Elder Tate is the son of the late Samuel and Dora Tate of Morganton North Carolina. He attended the Morganton Public schools system. Upon graduation from High School, he moved to Raleigh, NC to attend Harris Barber College. Upon graduation from Harris Barber College as a Master Barber, he moved to Greensboro, NC and attended North Carolina A&T State University studying sociology. This course of study led him to a career with the City of Greensboro as a Fire Fighter and he retired in 1998 with 28 years of service.  It was in Greensboro that he began his service to the local church and joined Evangel Fellowship COGIC and has remained a faithful member since 1986. He was ordained as an Elder of the Church in 2015.

Elder Tate currently serves as a member of the Executive Board for the Evangel Men’s department and as President of the Evangel Usher Board. His dedication to the ministry of ushering has elevated him to several positions within the International Usher Board for the Church of God in Christ.  He currently serves as the Vice President of Finance, Area Coordinator of the NC 2^nd, NC 3^rd, Greater NC and South Carolina Jurisdictions. He also serves as a Marshall within the Security Department of the Church of God in Christ worldwide. Elder Tate has also served on various advisory boards and adult ministries during his tenure with the church.      

Memphis, TN – The Church Of God In Christ, Inc. is proud to announce Deacon Connie Sawyer, Jr. as its new International Usher Department President. A native of Camden, North Carolina, Connie Sawyer, Jr. represents a story of perseverance, commitment, and faith.

Born to the late Connie, Sr., and Shirley Sawyer, he is the third of ten children. His upbringing in meager conditions did not deter his ambition; he became the first of his siblings to attend and graduate from college. Sawyer’s educational journey took him from Camden County High School, where he graduated in 1975, to Elizabeth City State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting in 1979.

Sawyer’s professional career is marked by nearly 35 years of service as an analyst for the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), where he provided fact-based, non-partisan information to Congress, executive agencies, and the public. He retired in January 2013, and has since been serving as a bailiff in the Camden County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina.

His commitment to the Church Of God In Christ has been longstanding and deeply impactful. Prior to his current appointment, he served as the Jurisdictional Usher President for the Virginia Third Jurisdiction, the Finance Chairman, and the Vice President of the International Usher Department.

Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard expressed his confidence in Deacon Sawyer’s leadership, stating, “Deacon Connie Sawyer, Jr.’s appointment as the International President of our Usher Department is a testament to his unwavering commitment to our church and its values. His remarkable journey, marked by service, integrity, and dedication, inspires us all. We are confident that under his leadership, the Usher Department will continue to flourish and embody the spirit of hospitality and service that is at the heart of our ministry.”

Deacon Sawyer said, “Being appointed President was a tremendously humbling experience. I realized that I was standing on the shoulders and in the shadows of two previous great leaders, Brother Willie Cook and Mother Dorothy Holmes. The task of maintaining a well-run organization is something I don’t take lightly.”

Sawyer is also a proud member of the Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, illustrating his dedication to service and community. His hobbies include hunting, golf, cooking, carpentry, and gardening, reflecting a well-rounded and grounded personality.

Deacon Sawyer’s personal life is as rich and fulfilling as his professional and spiritual journeys. Married for 46 years to Bonnie D. Sawyer, they are blessed with nine children and 17 grandchildren. He is a member of the Greater North Carolina jurisdiction under Bishop Leroy Jackson Woolard, with State Supervisor Mother Harrizene Keyes. He actively participates as a member at the New Mount Zion Deliverance Center COGIC, where Elder Glenn Sawyer is the pastor.

This appointment is not just a position but a testament to Deacon Connie Sawyer, Jr.’s lifelong commitment to faith, family, and community. The Church Of God In Christ looks forward to the leadership and vision he will bring to the Usher Department at an international level.