MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact
Eddie L. Brown
(601) 918-4038
ebrown@brown-pr.com

COCHUSA to hold 120TH National Convention in Jackson, MS

(Jackson, MS) – The Church of Christ (Holiness) USA will meet in the Jackson, MS for its 120th National
Convention, July 26 – Aug. 1.

Over1,500 delegates from across the U.S. are expected to attend, leaving an estimated economic impact
of at least $1.6 million on the city of Jackson.

Bishop Lindsay Jones, President of the National Convention, says this year’s meeting in the Jackson-area is
special to the denomination.

“Members and guests attending the 2017 Convention are given the opportunity to meet members and
families from all over the country, share their experiences and learn new experiences. Attendees will hear a
fulfilling word from God that will strengthen them to go out and do His work as He commands us to tell the
world of His goodness, the Gospel.”

The denomination’s national theme for 2017 is “Transforming A Generation with the Hope of the Gospel.”

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Free and open to the public, daily convention highlights include (by day):

Wednesday, July 26
6:00 a.m. 24 Hour Prayer Session begins

Thursday, July 27
7:00 a.m. Prayer & Praise Service
Coordinator in Charge
Speaker: Elder Jimmie Ervin (SW), Elder Leroy Divinity (SW) Alt
Musician team: Bro. Brian Bell (SC), Bro. Richard Lee (N), Sis. Yolanda Mondy (SW) and Sis. Monique May
(W)

9:00 a.m. National Parent Body Executive Board Meeting

1:00 p.m. Executive Meetings for Boards, Auxiliaries & Ministries

5:00 p.m. National Convention Choir Rehearsal

Friday, July 28
7:00 a.m. Prayer & Praise Service
Coordinator in Charge
Speaker: Elder Don Emmanuel Smith (W) Elder Darryl Robinson (W) Alt
Musician team: Bro. Brian Bell (SC), Bro. Richard Lee (N), Sis. Yolanda Mondy (SW) and Sis. Monique May (W)

Saturday, July 29
7:00 a.m. Healing Service
Coordinators: Bishop Dale Cudjoe, Bishop Maurice Nicholson and Elder Willie Jenkins Jr.
Musician team: Bro. Brian Bell (SC), Bro. Richard Lee (N), Sis. Yolanda Mondy (SW) and Sis. Monique May (W)

10:00 p.m. National Convention choir rehearsal

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Sunday, July 30
7:00 a.m. Prayer & Praise Service
Coordinator in Charge
Speaker: Elder Bertram Goodloe (SC), Dr. Timothy Neyland (SC) Alt.
Musician team: Bro. Brian Bell (SC), Bro. Richard Lee (N), Sis. Yolanda Mondy (SW) and Sis. Monique May
(W)

9:00 a.m. National Convention Choir rehearsal

Monday, July 31
6:00 a.m. COCHUSA Fitness - Fit for Christ
7:00 a.m. Prayer & Praise Service
Coordinator in Charge
Speaker: Minister Geoffrey Golden (N) Elder Perry Waddell (N) Alt
Musician team: Bro. Brian Bell (SC), Bro. Richard Lee (N), Sis. Yolanda Mondy (SW) and Sis. Monique May
(W)

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

NATIONAL UNITED CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S MINISTRIES SESSION
NATIONAL BROTHERHOOD MINISTRIES SESSION

2:00 p.m. Historical COCHUSA Tour – Fees to be announced

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

#YouthandYoungAdult Activities - Truth Trotters I & II
II. “We Will Go” service opportunity, Coordinator Sister Lillian Brown (nearby)

7:00 p.m. Evening Worship Service (Under the auspices of the Board of Education and Trustees)
Communion Service

Tuesday August 1, 2017

7:00 a.m. Prayer & Praise Service

Coordinator in Charge
Speaker: Elder George Terrell (SE)
Musician team: Bro. Brian Bell (SC), Bro. Richard Lee (N), Sis. Yolanda Mondy (SW) and Sis. Monique May
(W)

9:00a.m.-2:00 p.m. Final Business Session: Reports of all Boards, Auxiliaries & Ministries

2:00p.m.-2:30p.m. Closing challenge TBD

2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m. National Executive Board Meeting

All worship services and events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit
www.cochusa.org.

For Media, contact Eddie L. Brown, Jr. at (601) 918-4038 or e-mail ebrown@brown-pr.com

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About the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.

Founded by Charles Price Jones in 1897, the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. commonly referred to as
COCHUSA share a common early history with the Church of God in Christ (COGIC). A predominantly
African-American denomination, COCHUSA is under the leadership of Bishop Vernon E. Kennebrew,
Presiding Prelate; and Bishop Emery Lindsay, Senior Bishop.

The Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. is divided into eight dioceses – Eastern, North Central, Northern, Pacific
North West, South Central, South Eastern, South Western, and Western. In 2011 the Church of Christ
(Holiness) had 15,000 members in 167 congregations in the United States, the Dominican Republic and
Africa.

C.P. Jones, a Missionary Baptist preacher in Alabama and later Mississippi, accepted the doctrine of Holiness
around 1896 and became associated with W. S. Pleasant, J. A. Jeter, Charles Harrison Mason, and other
Holiness leaders.

In 1897, C.P. Jones conducted a Holiness convention from June 6-15 at the church he pastored, Mt. Helm
Baptist Church, in Jackson, Mississippi. In 1898, the name Mt. Helm Baptist Church was changed to Church
of Christ.

This new group of Holiness leaders was expelled from the Jackson Baptist Association. From that expulsion,
they adopted the name Christ Association of Mississippi of Baptized Believers in Christ in 1900, and the
national Holiness movement accepted the name by C. H. Mason—Church of God in Christ—in 1906.

In that same year, an annual convocation selected J. A. Jeter, C. H. Mason, and D. J. Young to investigate
the Azusa Street Revival conducted by William J. Seymour. C.H. Mason and D. J. Young accepted William
Seymour’s teaching concerning the baptism of the Holy Spirit and returned with such doctrinal message and
great enthusiasm. After an extended discussion on the issue of what exactly constituted a baptism of the
Holy Spirit, at the 1907 convention, a right hand of fellowship or separation occurred between C. H. Mason,
D. J. Young and others who lead the Holiness and Pentecostal groups.
C. P. Jones and supporters retained a Holiness emphasis as other early African-American leaders such as C.
H. Mason embraced Pentecostalism.

The name Church of God in Christ was widely held by both groups until 1915, when Bishop C. H. Mason had
the name COGIC, incorporated. Churches identifying with the Holiness division began to use the name
Church of Christ Holiness, and in October 1920 was chartered in the state of Mississippi as the Church of Christ
(Holiness) U.S.A.

The Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. is Trinitarian with a Holiness emphasis. Water baptism of believers by
immersion and the Lord’s Supper or Communion as a memorial are held to be ordinances of the church.
Foot washing is also practiced, but it is not regarded as an ordinance. The church does not reject speaking
in tongues (glossolalia). The church emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is an indispensable gift to every believer,
but places no emphasis on initial evidence such as speaking in tongues to be the results of such gift.

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About Jackson, MS
Historic Jackson, Mississippi is the premier go-to destination when planning a meeting or convention in
Jackson. Jackson, the capital city and largest urban center of the U.S. state of Mississippi, provides visitors a
sophisticated escape. Participants will enjoy Jackson's superior meeting facilities, seminar spaces, dining,
and opportunities for other exciting offerings.

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