1939:
September 22, born to William Archie and Mary Louise in the parsonage next door to the Church of God in Christ in Humboldt, Tennessee, the youngest of six children.
1951:
Saved at age 11 during a revival conducted by Elder Johnny Brown at Holy Temple Church of God in Christ in Memphis, Tennessee where his father served as pastor.
1952:
Moved with his family to Detroit, Michigan.
1956:
Received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost at age 16 at New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ where his father served as pastor. The Lord called him into gospel ministry one month later.
1957:
Licensed by Bishop W. A. Patterson and first sermon preached from text Isaiah 59:9. His message was titled, “We Wait for Light, But We Walk in Darkness.”
1958:
Officially ordained to minister in the church by Bishop J.S. Bailey.
1960:
Privilege to preach in the presence of the founder of the Church of God in Christ, Bishop C.H. Mason, on two occasions.
1961:
Returned to Memphis, Tennessee to serve as Co-
1964:
Leads Holy Temple in a three-
Church experiences significant growth after successful tent revival and under the Lord’s guidance, the G.E. Patterson Evangelist Crusade and Sunday night evangelist hour is established.
1965:
Because known as God’s young Apostle because of his gift to lead many to Jesus Christ and gather large crowds.
1967:
Marries Louise Dowdy Patterson in Memphis, Tennessee.
Along with Sister Patterson establishes the name “Bountiful Blessings” and continues the tent and crusade ministry.
Thousands are in attendance at the various auditoriums where crusades are conducted and where tent meetings are set up.
Membership continues to grow under Apostle Patterson’s ministry and he is led of the Lord to purchase the old Mount Vernon Baptist Church building located at 547 Mississippi Boulevard and this location becomes the downtown branch of the church.
1968:
Distinguishes himself as an ardent fighter for human rights and other civil conflicts and becomes a part of the Civil Rights Movement, preaching fervently that love and peace must prevail if America is to survive.
Involved in the strike of 1968 that centered on black sanitation workers in Memphis.
Member of a nine-
Mr. Chairman I Nominate Jesus is recorded in Memphis during a live broadcast of the G. E. Patterson Evangelistic Crusade hour. In this particular infamous sermon that is appropriate for any political season, Apostle Patterson takes a retrospective glance at the political convention of 1968 and nominates Jesus as the only real remedy to cure the ills of our society.
1975:
Resigns as Co-
During first church service, 436 new members join from every denomination and religious organization in Memphis.
Organizes eight independent churches under Bountiful Blessings Deliverance Church, Inc.
1977:
The church membership grows to over 2,000 and additional space is required. The church is remodeled to help relieve overflow.
1978:
New remodeled sanctuary opened to accommodate phenomenal growth. Also, noted in Jet magazine as the first church built at a cost exceeding 1 million dollars by African Americans in the Memphis, Tennessee.
1984:
The 1,200 seat sanctuary, which was too small from day one, also consistently overflows and requires an even larger building.
1986:
Former Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, Bishop J.O. Patterson who was also Apostle Patterson’s uncle, expressed a desire for his nephew to return as an active member of the Church of God in Christ.
Apostle Patterson accepts invitation to return to the Church of God in Christ and changes name of church to Temple of Deliverance Cathedral of Bountiful Blessings Church of God in Christ.
During the November meeting the COGIC General Board chaired by Bishop L.H. Ford voted 11 to 0 to allow Gilbert E. Patterson to come back into the active ministry of the Church of God in Christ as a Jurisdictional Bishop in Memphis, Tennessee.
1987:
Wing added to Temple of Deliverance with seating capacity of approximately 600 to accommodate growing congregation and former presiding Bishop Chandler D. Owens dedicated the addition.
1988:
Former Presiding Bishop J.O. Patterson executes the action to officially install Bishop G.E. Patter as a jurisdictional bishop in Memphis during the Bishop’s Conference in Jacksonville, Florida.
Organizes Tennessee 4th Jurisdiction
Bountiful Blessings Magazine
1990:
Becomes first COGIC pastor with an international ministry with services carried on satellite by Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN) and Black Entertainment Network (BET).
1991:
Becomes president and general manager of WBBP AM 1480, a 5,000 watt full gospel radio station in Mempnis, Tennessee.
1992:
Elected to the General Board of the Church of God in Christ for first four-
Purchases 250 Raines Road from Mississippi Boulevard Christian church and opens the second location for Temple of Deliverance Cathedral of Bountiful Blessings.
1993:
Opened the doors of Temple of Deliverance and served free hot meals daily for two years to multiple thousands of people in need in the Mid-
1994:
Served as host of the famous “Memphis Miracles” that saw the transition of the Pentecostal Fellowship of North American (PFNA) to the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America (PCCNA).
1996:
Becomes a candidate for the Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ and loses by one point to former presiding Bishop Chandler D. Owens.
Re-
1998:
Memphis City Council approves changing the name of Calhoun Avenue to G.E. Patterson Avene.
Contributing writer in the Spirit Filled Life Bible (KJV), which was edited by Dr. Jack Hayford.
Forms a record label, Podium Records, and records first gospel music project.
Editor and publisher of Bountiful Blessings Magazine with circulation of 100,000.
1999:
Temple of Deliverance Cathedral of Bountiful Blessings opens at 369 G. E. Patterson Avenue at a cost of $13 million.
2000:
Elected as the presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, becoming the first to unseat a sitting presiding bishop in the denomination’s history.
2001:
Featured in the cover story of Charisma Magazine in article titled, “God’s Man in Memphis.”
2002:
Founder of COGIC Charities, Inc., the philanthropic arm of the Church of God in Christ, and since its inception has participated in the following humanitarian efforts:
Thousands of bottles of water furnished after the summer 2003 Storm in Memphis, Tennessee along with hot meals and bags of ice.
Provided funds to several organizations for relief efforts after Hurricanes Charley, Rita and Katrina and the tsunami as well as providing awards for educational scholarships and other humanitarian efforts.
Purchases a home for a family who were victims of the Katrina Hurricane.
First book titled, Here Comes the Judge, is released by Whitaker House Publishers.
2004:
Elected by acclamation to the office to Presiding Bishop for second four-
2005:
Offers prayer during President George Bush’s inaugural prayer service at Washington Cathedral.
Designates January 30th as “We Care Sunday” in COGIC and spearheaded the collection of an international offering of $425,000 for aid in the tsunami relief effort.
Along with the congregation of Temple of Deliverance Cathedral of Bountiful Blessings opened and dedicated the G.E. Patterson Family Life and Youth Center, built at a cost of more than 5 million dollars without securing a bank loan.
2006:
Nominated for Grammy Award for gospel project, Singing the Old Time Way.
Nominated for Soul Train Music Award
2007:
Receives Stellar Award for Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year: Bishop G. E. Patterson & Congregation – Singing the Old Time Way – Volume 2.
United States Senate passes resolution sponsored by Senators Obama, Levin, Kerry, Alexander and Corker, celebrating the life of Bishop Gilbert E. Patterson.
Mississippi Legislature passes a Resolution sponsored by Senators Jackson, Jordan, Thomas, Butler, Walls, Simmons, Williamson, Dawkins, Harden, Frazier and Horhn celebrating the life of Bishop Gilbert E. Patterson.
Bishop G.E. Patterson 1939-
His legacy will live on…
