COGIC District Meeting 2024 – Day 1 Summary

Services

Here’s a breakdown of the event:

Opening:

  • The service began with a short welcome and call to praise by an unidentified speaker. (Lines 1-7)
  • The speaker announced the upcoming order of the service, including prayers by Pastors Raffert and Blue, followed by the Praise and Worship League team and the choir. There was a brief moment where it seemed like the choir might sing first. (Lines 8-13)

Music & Praise:

  • A long section of musical praise and worship led by an energetic leader who encourages the congregation to sing along and express their faith. (Lines 14-303)
  • This section includes a repeated phrase, “Your miracle is on the way,” and culminates in a call to prayer. (Lines 15-41)
  • The music includes repetitions of phrases like “Yes Lord,” “Have your way,” “Alpha and Omega,” “You’re the beginning and the end,” “You are worthy,” and “Mighty are the works of your hands.”

Prayer:

  • Pastor Raffert leads a prayer thanking God for his blessings and asking for guidance and strength. (Lines 53-113)

Scripture Reading:

  • An unidentified speaker reads a passage from John 15:1-13 about the importance of abiding in Christ, emphasizing the importance of bearing fruit. (Lines 122-133)

More Music & Praise:

  • Another musical section, continuing the themes of God’s worthiness and his unchanging nature. (Lines 134-271)

Superintendent Gibson’s Greeting:

  • Superintendent Gibson addresses the congregation, expressing his gratitude for their presence and recognizing the pastors from various churches in the district. (Lines 349-390)

District Missionary Cooper’s Greeting:

  • District Missionary Cooper briefly greets the congregation, emphasizing the importance of God’s presence in a chaotic world. (Lines 391-406)

Superintendent Parker’s Address:

  • Superintendent Parker expresses his joy at the attendance of almost all pastors in the district. (Lines 411-427)
  • He gives a brief explanation of the purpose and structure of district meetings, highlighting the role of First Church of God in Christ as the headquarters church. (Lines 428-493)
  • He emphasizes the importance of financial support for pastors. (Lines 494-507)

Introduction of Pastor Tony Howard:

  • Superintendent Parker introduces Pastor Tony Howard, the chairman and his assistant, praising his dedication and personality. He also acknowledges the members of Spirit Field Church. (Lines 508-577)

Pastor Tony Howard’s Sermon:

  • Pastor Howard delivers a sermon titled “We’ve Got Work to Do” based on John 9:4. (Lines 578-1053)
  • Key points of the sermon:
    • Urgency of God’s work: Emphasizes the need to work diligently while there’s still time, using the analogy of working while it’s day and resting at night. (Lines 626-688)
    • Redeeming opportunities: Encourages using every opportunity to serve God and not wasting time. (Lines 694-728)
    • Spiritual harvesting: Highlights the need to reach out to people in need of salvation and share the gospel. (Lines 788-816)
    • Serving others as serving Christ: Emphasizes that helping others is equivalent to helping Jesus and will determine rewards in heaven. (Lines 831-860)
    • Staying focused despite opposition: Uses the example of Nehemiah facing opposition while rebuilding the wall to encourage perseverance in God’s work despite distractions and criticisms. (Lines 871-992)

Closing:

  • Pastor Howard concludes his sermon with a call to action, urging the congregation to get involved in God’s work. (Lines 1054-1086)
  • Superintendent Parker offers a closing prayer and thanks Pastor Howard for his message. (Lines 1087-1102)
  • Superintendent Parker provides some logistical information about the upcoming services and reminds the congregation of the special offerings for the district missionary and superintendent. (Lines 1165-1188)
  • Superintendent Parker expresses his gratitude for the presence of pastors and elders. (Lines 1193-1205)
  • Chairman Howard delivers the benediction, ending the service with a prayer and a final reminder of the urgency of God’s work. (Lines 1206-1243)

The message encourages dedication, perseverance, and a focus on serving others.

Here is the full transcript:
TRANSCRIPT LINK