A humanitarian and philanthropist, he established COGIC Charities which has provided thousands of dollars in college scholarships and physical and financial assistance in times of disaster such as Hurricane Katrina and Rita.

His untimely death in March 2007 left a great void in the church, but COGIC has continued to move forward and prosper under the capable and visionary leadership of its current leader, Bishop Charles E. Blake.

For many years, West Angeles has been one of the fastest growing churches in the United States and remains the largest COGIC local congregation with a membership of 25, 000.

Since its creation, the PCCNA has had a co-chair leadership, one of which has always been a COGIC bishop, usually a member of the General Board, and the other from one of the member organizations of the now defunct PFNA.

These auxiliaries are found in nearly every church, district, and jurisdiction within COGIC and function to support the wholistic approach that COGIC has toward ministry within the church and the larger community that COGIC congregations serve.

Recognizing the call of women to the ministry, COGIC has created numerous positions that allow women to work as counterparts to the department presidents as chairladies ( YPWW ) and Elect ladies ( Evangelism ).

On the local church level, COGIC developed and has maintained the position of the " church mother.

Today COGIC has more than 3, 000 churches, and several schools, missions, and medical clinics in nearly sixty nations on five continents including Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, Germany, Pakistan, India, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Panama, Rwanda, Uganda, and Australia.

The FGBCF has an annual Summer Convention that convenes in Atlanta, Georgia every year, much like the Church of God in Christ ( COGIC ) has its Annual Holy Convocation in Memphis, Tennessee every year.

UCG has experienced a number of minor schisms in its history, such as David Hulme's departure to form COGIC and Ron Weinland's to start Church of God Preparing for the Kingdom of God.

She has been associated with the Crouch family and the music department of Christ Memorial COGIC in California for many years.

Despite splits and factions, COGIC continued to grow.

During the formative stages of COGIC, Bishop Mason organized departments to further support the work of the church as it continued to grow and expand.

As COGIC continued to grow, it became necessary for the various departments to convene annually to conduct the business unique to their ministries.

" The group adopted the name and COGIC began to grow throughout the south.

COGIC mourned the loss of Bishop Mason for the period of one year before determining new leadership of the church.

COGIC drafted and approved a new constitution that dissolved the office of the Senior Bishop and the Executive Board and created the office of the Presiding Bishop and a General Board who would be elected every four years to preside over the church.

Several bishops disagreed with this new structure and severed ties with COGIC to start their own organizations.

In 2000, at the Ninety-Third International Holy Convocation, the General Assembly voted Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson as the new Presiding Bishop of COGIC.

COGIC continues to influence gospel music with a whole new generation of artists with COGIC roots that include: Kim Burell, Kierra Sheard, J. Moss, Micah Stampley, Kurt Carr, Ricky Dillard, Kelly Price, Mary Mary, Tamela Mann, Earnest Pugh, DuShawn Washington and Michelle Williams, The current leader of the International Music Department in Dr. Judith Cristie McAlister of Nashville, TN, who is also a major praise and worship national recording artist.

' He is credited with systematically restructuring church departments and ministries, expanding the church in Asia primarily India and the Philippines, and placing COGIC on a firm financial status.

Patterson Sr., the five major departments of COGIC were united under an umbrella convention known as UNAC-5 ( United National Auxiliary Conference ).

This convention brings thousands of COGIC members representing all the major departments including Sunday School, Missions, Evangelism, Music, and Youth together in July and meets in various cities around the U. S. The current chairman of AIM is Bishop J.

Mother Coffey was also most influential in organizing many of the auxiliaries, bands, and units that exist within the COGIC Women's Department today.

Mother Rivers is committed to strengthening the auxiliaries in the local churches and to prepare the younger women to carry the mission of COGIC into the Twenty-First Century.

Other ministries brought about under his leadership include the COGIC Bookstore and the COGIC Publishing House.

In recent years, COGIC, the Assemblies of God, and other Pentecostal denominations and ministries have dedicated themselves to reconciling and healing the vestiges of racism within Pentecostalism, which separated on racial lines in 1914, by working together in common ministries.

COGIC teaches that the church is the community of Christian believers who have accepted Jesus Christ and submit to his lordship and authority in their lives.

It includes not only those who are members of COGIC, but all believers who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Women in COGIC have been influential in the leadership and organization of the church since its inception.

Despite what seems to be obvious limitations to minister because of ordination, women have been given great latitude and numerous opportunities to serve in ministry in COGIC.

Military Chaplains have also been very instrumental in spreading COGIC through military installations as well.

From the very beginning of gospel music, COGIC members have influenced its rise including: Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Madame Earnestine Washington, Evangelist Goldia Haynes, and Elder Utah Smith.

Mason established the St. Paul Church in Lexington, MS which became the first and oldest COGIC congregation in the world.

As a result, many local congregations, foreign missions, and schools were established and through the leadership and efforts of women in COGIC.

She also established the Mattie McGlothen Library and Museum in Richmond, CA as a resource for COGIC historical facts and memorabilia.

In 1968, COGIC established the C. H.

She incorporated a syncopated, ragtime style in her gospel accompaniment and soon established the songs " I Shall Wear A Crown ," " My Soul's a Witness for the Lord ," and " Lamb's Blood Has Washed Me Clean " as COGIC standards .< REF NAME =" COGICPatheos "> COGIC Women in Gospel Music on Patheos

When the Assemblies of God was founded in 1914, invitations were sent only to white Pentecostal ministers including 350 white ministers licensed through COGIC.

In addition to his own efforts, Bishop Mason sent dozens of charismatic preachers and evangelists to major cities and urban areas north and west to spread COGIC including William Roberts ( Chicago ), O. M.

Bishop Owens was a noted evangelist of the church and pastored several churches including: Bostick Temple in St. Louis, MO ; Well's Cathedral COGIC in Newark, NJ ; and Greater Community COGIC in Marietta, GA.

At this meeting, held in Memphis, headquarters for COGIC, the PCCNA was formed as an inclusive organization including all the major Pentecostal groups in North America regardless of race.