The History of The COGIC

and The Drive and Vision

of Charles Harrison Mason

Photo History

COGIC PHOTO HISTORY

COGIC Photo History

COGIC PHOTO HISTORY

From Azusa Street to EVERY Street

Bishop’s Mason, Jeter, and Young went to Azusa Street in 1906 to

investigate the reports of a revival and their lives were never the same.

Mason and Young went back to Memphis and preached and taught the

Pentecostal message, everyone did not receive it.

Those that agreed with Bishop Mason (Bishop Young, Page, Brewer, and

Spearman reorganized the COGIC as a Pentecostal/Holiness Church.

The denomination spread throughout the South rapidly, When Bishop

Mason started in 1907-08 there were only ten COGIC Churches….at the

time of his death there were COGIC churches in every state of the Union.

The Original Use of the Missionary

Bishop Mason was a very wise man, he used woman in the communities to

establish prayer meetings and Bible studies to spread the Gospel and plant

seed for new churches.

Bishop Mason had a world view of Evangelism

Even though women were not allowed to pastor churches, MANY of the

COGIC churches were established by the Missionaries sent into new cities

and regions.

Bishop Mason believed in training

Bishop DJ Young was the creator of the COGIC Handbook (The Black

Book)

The Black Book contained a very well written series of teachings on

Systematic Theology.

Bishop Young came out of the AME Church and he had a Masters in

Divinity.

COGIC has an Episcopal form of Government were churches are

organized in diocese called Jurisdictions, and are overseen by Bishops.

COGIC has annual training events (AIM, Men’s Conference, Woman’s

Conference, and International Convocation)

COGIC Worldwide

Missions overseas began in 1925 under Elder Searcy

Trinidad was the first Mission field

Military Installations have aided in the spread of COGIC evangelism

Youth on a Mission is the primary thrust of COGIC worldwide evangelism

There are COGIC Churches in over 60 Nations

Under the leadership of Bishop Carliss Moody the Missions Department has

become an aggressive tool for worldwide evangelism.

Bishop Mason’s Vision

Was Christ centered (“If I be lifted up…) Mason knew it was the preaching

of Jesus that would win the world.

That The Pentecostal experience would not stagnate

That the Gifts of the Spirit would flourish in Church and in Ministry

That racism wouldn’t hinder his vision

That is ministers and missionaries WOULD be trained properly.