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In 1947, Elder James J. Hinsley and his wife Lydia E. Hinsley moved to Atlanta, GA at the request of Bishop C. H. Mason to help build the work there.  He was immediately assigned by Bishop Riley F. Williams to lead a fledgling congregation at 910 Sims Street in Northern Georgia known as the Pittsburgh church of God in Christ.  He was also assigned as the overseer for Northern Georgia.  The church immediately flourished and met with unrelenting challenges. 

 

By 1951, Elder Hinsley started the construction of a new edifice to accommodate the increased membership. At that time, Bishop Mason expanded the work in Georgia by forming the Central Georgia Jurisdiction and placing Elder Hinsley there as the first bishop.  Mother Julia Underwood was named as the Jurisdictional Supervisor of Women.  By 1954, when Bishop Mason returned to dedicate the church building, he renamed the church Hinsley Temple and noted the immense growth.  Churches had been added to this new jurisdiction. Mother Julia Underwood was appointed as the jurisdictional supervisor of women.  Many of the deacons became elders and were assigned to congregations that were formed by Bishop Hinsley.  All of the worship services for the jurisdiction were held at Hinsley Temple.

 

Bishop Hinsley continued to evangelize the state of Georgia.  Practically everywhere that he went conducting revivals, he planted a church and then sent a pastor.  At the time of his death (October 17. 1963), the jurisdiction had forty-five churches.  In 1964 John D. Husband became the second bishop of Central Georgia. Mother Julia Underwood remained as the jurisdictional supervisor of women and served until her. During Bishop Husband’s tenure 23 churches from the southern part of the state came into fellowship with Central Georgia Jurisdiction upon the death of Bishop W. H. Solomon. The jurisdiction also increased in size.  Because of the great distance the southern part of the jurisdiction was called Central-Southeast.  Mother Lydia E. Hinsley served as the jurisdictional supervisor of women for the southeast part of the jurisdiction. Upon the death of Mother Lydia Hinsley (July 11, 1985), Mother Gwendolyn I. Howard was appointed as the jurisdictional supervisor of women for Central Southeast Georgia.  Mother Gwendolyn Howard was installed as Supervisor of Women for Central Southeast Georgia on November 11, 1987.  Mother Howard continued as supervisor for both areas until the Southeast area was given to Superintendent Hunter to serve as their bishop and Mother LaRonce Gordon as supervisor of women. 

 

While serving as a General Board Member, Bishop Chandler Davis Owens was assigned by Presiding Bishop Louis Henry Ford to oversee the Central Georgia Jurisdiction. Bishop C. D. Owens became the jurisdictional Bishop and was the third jurisdictional bishop of Central Georgia.   Upon the death of Mother Howard (December 1993), Mother Edith McGrew was appointed as jurisdictional supervisor of women in January 1994.

 

Bishop Owens continued to build on the same foundation of his predecessors. Through the mighty hand of God, Bishop Owens, led by the Holy Spirit, was able to move the jurisdiction forward. He was instrumental in maintaining consistency through ingenuity, financial stability, and spiritual continuity in the local church. During his tenure The Western Georgia Jurisdiction was created from Central Georgia by the General Board and ratified by the General Assembly in the November 8, 2004 session of the General Assembly. The General Board also appointed Dr. Henderson Spivey as Bishop and named the new part as Western Georgia Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Bishop Spivey selected Perrella Hines as Jurisdictional Supervisor.

 

On March 6, 2011 the Lord called Bishop Chandler David Owens home to his eternal reward. The Presiding Bishop Charles Blake appointed General Board Member Bishop Sedgwick Daniels as interim bishop of the Central Georgia Jurisdiction until new leadership could be appointed.After a period of mourning, on May 4, 2011, Presiding Bishop Charles Blake and members of the General Board came to poll the pastors of Central Georgia.  On May 6, 2011, during the conclusion of Central Georgia’s Jurisdictional Women’s Convention, announcement of the polling recommendation of the pastors was made acknowledging and presenting Superintendent Norman Harper as Bishop Designate of the Central Georgia Jurisdiction. 

 

Following the announcement of that decision, a group of pastors petitioned the national church for consideration of Superintendent Joseph Hogan, Sr. as bishop.  On May 30, 2011, The General Board unanimously voted to expand the work by dividing the jurisdiction into North Central Georgia and South Central Georgia designating the North to Superintendent Joseph E. Hogan, Sr. and the South to Superintendent Norman O. Harper.  Mother Mary Bryant Tucker was appointed as the supervisor of North Central and the late Mother Edith McGrew was appointed as the supervisor to South Central.  North Central Georgia Jurisdiction was formed September 1, 2011. Both men were consecrated during the 104th Holy Convocation in St. Louis Missouri, Monday November 7, 2011.  New Life Tabernacle serves as the Jurisdictional Headquarters.

 

North Central Georgia Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction continues to focus on our mission which is ‘United for Kingdom Building’.  While unity in our nation is challenged, unity in our churches is debated and unity in our homes has been torn asunder, we unite ourselves for the purpose of prayer, healing, and restoration.  North Central Georgia Jurisdiction is a progressive jurisdiction that is moving forward it its Kingdom assignment by reaching every generation with love.