During the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, California a young man, Elder Mack E. Jonas, tarried with Elder Charles H. Mason when he received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Years later, during the 1917 National Holy Convocation of the Church of God in Christ in Memphis, Tennessee, Bishop Mack E. Jonas (then an elder) was appointed Overseer of Ohio and Michigan. On December 16, 1917 he organized the first Church of God in Christ in Ohio. The Mt. Zion Church of God in Christ in Cleveland, Ohio started with eight members in a store front at 2830 Scovill Avenue. This was the beginning of Ohio's First Jurisdiction also known as Ohio North.
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When Bishop Riley F. Williams came to Ohio in 1931 as leader of the Church of God in Christ here, there were 17 missions and 260 members of the Church of God in Christ. Bishop Williams was an anointed and innovative leader. He originated many "firsts" in our state. He appointed the first State Sunday School Superintendent, Elder L.G. Maddox. Then "Elder" Bishop R.S. Fields was the Associate Superintendent and was later appointed the state's first Y.P. W. W. President. Then "Sister," our recently deceased and beloved Mother Sara Thompson was our first State Field Representative for Sunday School. And the list goes on...
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Bishop Williams was credited with building 18 churches in several states. He was founder of the Church of God in Christ in Florida and Alabama. (As Overseer in Georgia the church grew from 7 original missions to 33 churches and later 123.) Many services in which he preached were broadcast on radio. His evangelistic meetings packed out public auditoriums when tents and churches of the day were too small to accommodate eager audiences. One of the largest baptizing services in the history of our church was held on the Cleveland shores of Lake Erie. During this hallmark event Bishop C.H. Mason prayed from the public address system of a strategically positioned yacht. These were only a few examples of the inspired vision of Bishop Williams and the great leaders who followed. He founded historic Williams Temple in Cleveland, the construction of which was directed by a young elder who later became his successor, Bishop U.E. Miller. When Bishop Williams died in 1952, the Church of God in Christ in Ohio had grown into some 43 church buildings and scores of missions. At the time of his passing membership in Ohio North First Jurisdiction numbered in the thousands.
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The Church of God in Christ in Ohio continued to grow under the leadership of Bishop U.E. Miller. He served from 1952 - 1963. Bishop Miller as Master Builder and architect played a pivotal role in the building of Mason Temple, our national headquarters church, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was an innovator in the use of recycled materials in construction. He was a peacemaker of the most excellent order. He oversaw the reorganization of our burgeoning Ohio church. With brilliance and gentility, he wisely positioned the church for continued growth and development into the five Ohio jurisdictions we know today.
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After Bishop Miller came the often imitated, but never duplicated, Bishop Robert Sidney Fields. Bishop Fields served from 1963-1988. Bishop Fields established the State tithing treasury. His administration purchased two different State Temples. Both sites became the home to high impact urban ministries in the Ohio cities of Mansfield and Cleveland. By, 1967, Ohio North First Jurisdiction was comprised of 132 churches and missions. By the time he died the state jurisdiction had grown to more than 150 churches and missions.
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The state work previously led by Bishop Fields was reorganized into two jurisdictions. He knew the true meaning of work as a both a trusted follower to the leaders under which he served and an awe inspiring leader among those over whom he was given charge.
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Bishop William Morgan James became State Prelate and followed Bishop Fields as the leader of Ohio North First Jurisdiction. Bishop James served until his death in 2000. Bishop James started preaching as a child. He along with former Presiding Bishop Chandler D. Owens was mentored under the tutelage of Bishop Riley Williams as popular, 'boy preachers." He was a member of the General Board of our International Church. Bishop James served as international President of the Y.P. W. W. and presided over conventions attended by thousands. Before becoming State Prelate, he served in numerous administrative capacities at the state and district levels, including Chairman of the Elders Council and Superintendent. He founded and served as pastor of several churches.
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Bishop James was known for his hospitality and generous support of struggling ministries. He intervened to help churches open that otherwise would have folded or collapsed due to financial calamity. He was founder of the internationally renowned "Latter Rain Ministries." He was strict in his adherence to holiness principles and liberal in his acceptance and promotion of women in non-traditional roles in the church. He had a special anointing for cultivating gifts and bringing out the best in others. One of his protégés, Bishop Walter E. Jordan, a musical and preaching prodigy, succeeded him has Jurisdictional Prelate.
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Bishop Walter E. Jordan was consecrated to the Sacred Office of Bishop as our leader and spiritual covering in the year 2000. He has served honorably and with distinction as State Prelate. The state has grown and developed into a model jurisdiction. The jurisdiction provides death benefits for all pastors. The state has made health insurance coverage available to all churches and their employees in the jurisdiction. The Bishop exercised visionary gifts by developing an infrastructure from which to supply expertise and technical support to local churches in all areas. State meetings are conducted in a timely and orderly manner with the fervor of old time "camp meetings." Youth programs are abundant and second to none. Educational and developmental opportunities are available on a regular basis and conveniently accessible at locations throughout the jurisdiction. The state is on solid financial footing and in compliance with governing laws as result of the Bishop Jordan's godly wisdom, keen insight, skillful leadership, and demonstrated ability to build on the work of his predecessors. The First Jurisdiction of Ohio on its present course is well positioned for rapture at the coming of Christ.
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The story of Ohio North First Jurisdiction is not just a his-story, it is her-story, too. Women in the state have played important roles. Mother Lillian Brooks Coffey was the jurisdiction's first supervisor of women and later served as the founder of the International Women's Convention as well as Supervisor of the Women's Department of our international church after Mother Lizzie Robinson. After Mother Coffey, came Mother Lola Corbett Young. Mother Mary Ellen Meredith served briefly before becoming part of Ohio Central Jurisdiction. Until her death in 2004, Mother Sara Alice Thompson was State Supervisor under Bishops James and Jordan. Mother Thelma Giles Butts is the recently appointed Supervisor-Designate of our jurisdiction's State Women's Department.
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Our First Ladies have been and still are the quintessence of femininity, sweetness, and sanctification. Mother Helen Fields is a regal and precious jewel in the jurisdiction's crown. She yet presses her way to Sunday School and as many meetings and events her schedule will permit at nearly the century mark in age. The stately and genteel Mother Annette Jones James serves on the frontlines of urban ministries in both Toledo and Cincinnati. The lovely, effervescent, and anointed Sister Shirley Jordan is a blessing wherever she goes, and can loose the blessings of heaven with prayer and oratory. Fortified with their most holy faith all these paragons of virtue have great attributes in common. An orientation of service, energy, and focused prayer are not the least of the traits they have shown.
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Some of the largest and most fruitful churches in the jurisdiction were founded or co-founded by women. These pioneering women were willing to serve the cause of Christ.
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Many of our churches as well as the jurisdiction would not be where we are today without the contributions and sacrifices of holy women. All of us are workers together with Him. The half has not been told. In Ohio North First Jurisdiction, our most significant history has not yet taken place because the best is yet to come.
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