Bishop Designee Oliver Haney from Georgia gave the Tuesday evening address during Holy Convocation services at Cook Convention Center. His message was entitled “The power of a vital Faith.”	Church of God in Christ “saints” share a moment of praise during Tuesday night’s service. (Photos by Lee Taylor)

by Danny Tennial
Special to the Tri-State Defender

For 102 years, the Church of God in Christ has welcomed its “saints” to the church’s annual Holy Convocation and that rite of passage is underway in Memphis this week.

The 102nd Holy Convocation Schedule

Church of God in Christ Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake takes in information while attending Holy Convocation services at the Cook Convention Center Tuesday Night. Bishop Blake will deliver his annual address on Sunday. The convocation, which has been held in Memphis for years, moves to St. Louis next year.

COGIC is celebrating 102 years of Christian service and evangelism during its Holy Convocation, which got underway earlier this week. This COGIC “saint” was moved to tears during services at the Cook Convention Center Tuesday night.

Elder Shane Perry’s message: “You can dream again.”

The 102nd Holy Convocation officially kicked off on Monday (Nov. 2) and concludes on Nov. 11.

Tuesday night’s service at the Cook Convention Center opened with psalms, hymns and songs by the C.H. Mason Memorial Choir. The choir stirred the congregation to sing, praise, and shout in the familiar COGIC Pentecostal fashion. The inspirational singing included songs such as “Jesus Blessed Savior,” “Let the glory of the Lord rise among us,” and “There is no God like Jehovah.”

Elder Shane Perry of Alabama uplifted the audience with a spellbinding inspirational five-minute message entitled “You can dream again.” Perry used Psalm 126 verse one as his scriptural passage. Psalms 126 is a celebration of God restoring fortunes that have been lost.

Perry told the crowd of several hundred that in spite of the economic hardships of today God is able to give economic relief and prosperity. His motivational and inspirational oration bought the audience to its feet cheering and praising God.

Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake gave brief remarks. He thanked his fellow bishops for their support and administrative skills in aiding the organization to do God’s service. He also thanked the COGIC members who traveled from various parts of world for the 102nd Holy Convocation.

Bishop Blake used the story of Jesus feeding thousands with only two pieces of fish and five loaves of bread to remind his followers that God is yet performing miracles. He spoke about God’s resources being able to meet any need that one may have.

“God will not send you away hungry and without resources,” he said.

Bishop Designee Oliver Haney from Georgia gave the evening address. His message was entitled “The power of a vital Faith.”

Haney used the scripture from St. Mark, chapter 10, verse 46. The scripture is the story about the blind man who asked Jesus to give him sight. Haney told the crowd to ask God to give you exactly what you want to receive.

“The dreams and hopes of people around us shapes our lives,” he said.

The evening concluded with an altar call as well as a prayer by Superintendent Ivanhoe Terry from Louisiana.