FAITH COMMUNITY | Faith Cogic

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Pastor Charles C. Cross, Jr. is a native of Nashville, Tennessee. He was born the only son to Charles C. Cross, Sr. and Virginia Hamilton Cross. His family believed in going to church and remembering GOD in all that they did. His formative years were spent at the Temple Church under the leadership of Bishop Michael Lee Graves.

After high school, Pastor Cross left Nashville to pursue and receive a degree at Universal Technical Institute in Houston, TX. He would further his education at Bethel College and Trevecca Nazarene University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in management and organizational development and a master’s degree in biblical studies. Once he’d completed his degree in Houston, he returned to Nashville and within a year and a half of his return, Pastor Cross met a quiet girl in her freshman year at Tennessee State University. He had no idea that through this meeting, GOD was setting in motion what was to come in ministry.

The young lady that Pastor Cross met was the daughter of a Church Of God In Christ pastor and she knew only holy living. As they began to get to know each other better, Pastor Cross would attend church services with her and ultimately developed a hunger and thirst for more of GOD. He and the young lady married in the months following her graduation and the couple would eventually join Tabernacle of Faith Deliverance Church Of God In Christ under the leadership of Bishop Felton M. Smith, Jr.

Pastor Cross would serve tirelessly in this ministry for several years, and after being appointed deacon, he accepted his call into the ministry. Pastor Cross was licensed as a minister in 2002, an ordained an elder in 2003. He would even serve as district superintendent before GOD impressed upon his heart to unite with the Cathedral of Praise Church Of God In

Christ under the leadership of Bishop Jerry L. Maynard, Sr.

Prior to Pastor Cross and his family joining Cathedral of Praise, GOD had already revealed the pastoral anointing that was on his life. It was during the subsequent years serving at Cathedral of Praise that GOD further cultivated this calling and at the appointed time, Pastor Cross left with the full blessing of his pastor, to begin the work that GOD had charged to his hands. Thus, Faith Community Church Of God In Christ was launched July 12, 2015 and its first service was held in the gymnasium of the Old Hickory Community Center in Old Hickory, Tennessee.

Pastor Cross is a 21st Century leader with a true love for GOD and GOD’s people. He loves preaching and teaching the Word of GOD and he is committed to meeting the needs of man to draw them closer to the heart of GOD. Pastor Cross is happily married to his wife of 24 years, Alicia Hayslett Cross. Together they have four children: Keinna, Charles III, LaMon and Tylon.

We believe the Bible to be the inspired and only infallible written Word of God.

We believe that there is only One God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and, God the Holy Spirit.

We believe in the blessed Hope, which is the rapture of the Church of God, which is in Christ, at His return.

We believe that the only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious Blood of Jesus Christ.

We believe that regeneration by the Holy Ghost is absolutely essential for personal salvation.

We believe that the redemptive work of Christ on the Cross provides healing for the human body in answer to believing prayer.

We believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 2:4, is given to believers who ask for it.

We believe in the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy and separated life in the present world.

Alicia Hayslett Cross is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. She is the sixth of eight children born to Bishop L.C. Hayslett and Mother Frankie Lemons Hayslett. Her father was pastor at Spiller Hill Church Of God In Christ where she received her foundation in living a holy and separated life.

After high school, Alicia attended Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN where she would receive a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Communication. She would go on to receive a master’s degree in Organizational Management from Trevecca Nazarene University. In the second semester of her freshman year at TSU, she met a young native Nashvillian who’d recently returned from college in Houston, TX. As their interest in each other grew, she thought this was perfect. He attended church enough (not ALL the time) and was not overly religious. She assumed he would never be called into the ministry, and this was EXACTLY what she wanted…NOT to be involved with a preacher.

As their relationship continued, Alicia couldn’t hide who she was; a sanctified girl. Church was a big part of her life and eventually, the young man began to visit church with her; intrigued by her convictions and lifestyle. Ultimately, his thirst and hunger for more of GOD grew and they were married a few months after her college graduation. They united with Tabernacle of Faith Deliverance Church Of God In Christ under the leadership of Bishop Felton M. Smith, Jr. Alicia was extremely involved in the ministry and held many positions such as choir member, Sunday school secretary, and praise and worship leader to name a few. But the most unexpected thing was GOD’s hand upon her husband’s life and although she had a plan, she submitted to GOD’s purpose. She witnessed his quick transition from brother, to deacon, to minister to elder and even district superintendent prior to GOD leading them to serve at Cathedral of Praise Church Of God In Christ under the leadership of Bishop Jerry L. Maynard, Sr. A pastoral calling was heavy on the life of her husband, and after several years of service at Cathedral of Praise, the time had come for him to do the work that GOD had given him with her at his side.

