History of Roberts Temple COGIC - Chicago, Illinois Mother Church of Chicago COGIC

Описание: William Roberts was
born May 10, 1876 as
the fourth child to
Mr. and Mrs. Willie
Roberts in Okalona,
Mississippi. At the age of twenty three,
William was married to Mamie Hill, a girl
of fifteen years. One year after his wed
ding, he and his wife moved to Memphis,
Tennessee. There in 1904, W. Roberts
was saved. As a church member, he served
as deacon and later as assistant pastor.
Elder C. H. Mason was the pastor of the
flock.
While Elder Roberts was serving as
assistant pastor, he was invited by a group
of women to come to Chicago to estab
lish a ministry of the Church of God in
Christ. Those who invited him were Sister
Lillian Brooks (later Coffey), a former
Memphian, Sister Anna Davis, Sister Mary
Duncan (later Davis), Sister Mary Pierce,
Sister Olina Leige, and others. The group
extending the invitation numbered thir
teen. These saints had at times wor
shipped with an Apostolic church in
Chicago, but wanted to have a Church of
God in Christ. They met for a prayer
ministry at 29th and LaSalle.
Elder Roberts accepted the invitation.
He took his son, Isaiah with him on the
trip. While there, he agreed to serve them
as pastor. The following year, 1917,
Bishop W. M. Roberts was invited to come to Chicago by a group of women:

They were Sis. Lillian Brooks (later Coffey), Sis. Anna Davis, Sis. Mary Duncan (later Davis),

Sis. Mary Pierce, Sis. Olina Lerge and others (13 women in all) - at the time, there

was no COGIC in Chicago.  Bishop Roberts had served under Bishop C. H. Mason

in Memphis, Tennessee prior to 1916.  Certainly Mother Coffey 

had communicated with Bishop Mason requesting that he send a preacher to

Chicago (preferably Elder W. M. Roberts ) since several pastors had abandoned

the mission, for they had said that it was impossible to plant a holiness church

in such a rebellious and wicked city as Chicago.

Bishop Roberts accepted the offer and brought his one son Isaiah Roberts with

him (one out of ten children), and later in 1917, accompanied by his wife and 9 more

children, moved to Chicago and established a ministry.

So, it would be safe to say that the prayer band which was organized by

Mother Lillian Brooks Coffey became the first Church of God in Christ in Chicago.

After moving his missions twice (31st & Lasalle and 37th & Federal), in 1925

Bishop W. M. Roberts and the Saints acquired 2 lots at 40th and State,

and Roberts moved his congregation to 40th an d State where he

built a church from the ground - "Roberts Temple COGIC".

Bishop W. M. Roberts saved souls and promulgated the gospel

throughout the region.  As a matter of fact, Roberts Temple located at 40th and State,

was the first COGIC Church in Illinois, the first denomination in Illinois to

broadcast on the radio, and the first church in Chicago from which

Dr. C. C. Owens preached in 1944.  Bishop Roberts served as Overseer for

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Arkansas, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Many preachers who gained prominance in the ministry "sat at his feet".

Some were elders:  Carey White who came to Chicago

and joined him from Memphis, 

Bishop William Matthew Roberts, overseer of Illinois, was the father of

the Late Bishop Isaiah Roberts of Chicago, Illinois.

Bishop W. M. Roberts took all of his family's savings of only $100 and, with the leading

of the Lord, used the money to bail Bishop Mason out of jail.

Bishop W. M. Roberts was also among the First Five Overseers

of the COGIC to be consecrated to the Office of the Bishopric in 1933.

As one of the early pioneers of the COGIC, Bishop W. M. Roberts made many serious

sacrifices to promulgate the gospel and impact the exponential

growth of the Church of God in Christ. 

Below Left We See Bishop Roberts, An Important Confidant Of Mason's Cabinet;

Center, Chief Apostle Of The COGIC, Bishop Charles Harrison Mason;

One Of Mason's Generals, Who Was Coached By Mason Since Before He Was 23 Years Old,

Bishop Ozro Thurston Jones, Sr.