I see us (COGIC) in the future, and we look much better than we do right now

[Minister Lonnie D. Hampton]

Hello COGIC family,
I'm a proud/excited forth generational and my children are fifth generational members of The Church of God in Christ. In our one hundred plus years of existance, we have come a long ways. We still have a ways to go. However, I'm excited about the leadership of this Grand ole Church and where it's going. In the words of our Presiding Bishop, Bishop Charles Edward Blake Sr; "I see us in the future, and we look much better than we look right now."
I would like to know what are some of the things you would like to see in this church? For example. I work with the C. H. Mason Historical Society, and I would love to see the history of our church being implemented in our New members classes, bible band, Y.P.W.W etc. Some of our long time members (5-10 years) don't know the history of our church. Some of our 1-3 year old members don't even know who Bishop Mason was. When you ask a member of the COGIC who Bishop Mason was, and they ask you, is he on the general board? That's bad. Not there fault, they just haven't been taught. Speaking of Y.P.W.W; when I was growing up, as young people we had so many things that were offered during our Y.P.W.W. We couldn't wait til the next Sunday. We were always excited about going. Now, you see mostly middle aged and older saints at Y.P.W.W for those churches who still have it.
What are your thoughts and what would you like to see?

[Minister Lonnie D. Hampton]

Hello Prophetess B,
Thank you so much for your response. I must agree with you. If fact, just this past Sunday, my family and i visited one of the churches in our jurisdiction. After service, the pastor of that church and I were talking and he was saying some of the same things you're saying about having programs for the "Today's Youth." A lot of the programs like the yester-year Bible band and Y.P.W.W are not reaching the today's youth. I believe we can implement programs to attract the youth without inviting things of the world in. I'm not one that is head over hills for gospel hip hop/rap, however, there are other things and/or programs that can be implemented for our youth. We are rapidly loosing them to the world and If we as the church (the COGIC) don't get out of that long dress down to the ankles, no pants, can't do this can't do that mentality, we will never reach our young people. As I said before, I'm not suggesting that we start inviting worldly things into our church because I'm 100% against the saints of God looking like and doing things like the world.
I do believe with Bishop Blake and the leadership that God has blessed us with, we will see some changes and we do look much better in the future than we look right now.

[Minister Lonnie D. Hampton]

My Sister,
you are right when you say it's in the presentation. When you listen the gospel rap, the lyric are truly gospel lyric. However, it's the actual music and presentation that I personally have a problem with. When we bring those things into the church, I feel as though were compromising the gospel. There must be a way to use the gospel lyrics with holiness music and without all the jumping aroung hollering wave your hands in the air. When that happens, I will personallt promote it. My brother-in-laws and I spent several hours one evening going back and forth on this subject. My family and I went to Six Flags in St. Louis last year to a Fred Hammond concert. The group that opened for him was a gospel hip hop group. They started rapping, break dancing, the whole nine yards. I looked around and some of the saints from our sister jurisdiction (who didn't know we were there sitting several seats behind them) were dancing like they were at the club. One of them just got real loose. My wife and I couldn't do anything but shake our heads. So, in reality what I'm saying is, it's not the lyrics. It's the music and the presentation that makes it not good for the church.

God Bless

[Minister Lonnie D. Hampton]

My sister in Christ,
it seems as though I may have pushed the wrong button, which is not what my intentions were. Please forgive me for offending you. It is not my will to offend anyone. However, maybe I should've been a little more clear on what I was saying. That is, there are certain things that the world do, that have become a part of worship in some of our churches. We (the church) don't have to do as the world does. If we take the things of the world and allow them to be brought into the church, then we start to look like the world. And when we start looking like the world, we may attract them, but the question is, are we really winning their souls to Christ?
I am in no way trying to be legalistic or judgemental of the way people worship God. However, when I was in the world, and going to the clubs every weekend, I don't ever remember seeing anyone shouting or dancing the way church folk dance. All I'm saying is, the world has it's way of doing things and the church has it's way of praising God. Let's be careful not to mix the two.
Remember I agreed with you on the lyric being gospel, however, you agreed with me that, and I quote: Rap if you will and the act of doing such is not worldly in and of itself; however the presentation of the poetry is what makes it worldly. Unquote
Again, I ask you to forgive me for offending you, but you're probably right about us agreeing to disagree. Thank you for the well wish in our C.H. Mason Historical Society and I do wish you and your children/group the same.
M

[Evangelist Patrica A. Allbritton]

We must teach our children and the new members in COGIC about our church. If I belong to an organization, I am going to learn as much as I can so that I can defend it, and share it, and teach its teachings.

We must invest and take some members to a regional or national conference or some other COGIC activities outside of their local church so they can see the unity of all the auxillaries working together in our great church.

When I came into COGIC, back in 1986, I just wanted to learn all that I could learn and I am still learning. But I had a COGIC girlfriend and her family that was so involved in their church and then I caught the fever and the love of the COGIC family and I do the same today.

We must teach the legacy, we must read the history....

These are just a few comments for now.

Evangelist Patrica A. Lewis
National Security Agent/Adjutant

[Minister Lonnie D. Hampton]

Hello Evangelist Lewis,
You are so right. I want to cry sometimes when I see/meet people that has been apart of this Grand Ole Church, but know very little history if any at all.
That's why we're really pushing the C. H. Mason Historical Society. We have the support of our Presiding Bishop, Bishop Charles E. Blake, Ist & 2nd Asst; Presiding Bishops, P. A. Brooks and J. W. Macklin just to name a few. With their help and support, we're taking this auxiliary to the next level.
I need people like you who see the need for this churches' history to be spreaded and taught.
If you or anyone else reading this message are interested in becoming apart of The C.H. Mason historical Society, please email me at [e-mail]

May God bless you, me and the Church of God in Christ

Minister Lonnie D. Hampton II