“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present your faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever, Amen.” Jude 24:25
In an effort to take back American cities from the many diversions against our Faith and God’s promises to his people, Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. has formed the Urban Initiatives under the leadership of Pastor Edwin C. Bass to strategically address and rectify problems that makeup the urban dilemma.
“How much more could we do if we harnessed our collective power and focused it on a common goal: improving quality of life in the communities we serve?” asked Presiding Bishop Blake.
With education systems in many cities under fire for lack of academic achievement and underfinanced by their local governments, unemployment rates increasing into double digits, financial disenfranchisement, violent criminals domestically terrorizing families from all socioeconomic backgrounds, the desperate state of the black man, the breakdown of the family unit and more ministries needed to help aid the people as they make the journey of life, the Urban Initiative has been established to help answer Bishop Blake’s question and to strengthen these communities as a whole through addressing these issues through five core areas.
The five core areas that will be addressed:
• Education (Access, Excellence and Equality)
• Economic Development (Job Training and Creation)
• Crime (Reduction, Prevention and Rehabilitation)
• Family (Developing healthy men, women and children)
• Financial Literacy (Economic Empowerment)
Of critical importance, Urban Initiatives will provide our churches and ministries with the necessary encouragement, inspiration, rationale, information, consultation and resources to achieve real and measurable change.
“This is an opportunity to bring a lifetime of learning and experience to bear on behalf of the Church I love and under the direction of an awesome, visionary leader, Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr.,” said Pastor Bass.
An extensive six-step implementation strategy has been put in place to ensure the Urban Initiative’s success including developing and making available to local churches a comprehensive digital database of model programs, tools, training videos and other educational resources. Infrastructure and capacity needs have already identified and the Church has already outlined their expected results.
At this time, Bishop Blake’s appointment as a member of the Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships bring our urban agenda to the attention of President Obama, giving us greater credibility, uncommon access and a voice in the nation’s seat of power. We are also working in many other ways through many different avenues to finalize the organization structure for the program.
Visit our page soon for a profile story on Pastor Edwin Bass. And as we grow, we will be reporting to you on a regular basis to not only keep you informed on the progress of Urban Initiatives but also to engage you in participation to take back our urban community.
Bishop Blake is so intellegent
“Being driven by this passion in Christ, subduing all things for his sake”
God Bless Bishop Blake for the great vision. Thanking God for you and every member in the Church of God in Christ. We can do all things through Christ who strengthen us!
Elder Alvin Perryman
Harvest temple COGIC
Bishop C. L. Moody Sr. District
First Jurisdiction of Illinois
I am a member of Faith Tabernacle in Lancaster, PA. I would like to receive more information on the Urban Initiative. Thank you.
What do you do, when you doing all you can. It’s the holiday season and I am doing everything to keep my spirits up. I have two children and I am 3 weeks from a foreclosure for back property tax.I ‘ve tried over and over trying to get theses taxes under control, but the attorneys put the monthly payments so unaffordable that I’m unable to keep up the payments. The house is paid for just these back taxes that I inherited is got me in a tight place between a boulder and a brick wall. I knew I was behind on payments but I did not know the house is up for courthouse sale Jan. 5, 2010 ( I did not receive a letter, I just so happen was going to pay a little something on them and found out as of Jan. 5, 2010 the house is going to be sold for back taxes of about $13,000 dollars) I’ve spoken with the attorney office that has the taxes and the only thing they say would save my house if I pay 45% of the back taxes. If anybody coulld please bless me, it would be gladly appreciated. This is not a gimmick for money, thats why I’m asking that it be paid directly to the tax assessor.
Thank You
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I’M GRATEFUL FOR THE “URBAN INITIATIVES” PROJECT THAT OUR PRESIDING BISHOP HAS INTRODUCED TO THE CHURCH. I SEE THE CHURCH AS A “MULTI-PURPOSE INSTITUTION”, NOT JUST DEALING WITH THE SALVATION OF SOULS, BUT DEALING WITH THE “TOTAL PERSON”. GOD BLESS OUR PRESIDING BISHOP & ELDER BASS.
