The Rev. Johnsie Cogman is an educator turned pastor who believes that Sunday school is just as important as secondary education when it comes to helping tomorrow’s leaders recognize their spiritual gifts. Cogman’s 23-year-old sons are following in their mother's footsteps toward serving The United Methodist Church.
Jacob and James Cogman grew up in the United Methodist Church. The twins received scholarships to attend United Methodist Claflin University and continue their studies in seminary. This is a family that values formal education as well as lessons from Sunday school.
Claflin University is one of the colleges and university supported in part by the Black College Fund of the United Methodist Church.
The Rev. Johnsie Cogman is lead pastor of 200-year-old Mt. Zion, the oldest African-American United Methodist church in Washington D.C.
The Rev. Johnsie W. Cogman believes that the ancestors that began this congregation came to praise and magnify a God that brought them through slavery.
But Cogman’s proudest accomplishment is that her twin sons plan to follow her in serving the United Methodist Church.
“My mother really demonstrated for me growing up what ministry truly is about and really in the sense that it’s not about us. Because God called us, we have work to do,” says Jacob Cogman.
Jacob Cogman and his brother James attended the same schools for 22 years. Both graduated from United Methodist Claflin University, the oldest historically black college in the state of South Carolina.
Jacob now attends the Candler School of Theology at Emory, while James is studying at Yale Divinity. The brothers have received support along the way from the Black College Fund and United Methodist Student Day scholarships.
“We used to say that students or children were the church of the future. But they really are the church of now. And if we do not take care of them and provide them with all the opportunities for them to get advanced education, then we may not have a church in the future,” said The Rev. Johnsie Cogman.
First published on April 25, 2017 by UMC.org/videos
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One of seven apportioned giving opportunities of The United Methodist Church, the Black College Fund provides financial support to maintain solid, challenging academic programs; strong faculties; and well-equipped facilities at 11 United Methodist-related historically black colleges and universities. Please encourage your leaders and congregations to support the Black College Fund apportionment at 100 percent.