Church of God in Christ

How did a small group of disfellowshipped Baptists in Mississippi give birth to one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the United States? Right here, in front of the Church of God in Christ in New Orleans, that story unfolds. The Church of God in Christ, often called COGIC, traces its origins back to 1897. Charles Price Jones and Charles Harrison Mason, both Baptist ministers, found themselves expelled for embracing the Wesleyan doctrine of entire sanctification. This belief in a second work of grace, a deeper level of spiritual cleansing, set them on a different path. Their first church was established in Lexington, Mississippi, simply called the “Church of God.” Later that year, in Little Rock, Arkansas, Mason declared that God had revealed a new name: the “Church of God in Christ,” inspired by 1 Thessalonians 2:14. The Church of God in Christ began to grow across the South. The pivotal moment for COGIC came with the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles in 1907. Mason’s experience there, which he described as the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues, led to another split. He reorganized the Church of God in Christ as a Holiness-Pentecostal body in Memphis, Tennessee, the same year. This marked COGIC as the first legally chartered Pentecostal body in the United States. From its humble beginnings, the Church of God in Christ grew exponentially, particularly during the Great Migration as African Americans moved north and west. Mason established congregations in major cities, expanding COGIC’s reach throughout the country. In 1945, he dedicated Mason Temple in Memphis as the national meeting place, a testament to COGIC’s growing influence. The history of the Church of God in Christ is not without its challenges. Leadership disputes and disagreements on doctrine led to some factions breaking away. However, these trials seemed to refine and solidify COGIC’s identity and purpose. The church continued its mission, spreading the Pentecostal message and establishing itself as a powerful force in the Black Church community. The Church of God in Christ here in New Orleans stands as a testament to the vision of its founders and the enduring faith of its members. It is a reminder of how a small seed of faith, planted in the face of adversity, can blossom into a powerful movement, impacting lives across the nation and around the world.