which made this book possible.
Odie Tolbert's work caused the Mason Temple COGIC to be recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Because of his humanitarian service, he was bestowed an honorary doctorate degree from Trinity Hall College and Seminary. He was also recently given the emeritus status by Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. We will say farewell to another one of God's soldiers. Brother Odie, we will see you in Eternity!
We would like to take this time to personally thank Elder Herman Thomas, of the Solid Rock COGIC, Chicago, Illinois, who made it possible for us to gain access to the pictures for this article; Odie Tolbert was a first cousin of Elder Herman Thomas.
L} Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. {2007- } The Current Presiding Bishop Of The Church Of God In Christ (2011)
Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr.
Below: Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. & First Lady May Blake
On March 21, 2007, Bishop Charles E. Blake became the Presiding Bishop of the COGIC due to the untimely death of the former Presiding Bishop Gilbert E. Patterson. In a November 2007 special election, he was elected to complete the unexpired term of his predecessor as Presiding Bishop. Then again, in November 2008, Bishop Blake was re-elected to serve a full four-year term as Presiding Bishop.
Below (Left to Right Forefront): Second Presiding Assistant Bishop Macklin, Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., First Presiding Assistant Bishop P. A. Brooks
Above: Bishop Christopher C. Owens, Center, Sharing A Joyful Moment With Bishop Charles E. Blake (Left)
Below: Elder Charles E. Blake, Sr. (3rd From Left), Among Other Renown Preachers Of The COGIC Before Rising To Prominence Within The Ranks Of The Church Of God In Christ
The Church of God in Christ has continued to move forward and prosper under the capable and visionary leadership of the current leader, Bishop Charles E. Blake. An estimated 70,000 saints convened in Memphis, Tennessee to celebrate the Centennial 100th Holy Convocation in November 2007. A progressive and visionary leader, Bishop Blake is leading the Church of God in Christ to become a greater global ministry primarily in Africa and Latin America, while at the same time, investing in the inner city where most COGIC congregations are located.
Below: Pictured Are The Parents Of Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. When They Lived In Little Rock, Arkansas {Great Pioneers Of The Church Of God In Christ}
Below: Part Of The Presiding Bishop J. O. Patterson, Senior's Cabinet Reflecting Bishop J. A. Blake, The Father Of Bishop Charles E. Blake On The Back Row Far Left
Internationally acclaimed as well, Bishop Blake is known for his aggressive initiative, "Save Africa's Children", which supports hundreds of African children who have been affected by HIV/AIDS in orphanages in several countries in Africa.
Pictured Below (Top Frame) Bishop Christopher C. Owens Dialoguing With Bishop J. A. Blake
In 2009, Bishop Blake unveiled an aggressive program known as "Urban Initiatives" to address the plight of America's urban areas.
Pictured Below (Foreground Left To Right): Bishop Charles E. Blake, Bishop C. C. Owens {Visionaries In Hard-Hats}
In 2010 Bishop Blake led the Church in another giant step. For the first time since the establishment of COGIC, due to its size and growth to more than 50,000 delegates, the 103rd International Holy Convocation met outside of Memphis, TN in the city of St. Louis, MO. It was said that St. Louis doesn't know what to do with the COGIC because of the fact that there were more than 80,000 delegates in attendance of the Holy Convocation in 2011. As we recall, Bishop C. H. Mason always prophesied that there would never be an auditorium or convention center large enough to house all of the Saints at one given time because of the covenant which God made with him when God gave him the name "The Church of God in Christ" for his church organization! The Church of God in Christ is steadily growing by leaps and bounds; The exponential growth will never end, according to the promise which God gave to Bishop C. H. Mason. For more detailed information concerning the accomplishments of Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., please surf to the Historic Reflections Web Page on this website; Scroll down the Table Of Contents on the Historic Reflections Web Page and click on Bishop Charles E. Blake.
