Months after a record-breaking earthquake and tsunami devastated
Japan, missionaries are still dedicated to aiding in relief efforts.
COGIC Charities, the benevolent arm of the nearly 6.5 million member
Church of God in Christ, plans to give funds to aid the relief
efforts in Japan.
Presiding Bishop Charles E.
Blake Sr. is leading a COGIC delegation that will leave
for Tokyo at the end of July. The group will meet with Japanese and
American officials to discuss the additional needs of the country,
and Blake will lead a prayer for the natural disaster victims. The
charity also plans to present a check for $100,000, which will aid in
the purchase of rice cookers and any additional items the victims
need.
“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,” Blake says.
Bishop Carl D. Hodges, COGIC jurisdictional bishop of Japan, said
the COGIC churches in Japan are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the
Blake and his delegation, and they are looking forward to the
opportunity to share with him the great cultural experience that is
Japan.
While this will be Blake’s first time traveling to Japan, COGIC
Charities, part of the fourth largest Protestant and second largest
Pentecostal denomination in the U.S., is no stranger to assisting
other countries amid a crisis.
The charity, founded in 2003, has given over a million dollars to
Haiti Earthquake Relief Effort, $1 million to the relief efforts of
Hurricane Katrina, $50,000 to the Uganda Women’s Health Initiative
and more.
