Church History | The Friendly Church of God In Christ

Superintendent Cleveland W. and Mother Mary Wood

The Legacy Begins

In 1946, Superintendent Cleveland W. and Mother Mary Wood moved to Augusta, GA and joined Mason Chapel COGIC. While at Mason Chapel, Superintendent Wood served faithfully and diligently as assistant pastor to Bishop R. D. Fields. In 1952, the Lord led Superintendent and Mother Wood to start bible services in their home at 1128 Davis Street. In 1953, as their membership began to grow, they moved to Lewis Street Hall, then to Goodwill COGIC, on Florence Street.

“…the Lord was going to bless Superintendent Wood with a church that would become one of the biggest COGIC churches in the area because the members were always friendly and loving.”
- theVision

In the latter 1960’s Superintendent Wood decided to fellowship with Sister Hart at the House of the Lord Pentecostal Church on 10th Street. It was here during bible study one evening a visiting Prophetess, Mother Jackson, shared a vision that the Lord was going to bless Superintendent Wood with a church that would become one of the biggest COGIC churches in the area because the members were always friendly and loving. Mother Jackson said God gave her the name for his church to be “Friendly COGIC”.

The Church On Gomers Lane

Mother Anna Glenn found a house on Gomers Lane, which Superintendent Wood purchased and converted to a church that was officially named Friendly COGIC. There were many founding members including Mother Anna Glenn and son, Mother Callie Fryer, Mother Ablisha White, Deacon and Sister Mark Walden and Family, Mother Fannie Thompson, Sister Georgene Middleton, Sister Johnnie Mae Brown, Sister Deavidene Mays, Deacon Charlie Smith, Sister Bertha Fitts, Brother and Sister Cobb, Deacon Wilson D’Antignac, Elder Glenn, Mother Martha Walker, Sister Elizabeth Walker, and Sister Matilda Walker and family.The fruition of this group has yielded Bishop Mark walden, the Bishop of the Northern Georgia Second Jurisdiction, and Supervisor Bertha Fitts, the State Supervisor of the Women’s Department of Northern Georgia Second Jurisdiction.

1123 Carrie Street

The membership at Gomers Lane continued to grow and in 1965, Superintendent Wood purchased a church at 1123 Carrie Street, where membership grew to be approximately 200 members. For years, Friendly COGIC was the place that saints new to the Augusta area came to worship, and Superintendent Wood graciously welcomed all visitors with his kindhearted spirit.

1115 Carrie Street

In September 1979, 0.46 acres of property located next to Friendly, at 1115 Carrie Street was purchased. In the following year, 1980, Superintendent Leroy James was appointed assistant pastor, where he worked faithfully to assist Superintendent Wood in his legacy. On July 4, 1982, Bishop Howard Dell dedicated the new Friendly COGIC at 1115 Carrie Street. Superintendent Leroy James was appointed pastor of Friendly in 1984 after Superintendent Wood was called from labor to reward. In 1992 Friendly added on an educational wing, which included a fellowship hall dedicated the C.W. Wood Fellowship Hall.

The Legacy Continues

Today Friendly COGIC is alive and well with a congregation that loves God. Under the leadership of Superintendent James, God has indeed enlarged Friendly’s coast as numerous area properties were purchased in 1999, developing the “Friendly Block”.

“Like Superintendent Wood, God also sent a messenger to Superintendent James with a vision that Friendly would not be parking at 1115 Carrie Street, but would be moving to higher ground.”
- theNewVision

Like Superintendent Wood, God also sent a messenger to Elder James with a vision that Friendly would not be parking at 1115 Carrie Street, but would be moving to higher ground. In April 2001, Friendly laid claim on 26.43 acres of new land, off Dyess Parkway, for the vision to continue to flourish.

After 32 years of dedicated service to this community, in 2016 Superintendent Emeritus Leroy James retired as pastor. On Sunday, January 15, 2017, Elder Willie Boyd, Sr. was installed as the newly appointed Pastor of The Friendly Church of God In Christ, by Bishop Mark Walden, Prelate of the Northern Georgia 2nd Jurisdiction. Friendly continues to carry out God’s vision with Pastor Boyd at the helm.