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Above: Bishop C. H. Mason And One Of His Daughters You may find the life and history of the Senior Bishop and Founder of The Church Of God In Christ On The Historic Reflection Web Page Of This Website! You may click on the above photo to surf to the Table of Contents on this page or continue to scroll downward!
Bishop Carlis Moody was saved in 1944 and accepted the call to preach in July, 1946 in the city of Waukegan, IL. In October of 1950, he was ordained to preach by the late Bishop W. M. Roberts.
At the age of 16, he established a small church in Waukegan, IL on Market Street with approximately 40 members. Bishop Moody served as Youth Pastor at St. James Temple and as the District Sunday School Superintendent for the North Shore from 1952 until 1957. September 3, 1955 Bishop Moody married Mary Alice Byrd who joined him in the ministry.
In 1956, Mother Sadie Adams and her son, Elder Eugene Adams went to the late Bishop L. H. Ford and asked him to send Bishop Moody to Evanston, IL to establish a church. Moody came to Evanston on January 7, 1957 and organized a church of only 6 members. He named the church Faith Temple and the Lord confirmed this name in the scriptures - Philippians 4:6-7. The church grew from 6 members to well over 2 hundred families and 600 people. In 1975, Moody was appointed the International President of the Home and Foreign Missions Department of the Church of God in Christ, Worldwide, which now serves over 52 countries. As the International President, Bishop Moody serves as general overseer for all local and foreign mission initiatives.
In The Above Picture, Head Officials Of The COGIC, Along With The Presiding Bishop Are Seen Giving Bishop Carlis Moody A Check For The Foreign Missions Department.
In 1982, Bishop Moody completed his studies in the International Bible Institute and Seminary, obtaining both a Bachelor and Masters of Ministry. Bishop Moody was also consecrated as Missionary Bishop in the Church of God in Christ. In 1986, Bishop Moody was appointed Jurisdictional Bishop for the Republic of Germany. In 2004, Bishop Moody was notified that he was selected to receive the biennial award of an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity. This prestigious distinction was given to Bishop Carlis Moody, Sr. by the Interdenominational Theological Center/Charles Mason Theological Seminary.
Bishop Carlis L. Moody, Sr., the International President of Missions of the Church of God in Christ, Inc., made it possible for a host of participants to take part in a processional during the State Holy Convocation Of First IL Jurisdiction August of 2011, which displayed the Flags representing many of the Foreign Nations around the world which have been impacted by the Kingdom ministry of the Foreign Missions Department of the COGIC. Bishop Moody tirelessly travels the globe, sharing the gospel, character and nature of Jesus Christ! Because of his devotion to foreign missions, millions of lives, in more than 50 countries, have been touched by the saving, healing, forgiving, delivering and sanctifying power of Jesus Christ. Below, just to name a few countries for which Bishop Carlis Moody has preached in or visited: Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Belgian, Bermuda, Bolswana, Brazil, Caicos, Canada, China, Columbi, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liberia, Malawt, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, St. Thomas, Sweden, Thailand, Trinidad, Turks Island - and the list goes on!
Bishop Carlis Moody is seen in the center of the photo below, wearing an awesome black and gold robe and scull cap. He and the missions department have been major factors in continuing the exponential growth of the membership of the Church of God in Christ on an international level.
And The Flags of Countries continues!
And the Flags Of Countries Continues!
And The Flags Of Countries Continues!
Below, Bishop Carlis Moody receives recognition, and is rewarded for his great service to our national Church by Bishop Ocie Booker, the Jurisdictional Prelate of First IL Jurisdiction during its 55th Annual Holy Convocation, August, 2011.
Bishop Carlis Moody, Sr. is the Pastor of Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, P. O. Box 733 Evanston, IL 60204 1932 Bishop Carlis L. Moody Avenue (Dewey Avenue) Evanston, IL 60201 Email: faithtemple @ameritech.net Office: (847) 328-3808 Fax: (847) 328-3925
Below, Bishop F. D. Washington With Fellow Churchman You May Click on these preachers to surf up to the Table of Contents or continue to scroll downward!
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