The North Carolina Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction is one rich in heritage, holiness and honorable leaders. We have been privileged to have such committed leaders who understood the value of leading by example, being strong in faith, possessing an apostolic anointing for victory. They were great mean of the gospel who’s influential leadership accomplishments can never be erased. We honor them for their dedication, sacrifices, contributions and living a life worthy of honor.

During the early 1960’s, North Carolina was divided into two jurisdictions. Bishop Wyoming Wells, whom Elder Sherman had served with for almost fourteen years, was already the presiding bishop of North Carolina. The search was, therefore, initiated to find a capable elder to fill the slot of bishop of North Carolina #2. On December 1, 1963, Bishop J. S. Bailey, the first administrative assistant to the Presiding Bishop, began his search. After many conference and prayers, Bishop Bailey conferred with the Presiding Bishop Patterson and it was decided that Elder Joseph Howard Sherman would become the presiding bishop of North Carolina’ second jurisdiction. At age 39, Elder Sherman became the youngest person to be elevated to the office of the bishopric. At that time, the second jurisdiction consisted of about only five churches. Being a man of great initiative, intelligence and spiritual insight, Bishop Sherman began to build his jurisdiction. He began, first, by naming his jurisdiction the Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the North Carolina Conference, instead of North Carolina #2. Being the evangelistic minister that he was Bishop Sherman, along with his wife, his daughter, Beatrice and Cleo, his organist; he began to build his jurisdiction. As a result of such a unique and extraordinary ministry, which consisted of preaching, teaching, singing and praying, Bishop Sherman was able to enter any city he chose and do a superb job for God. He was a man of God and the anointing of God was unquestionably on his life. He was “God’s ball of fire”. He built his jurisdiction from five missions to twenty-two churches, because God anointed his life. Bishop Sherman received invitations to conduct revivals in different churches in the winter, some were Methodists and of course Pentecostal churches. These revivals that he conducted sometimes lasted from two to three weeks at the time. And because of his dynamic preaching, Bishop Sherman would have capacity crowds, nightly. When Bishop Sherman would take charge of the service after the testimony service, one could not really say for certain what would be done next. For he was led by the Holy Ghost and God. For instance, he might begin by telling of a humorist time in his life, receive the offering, and allow his choir, his wife, or his organist to sing, or pray for those who had come for prayer. Whatever way he began, it was most effective in getting souls to Christ, which was his main concern. A man such as Bishop Joseph Howard Sherman could only go upward. All of the many contributions he made to the world and to the Church of God in Christ will never be forgotten. He is one of the greatest preachers this world has ever known. His evangelistic ministry was unparalleled; for, he ministered to thousands with a magnetic personality and his gift of healing. He was a man sent from God, and now he’s home.

We Honor and Salute Bishop C.E. Anderson, Sr. Bishop Cornelius Ellis Anderson, Sr the son of Superintendent Willie O. Anderson and Missionary Ada Cross Anderson was born on February 12, 1932, in Breckenridge, Texas; the youngest of nine children. His formal education was obtained in San Antonio, Texas. He later pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin, the University of Alaska, Moody Bible College, Zoe Bible College, and Family Bible College. Bishop Anderson received his Doctorate from Liberty Bible College. In 1955, he married the former Barbara Ann James. The Lord blessed the two of them to have four children, thirteen grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Having been raised in a God-fearing environment, he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at an early age. After accepting the call to the ministry, he was licensed in March 1954 and ordained in October 1959. He was the founding Pastor of Lighthouse COGIC, San Antonio, Texas; District Superintendent (Texas), 1969; Jurisdictional Secretary (Texas), 1972; National COGIC Board of Trustees, 1972-2004; National COGIC Pulpit Committee, 1973 (participated in the initialization phase); one of the first COGIC Adjutant Overseers for Pulpit Protocol; Pastor of Faith Temple COGIC, Wilmington, NC, 1976-1998; Dean of Jurisdictional COGIC Academy (Greater North Carolina Jurisdiction COGIC); District Superintendent, Wilmington District COGIC, 1978-1997; First Administrative Assistant to Bishop LeRoy J. Woolard, 1990; and consecrated as Jurisdictional Bishop of the North Carolina Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, 1996; Pastor of Sherman Memorial COGIC, 1997-2011. Possessing the gift of administration, Bishop Anderson knew how to motivate those under his leadership to become all they could be to the glory of God. God prospered the work that He has invested in the hands of this great man. Since being consecrated into the bishopric, the Jurisdiction has grown from approximately 8 churches to 101. Birthed through Bishop Anderson’s pastoral leadership are 1 Auxiliary Bishop, 1 Jurisdictional Supervisor of Women, 8 District Superintendents, 21 Pastors, 8 District Missionaries, 1 Jurisdictional Chief Adjutant, 14 new churches and a host of elders, ministers, and missionaries. He has always demanded excellence and encouraged all to live above the level of mediocrity. Bishop Anderson was a blessed and anointed man of God!

We Honor and Salute Bishop Otis Lockett, Sr. Bishop Otis Lockett, Sr. was born on February 28, 1954 to the late Lloyd and Bernice Lockett in Cincinnati, OH; he was one of eight children. He attended the public schools of Cincinnati and furthered his education at Evangel College, Springfield, MO, receiving dual undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Sociology. He received a Master of Science in Educational Counseling from the University of Cincinnati and he was the recipient of numerous honorary doctoral degrees. In 1982 he married Barbara Jean Turner, which he often said was the best thing that happened to him outside of salvation. The two of them lovingly birthed and raised in the nurture of the Lord, three wonderful children, Faith, Otis Jr, and Joshua. Bishop Otis Lockett, Sr. was saved on May 17, 1975 through Teen Challenge, a Christian drug rehabilitation program. Being impressed with the Church of God in Christ because of the meals they donated to this program, after graduation he joined James Temple Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Bishop William James. It was there that he received the calling to the ministry of the Word. He possessed an incredible passion for studying God’€™s Word. As a result, he began to live a life totally based on faith. His faith propelled him to do the unthinkable and many times the impossible! Out of this fortitude many ministries were birthed. Otis founded Evangel Fellowship Word Ministries, Inc. where he served faithfully as senior pastor. As a true visionary he dedicated his life to creating multiple ministries outside of the four walls of the church. These ministries include Positive Direction for Youth and Families, an outreach ministry designed to address the needs of at-risk youth and families; The Malachi House, a residential program geared toward helping men with alcohol and drug addictions; Wisdom Training Institute, a training center designed for professionals that are committed to advancing others by providing biblical solutions for stronger lives, families and businesses. He built faith in others by not only sharing the Word through speech but through building more than 25 churches and other facilities that enriched their walk with the Lord. In March of 2012, after serving as Superintendent of the Greater Piedmont District for almost 20 years, he was chosen as Jurisdictional Prelate of the North Carolina Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Churches of God In Christ. Bishop Lockett’s impact to this world was great and he has numerous accomplishments and accolades. He was selected for the Local Chapter of Greensboro NAACP as Man of the Year for his outstanding service with at-risk youth and families. He was appointed as the national Director of Church Growth and Development Department in 2005 by the International Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, the late Bishop G.E. Patterson. The North Carolina Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction is one rich in heritage, holiness and honorable leaders. We have been privileged to have such committed leaders who understood the value of leading by example, being strong in faith, possessing an apostolic anointing for victory. They were great mean of the gospel who’s influential leadership accomplishments can never be erased. We honor them for their dedication, sacrifices, contributions and living a life worthy of honor.