Church of God in Christ Celebrates 100 Years

The Church of God in Christ (COGIC), the largest Pentecostal denomination in the U.S., is celebrating its 100th anniversary all this week through Monday, Nov. 12. An estimated 70,000 people are expected to convene at COGIC headquarters in Memphis, Tenn., for worship, 24-hour prayer meetings and a host of other centennial events. “Our church has grown from a small congregation founded in Memphis to a 6.5 million-member international denomination in the last 100 years and that is something to celebrate,” said COGIC’s presiding bishop, Charles E. Blake. “We are honoring all the lives saved and souls that have come to know Jesus as a result of the Church [of God in Christ]. Over the last 100 years, the predominantly African-American COGIC denomination has planted churches in 58 countries. At this year’s convocation, thousands of attendants are expected to join other international COGIC congregations via satellite for a global communion service involving Brazil, London, Nigeria, India and the Philippines. “The Centennial Communion Service is an extraordinary way to unite our brothers and sisters in Christ across the globe,” Blake said. “This is a great opportunity for saints to come together and celebrate the body of Christ.” Worship services from the celebration will be streamed online 24-hours a day at: www.cogiccentennial.org.