Michigan is the First State to Launch the
World Missions Walk-a-Thon on
Saturday, September 12, 2009

After Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. and the General Board approved the concept of having an international Walk-A-Thon, First Assistant Presiding Bishop P.A. Brooks, the Michigan/Ontario Council of Bishops and their jurisdictions immediately began planning their events. Therefore, Michigan will be the first state to kick-off the Church Of God In Christ World Mission’s Walk-a-thon on Saturday, September 12, 2009. This will be the prelude to the international Walk-A-Thon event on Saturday, October 10, 2009.

Bishop Brooks and the event coordinators in Michigan have been organizing in Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw/Flint and Grand Rapids, obtaining media partners and signing-up walkers to participate in the walk-a-thon. “I am very excited about this event and pleased with the way our state has embraced the World Missions Walk-A-Thon because of its focus on health,” said Brooks. “Because this is the first year, our goal is to have at least 25,000 people participate in our events across the state. There has been a lot of hard work from many people including Jackie Day who has contacted many professional athletes and has been instrumental in a few celebrities and organizations who have signed on including the NBA Mother’s organization,” said Brooks. Magic Johnson’s mother Christine Johnson and Judge Greg Mathis have already committed. Bishop Marvin Pryor and Superintendant Hurley Coleman have been very active in the Flint-Saginaw area. Mother Mary Jane Walton, the Supervisor of Southwest Michigan Fourth Jurisdiction, and Alternate Area Representative to the General Supervisor has really aided the Detroit and Lansing Walk-a-Thon processes to move swiftly. In addition Superintendant Samuel Duncan (Southwest Third) and Administrative Assistants Robert E. Smith, Sr. (Northeast) and Aaron Milton (Southwest Fourth) have been extremely helpful also. Some sponsors include Detroit radio stations WMUZ and WEXL, part of the Crawford Broadcasting Company, and Ashland Theological Seminary.

“Traditionally we only celebrate our founder Bishop C.H. Mason’s birthday in September during our Loyalty Day services,” said Bishop Blake. “It is the first time we will prepare for an international walk-a-thon that will bring well-deserved support to our international missions programs, which have grown over the years. This financial support and our COGIC Loyalty Sunday offering will help us spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to those in need of salvation and other assistance.”

Bishop Blake appointed Bishop Jerry Macklin, Second Assistant Presiding Bishop and Bishop Frank White, a member of the General Board to coordinate the global events. “This is an ambitious project and we were so blessed with the success of last year’s National Loyalty Sunday that we wanted to set a higher goal to support our programs,” said Bishop Macklin. The Loyalty Day funds will support a key educational institution, the Charles Harrison Mason Theological Seminary on the campus of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2010, COGIC will celebrate 40 years as a member of this historic institution.

Contributions geared towards education are essential to enhancing online education and the digital library with real time and traditional downloading opportunities for students. This investment translates into advanced education and career development within the United States and the 57 other countries associated with the Church Of God In Christ.

As COGIC celebrates its heritage and recognizes the unique contributions of lay members Loyalty Sunday is the day a special offering is received for COGIC international missions and education. All Church Of God In Christ churches are asked to participate and each member is asked to contribute $20. A good example of how financial support can change lives is what has transpired over the years in Brazil in South America through the support of the missions program of the Church Of God In Christ. In 1986, COGIC was virtually unknown in Brazil.

Bishop Samuel Moore organized the first COGIC congregation in Sao Paulo in 1986 and in 2009 there are 72 churches in that jurisdiction. In 2008, the Church took the unique step of consecrating and appointing 16 jurisdictional Bishops in Nigeria, where the Church Of God In Christ is witnessing unprecedented growth. These funds will go to third world countries where COGIC invests in churches, schools, orphanages, medical ministries and other programs.

This year, the goal is to raise $2 million to support these programs and the educational institutions of the Church.

The World Mission’s Walk-a-thon in Michigan will be the day before the National Loyalty Day on Sunday, September 13th. Bishop Brooks has requested that the Michigan jurisdictions lift-up and remember Church Of God In Christ founder Bishop Charles Mason and contribute on that Sunday in Mason’s honor to support the Global missions and education programs.

COGIC World Missions Walk-a-thons are scheduled for major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis, Oakland, Seattle, Houston, Baltimore, Dallas and Atlanta. A few of the countries participating include England, Brazil, Nigeria and South Africa.

For more information on how to participate in the Michigan Walk-A-Thons contact (313) 835-5329.

About the Church Of God In Christ

The Church Of God In Christ is the fourth-largest Protestant religious denomination in the United States with an estimated membership above 6.5 million members. COGIC headquarters are located at Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee.

Saginaw, Flint Area Congregations First to Launch Church of God in Christ World Missions and Education Walk-a-thon at 8 a.m.

Flint-Saginaw Churches of God in Christ are ready to launch the denominations World Missions Walk-a-thon on Saturday, September 12, 2009 at Hoyt Park in Saginaw, Michigan. The Flint/Saginaw walk-a-thon will begin on the track at Hoyt Park at 1315 S. Washington in Saginaw. It will be held from 8 a.m. - 12 Noon. All of the bishops in the area, Bishop Marvin C. Pryor, Bishop R.L. Jones, Bishop H.J. Williams, and Bishop Fred Lewis have been very supportive of this global initiative.

“All of the bishops are hosting meetings at their churches. We have had a representative group of pastors and supervisors. We have stressed the importance of securing pledges. To walk without a pledge, is an exercise in futility” said Bishop Marvin Pryor. “We have also provided our walkers with the purpose of World Missions in COGIC. The more the walkers know about what COGIC is doing in Missions and for education, the more effective they will be in getting pledges.”

Through the efforts of the Committee’s media chairman, Elder Arthur Aikens, all the radio stations, TV stations, and newspapers in the region have been contacted, and they have committed to do PSA's for this event. All of the COGIC pastors in the area who have a radio broadcast have also committed to announce the rally. There is a great emphasis on health during this walk-a-thon. “We have a number of nurses and agencies who have volunteered to take blood pressures and provide other services” says Pryor. “The Red Cross and other agencies are providing us with materials. We will also have our political and civic leaders at the walk-a-thon to issue a proclamation.”

The Council of Bishops and Flint/Saginaw Planning Committee view the walk-a-thon as an excellent opportunity to evangelize. While walking for Jesus, the walkers will pass out tracts and share the good news about Jesus Christ. The walk-a-thon will conclude at Greater Williams Temple, Bishop H.J. Williams, pastor.

The church is only a few blocks from the park. Buses will be available to shuttle walkers to the church for the "recognition" program at noon. Organizers in this area are excited and expect it to be very successful.

The event will take place and serve as the kick-off for the Official International Walk-a-thon to be held Saturday, October 10, 2009. Nearly 25,000 walkers are expected to take the streets in various parts of Michigan to jump start national efforts to increase our financial support and awareness of world missions and education.

Mid-Michigan’s Churches of God in Christ
Bishop Marvin C. Pryor, Regional Director
Superintendent Hurley Coleman, Project Assistant

LOCATION:
Hoyt Park
1315 South Washington Avenue
Saginaw, MI 48601

DATE:
Saturday, September 12, 2009
8:00Am – 12:00 Noon

On Thursday, November 6, 2008, the Board of Bishops of the Church of God in Christ voted overwhelmingly to retain Bishop John H. Sheard of Michigan as its Chairman.

Bishop Sheard, the Jurisdictional Prelate of Southwest Michigan First Jurisdiction, won re-election to a second four-year term with approximately 66% of the vote during the 101st Annual Holy Convocation of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. in Memphis, Tennessee.