In a public address to St. Louis on Tuesday, Bishop Charles E. Blake, presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ, explained why COGIC left its home city of Memphis for the first time to host its 103rd Holy Convocation in St. Louis.
“There was a desire of St. Louis and openness, a sense of warmth, that caused us to feel well received,” Blake said.
More than 40,000 delegates have come to St. Louis for the convocation, booking about 25,000 hotel rooms and overwhelming downtown St. Louis with devout, proud African Americans.
The convocation continues until Nov. 15 with numerous worship services, musical performances and opportunities for fellowship, including what is described as “the largest Sunday school in the world” on Sunday morning.
In addition to Bishop Blake and Mother Willie Mae Rivers (general supervisor of the Women’s Department), the entire 12-person COGIC General Board is attending the convocation, which has local leaders of the faith excited.
“We hope that the convocation coming to our area will make an impact on our neighborhoods and community, improving the quality of the people, and their souls will find salvation,” said Bishop William Scott, jurisdictional prelate of the Illinois Southeast Jurisdiction of COGIC.
Indeed, the convocation was a missionary component, “Souled Out St. Louis,” dedicated to saving people on the streets of the city.
Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten, jurisdictional prelate of the Eastern Missouri/Western Illinois Jurisdiction of COGIC, said he was “so happy and honored” to have the convocation come to his city.
“This is my heart and passion to serve people and make their lives change for the better, and that is what our church is all about,” Wooten said.
COGIC is one of the fastest-growing Christian faiths in the world, with some 6.5 million members worldwide. Pastor Melvin Moore, first administrative assistant to Bishop R.J. Ward, jurisdictional prelate of the Eastern Missouri First Jurisdiction of COGIC, understands why.
“Our faith talks about people’s problems and how to solve them,” Moore said. “Everybody has problems. We belive the Bible has the answers to our problems. When you present your problems, the Lord has a way to solve them.”
Moore connected this insight to a teaching he heard Sunday at his home church, the Gospel Temple Church of God in Christ in Webster Groves. Bishop Benjamin Collins, visiting from Georgia to attend the convocation, delivered a guest sermon.
“Bishop said, ‘Stay with God, and you are going to find an answer,’” Moore said.
Birth of a faith
COGIC has its roots in a revival led by Elder Charles Harrison Mason in Jackson, Mississippi in 1896. The name of the new faith was revealed to Harrison the following year in Little Rock, Ark. He established COGIC in Memphis after attending a spirit-filled revival in Los Angeles in 1907. During World War II, Mason oversaw the construction of Mason Temple in Memphis. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. would deliver his fateful “Mountaintop” speech at Mason Temple on the eve of his assassination in 1968.
Even in his memory of his transformative revival in Los Angeles in the early years of the 20th century, Mason used the word “saints” for the faithful, a term that remains standard in COGIC today.
“It calls you into accountability to wear that name,” Moore said. “You have to be accountable to be a saint.”
The faith of the saints traveled fast to St. Louis, with Bishop Daniel Bostick and his wife Lucinda establishing what became Bostick Temple here in 1908. The state of Missouri was divided into COGIC jurisdictions after Bostick passed in 1963. There are now four COGIC jurisdictions in Missouri and some 55 COGIC congregations in St. Louis.
This week, the local saints will be joined by some 40,000 fellow worshippers, which local leaders see as an opportunity.
“We are not discouraged and want to see that the gospel and message of salvation is given to everyone,” Scott said.
This past Sunday, local churches began to benefit from the spirit brought by visiting pastors, like Bishop Collins’ sermon at Gospel Temple.
“Oh, what a glorious time we had,” said Moore, who has been traveling to Memphis to attend convocation for 40 years.
Collins brought to the pulpit the ecstactic “Holiness” strain that typifies the COGIC version of Pentecostalism.
“Last Sunday, we were praising God and the bishop said, ‘Turn up the volume on your praise,’” Moore said.
“We are looking for that spark this week. It’s happening already.”
Local bishops also are called to fund and host major events during the convocation. Towards the end of a busy week of activities, Wooten will host a Christmas in November event on Saturday, Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at his church, Williams Temple Church of God in Christ, 1500 Union Blvd.
“We have to rescue our community. I’m so happy to show the love of Jesus is alive and well,” Wooten said.
Blake said the COGIC leadership is excited to be spreading its message in a new place after meeting for so many years in Memphis.
“Hopefully, the lives we impact will be increased,” Blake said.
St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley said the St. Louis area will benefit from COGIC’s presence, and not only in tourism dollars.
“It does make a difference in our lives,” Dooley said. “Let’s praise God and get those individuals in church and become better citizens.”