God bless Bishop Blake and Elder Bass in this endeavor!
When will U.I. be up and running?I am excited.
Thank you Bishop Blake for your vision, to see the future success of the Urban Initiative efforts. I share your vision and know how important it is to have the local churches get involved in the neighbor hoods in which we live and preach the word of God; now to add the real works of God. I will stay tuned for more information to get a hands-on involvement in bringing this vision into view.
God Bless You as our Leader!
Because of the glaring need for urban revitalization throughout our communities, it is with high hopes brought about by the leadership of Bishop Blake that we will see a paradigm shift that, I believe, will bring the church back into focus of it’s true mission and help renew and strengthen the confidence of those who’ve lost faith and trust in the church and it’s purpose. To our presiding Bishop and Elder Bass, write the vision and make it plain.
I have to agree with the above comments. The Church need these new initiatives to reach the ones who are not currently looking for or do not know about salvation but need a hand-up on life. Until Christendom reach out to the loss through these types of initiatives, we will not be able to get them into the Church.
Let’s pray for God’s Purpose in our Presiding Bishop’s vision.
Blessings,
I thank God for our Presiding Bishop Charles Black. The Urban Intiatives project is comformation from God. God has given me the some vision of the Presiding Bishop, after hearing Bishop Black’s Inerviews I am sure that I on the right tract with the project the Lord has giving me for my local church. Bishop know that I am praying for and with you.
May God richly bless you is my prayer.
Im a wife and mother in a tight situation I know people think about the cities youth and people in the cities “But” there are people in the small towns that people look over that are barely making it. I am a christian and do serve the Lord as well and completely believe and live by the word of God and trust his judgment for everything that happens in my life. I always see other’s helping the city and not us i think they don’t realize the whole world is struggling and we get overlooked. This is not for myself but for everyone. If the president could help us here we would appreciate it. medically & with jobs (finacial). a family of 5 can’t make over 500.00 dollars a month to recieve assistance. and no one can live off that!
We need help here. Staunton Va. things are very limited!
ON TIME, IN PLACE, AND READY FOR ACTION. MAY GOD BLESS THE ENDEAVORS OF OUR APPOINTED AND ANNOINTED LEADER.
God bless Bishop Blake and the COGIC! I thank God for such an awesome visionary! As a young pastor in the COGIC, this is such an inspiration to me. The church that I am blessed to lead, is one of outreach in our community. I do believe that our Lord would have us to reach out. I pray this grows tremendously!
God Bless us all, Thank God for the Urban Initative and God Speed to The Church Of God In Christ. Will keep it in Prayer
Sister Alicia Ford- Lily of the Valley, Bakersfield CA
God Bless us all, Thank God for the Urban Initative and God Speed to The Church Of God In Christ.
let us all keep it in Prayer
Sister Alicia Ford- Lily of the Valley, Bakersfield CA
Thankful to see this initiative. Have already started 501 (c) (3) with same focus and am currently working with CCDA and F.U.M.I on similar initiatives.
Would love to confer with Pastor Bass on potential for collaborations.
I am so excited!!!!! I can’t wait to see all the souls saved and lives impacted by this endeavor.
God Bless You Bishop Blake as you continue to reveal the many facets of God’s love for his peoeple. I’m looking forward to activating your vision for Urban Initiatives in District ‘1′ of Massachusetts. Also, would like to confer with Pastor Bass in near future.
I give honor to God our loving Father, Jesus Christ our Savior, to our Presiding Bishop – Bishop Blake, to Bishop Blade of the 3rd Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Indiana, to my Pastor – Supt. Morris C. Marshall, Sr., and to my Asst. Pastor – Eld. Emmanuel John.
I glad to see that the COGIC has part in the Haities road to recovery.
In the near future, I would like to know if there is organization or department here in the COGIC that helps it’s members with financial grants for small businesses.