On July 12, 2015, at the Old Hickory Community Center in Old Hickory, TN; Faith Community Church Of God In Christ held its first service and continues to do the work of Him who has sent us while it is still day. For the night is coming and no man will be able to work. Alicia serves faithfully in ministry alongside her husband, Pastor Charles Cross, Jr. She is an anointed psalmist, writer and teacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She and Pastor Cross have been happily married for 22 years and together they have four children: Keinna, Charles III, LaMon, and Tylon.

THE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST (COGIC)

Is a Pentecostal-Holiness Christian denomination founded in 1897 by Bishop Charles Harrison Mason. It is considered to be a member of the great Protestant body of churches, although its origins are from within the Baptist church.

COGIC is a Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in which the Word of God is preached, ordinances are administered, and the doctrine of sanctification, or holiness, is emphasized as being essential to the salvation of mankind.

Named for 1 Thessalonians 2:14, COGIC emphasizes the importance of the three supernatural extraordinary manifestations which occurred on the Day of Pentecost (the 50th day after the Passover, or Easter) as being necessary to experience all believers in Christ Jesus; the sound from heaven of a mighty wind, the appearance of tongues of fire upon believers, and the power to speak in tongues, in accordance with the scriptures in Acts 2:1-4.

HISTORY

In 1895, Elder Charles Harrison Mason met Elder C.P. Jones of Jackson, MI; Elder J.E. Jeter of Little Rock, AR; and Elder W.S. Pleasant of Hazelhurst, MI, all of whom became Bishop Mason’s close companions in ministry.

The Baptist preachers conducted a revival in 1896 in Jackson, MI, where large numbers of people were converted, sanctified, and healed by the power of faith. However, the teachings of Elder Mason on the doctrine of sanctification caused his expulsion from the Baptist denomination under the Mississippi State Convention.

In 1897, when he and his group of pioneering, persistent preachers returned to Jackson, Elder Mason was forced to deliver his first message from the steps of the local courthouse. A Mr. John Lee provided the living room of his home the next night, and because of the overwhelming number of attendees, a Mr. Watson subsequently offered the use of an abandoned warehouse. Land was soon bought, upon which Elder Mason established a small church with Elder Mason, Elder Jones, Elder Pleasant, and 60 charter members.

In March of 1907, Elder Mason, Elder Young and Elder Jeter journeyed to Los Angeles, CA, to attend the Azusa Street Revival, led by Minister William J. Seymour. This became a turning point for Elder Mason when he experienced an outpouring of the Holy Spirit:

“The Spirit came upon the saints and upon me…Then I gave up for the Lord to have His way within me. So there came a wave of Glory into me and all of my being was filled with the Glory of the Lord. So when He had gotten me straight on my feet, there came a light which enveloped my entire being above the brightness of the sun. When I opened my mouth to say Glory, a flame touched my tongue which ran down me. My language changed and no word could I speak in my own tongue. Oh! I was filled with the Glory of the Lord. My soul was then satisfied.” – Bishop Charles Harrison Mason

Upon his return to Memphis, Elder Mason began to proclaim of his new Pentecostal experience. However, Elder Mason’s contemporaries, Elder Jeter, Elder Jones and others, regarded his new Holy Spirit experience as a delusion. The General Assembly of the church withdrew the “right hand of fellowship” from Elder C. H. Mason, who then called a conference in Memphis, TN of all ministers who believed in receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost according to the scriptures in Acts 2:1-4. Those who responded to Elder Mason’s urgent call were: E. R. Driver, J. Bowe, R.R. Booker, R. E. Hart, W. Welsh, A. A. Blackwell, E. M. Page, R.H. I. Clark, D. J. Young, James Brewer, Daniel Spearman and J. H. Boone.

THE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST

In 1907, the first Pentecostal General Assembly of the Church of God in Christ was thus organized. Elder C. H. Mason was chosen unanimously as the General Overseer and Chief Apostle of the denomination. He was given complete authority to establish doctrine, organize auxiliaries and appoint overseers.

Under Bishop Mason’s spiritual and apostolic direction, The Church of God In Christ has grown from 10 congregations in 1907 to the largest Pentecostal group in America today, reporting over 5 million members. The National Council of Churches ranks it as the largest Pentecostal denomination and the 4th largest Christian denomination in the U.S.

Internationally, COGIC can be found in more than 60 nations, including Egypt, the Ivory Coast, and Israel. Its global membership is estimated to be between 6-8 million, comprising of more than 15,000 congregations throughout the world.

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