Cathedral of Prayer COGIC History

It was the year 1987. U.S. President Ronald Reagan delivered his famous speech at the Berlin Wall. Aretha Franklin and George Michaels sang, “I knew you were waiting”; and the “Simpsons” cartoon and “Full House” aired their first television episodes.

It was also the year that lanky, bright-eyed dreamer from “balance due” – a section of Lexington, Mississippi - so called because its inhabitants were too poor to pay their balances – arrived in Columbus, Georgia, with a strong faith, a prayerful companion, and a vision of opening a church for the people of the Lord.

Elder Charles Rodgers, Missionary Gloria Rodgers, baby Gwendolyn Rodgers, and sister Wanda Smith, at that time began a tent revival just down the hill from a large, red brick church complex covering two country blocks. He placed out thirty empty chairs and would play a small electric piano and sing songs every day at noon. Sometimes cars would zoom by, with drivers looking puzzled at this young stranger, who would often preach entire sermons to those thirty empty seats.

Usually, only one or two stragglers would frequent the meetings- with some being quite disoriented and unstable, as there was a large mental facility nearby. Amazingly, one night, so many people showed up that the seats were filled! The young Elder Rodgers was so elated, he preached like Paul and screamed like Silas.

Once, as he was passing the beautiful red church, Elder Rodgers saw visions of peoples of all persuasions worshipping there. He began praying and claiming that church by faith, and he heard God say, “If you can believe it, I will do it. “

The problem was the church had a long history of segregation, and a “for sale” sign went up for close to three million dollars.

Elder Rodgers sat down on a bench beside the property and began to pray, “it’s mine, it’s mine”. A policeman came up and said, “young man, what are you doing sitting here by this church?” Elder Rodgers told him he was claiming it for God’s people. The Policeman replied, “If you’re claiming it, I’m gonna claim it with you.” Elder Rodgers remembered the scripture, “if two or three of you gathered together, touching anything, you can ask what ye will, and I would do it for you”.

It would take exactly one year for the miraculous vision to unfold. Elder Rodgers opened a storefront on 711 Brown Avenue, just down the street from the church. The very first member, who whisked in one Wednesday night, like an angel sent by God, was the anointed Mother Bertha Rose. Shortly thereafter, the godly prayer warrior, Mother Edessa Davis- our present head mother- would join the church.

Elder Rodgers would tell the few faithful members that, one day- not long from now- they would be buying that big red church up the street. No one could imagine such a thing could really be true, but, since the man of God spoke it, they all believed in prayer.

In 1988, indeed, Elder Rodgers and the handful of members marched in the streets, singing and praising God, from the parking lot of the storefront on 711 Brown Avenue to the new church on 2201 Buena Vista Road!

Bishop J.D. Husband, the presiding prelate of Central Georgia, and general board member of the Church of God in Christ, brought two busloads from Atlanta, Georgia and did the dedicatory service.

It was an event unlike any other, as the streets and parking lots were jammed, and black and white, red and yellow and people of all denominations from all walks of life filled the sanctuary. They came from all the surrounding areas to witness a victorious occasion.

A place with a history of staunch segregation and exclusion, that disenfranchised and barred-out so many, now hosted a historic worship service and event of spiritual refreshing and miracles for the masses of all creeds, colors, and descriptions!

The fulfillment of a vision and the birth of a godly dream had begun. Many improvements, revelations, and embellishments have occurred since then - with undoubtedly, many more to come.

God would reveal that, that devoted and prayerful companion, was not just an ordinary help-meet – but, indeed, a Pastor, a prophetess, an extraordinary national and international leader! The missionary, would ascend and rise to become the present State Mother and Jurisdictional Supervisor of South Central Georgia, and serve in the highest offices of the Women’s Department in the Church of God in Christ, both at home and abroad. Her name, the sainted Supervisor, Mother, Dr. , Pastor, Gloria J. Rodgers.

The future of the Cathedral of Prayer Church of God in Christ looms large, and shines bright. That once small, and disconnected band of believers in a storefront on Brown Avenue, has since transformed into a mighty and unified array of devoted and dedicated followers of the Most High. Their sole purpose is to please God and keep His commandments, and their stellar battle cry is, “Onward Christian Soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus, going on before!”