Cogic Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake makes historic first time visit to Japan
Â
COGIC Charities will donate $100,000 to Japan for disaster relief this July
Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake
Â
Memphis, TN – COGIC Charities, the benevolent arm of the nearly 6.5 million member Church of God in Christ, will give funds to aid the relief efforts in Japan.
A COGIC delegation, led by Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., will leave for Tokyo at the end of July and meet with Japanese and American officials to discuss the additional needs of the country. Bishop Blake will lead a prayer for the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami. He will also host a breakfast for our servicemen and women returning from fighting for our freedom.
During the trip, the charity will present a check for $100,000 to help purchase rice cookers and any additional items that may be needed. While this is the first time the leader of the fourth largest Protestant and the second largest Pentecostal denomination in the US has traveled to Japan, this is by no means the first time COGIC Charities has aided countries during times of crisis.
Since its inception in 2003, the charity has given:
* $150,000 donation to tsunami victims in East Africa through the United Nations Food Agriculture Organization;
* $100,000 donation to Horn of Africa Relief and Development Organization in Somalia;
* $1 million donation to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts;
* $50,000 donation for the Uganda Women’s Health Initiative; and
* $1.1 million to Haiti Earthquake Relief Effort
Bishop Blake explains, “We Care is not just a slogan for COGIC Charities, but we believe that it is our duty to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and shelter the homeless.”
The COGIC jurisdictional bishop of Japan, Bishop Carl D. Hodges, echoed that sentiment. He also states that the COGIC churches in Japan are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Presiding Bishop and his delegation. They are looking forward to the opportunity to share with him the great cultural experience that is Japan.
For more details, visit www.cogic.org
