Bishop Charles Franklin Rodgers, ‘a man before his time’, was appointed pastor of the Church of God in Christ, May 1969, by the late Presiding Bishop J O Patterson. Bishop was a true evangelist which didn’t diminish in any way. He always had a heart for souls. He started our Bus Ministry, Prison Ministry, Hospital/Nursing Home Ministry. His heart for church growth was very evident in his ability to teach us how to evangelize. Through this initiative, our church membership grew from approximately forty (40) faithful members to 200 plus members. Under Bishop Rodgers’ leadership, the church experienced great changes. These changes included: a Hammond organ, re-organizational church structure; purchase of church bus and van, as well as telephone services and a physical address and formal church name (Covington Church of God in Christ); Media Ministry (The Hour of Power); The Beacon Light Newsletter, Cell Ministry and New Pastor’s Class where he taught new members about our local ministry, and the denomination at large; the McEwen Memorial Annex, the Moore-Burnett Fellowship Hall, an apartment complex, new classrooms, additional restrooms and offices; choir room and educational personnel rooms; audio/video space and extended choir area; purchase of land on the south side of the Haynie Street site, as well as the land directly across the street of the same site, and the land where the Great Expectations Ministries COGIC is erected. Bishop initiated the departmentalization of the education department where we had three (3) groups. These groups included the Adult Department, the Youth Department and the Children’s Department, which included the nursery. We were blessed to appear on WREG-Channel 3 during the “Above the Clouds” morning show. Where our choir ministered prior to his message. Our choir was featured in two live recording: a 45 and the album, “Soon to Come”. Bishop Charles Rodgers served as pastor for 27.5 years. He resigned from this ministry on December 31, 1996, and continued to serve full-time in the Memphis area. We are thankful for his leadership and the impact he had in our community.
