The first mission of the Church of God in Christ was established in the Indiana in the year of 1919 by Elder. B. J. Watkins in the city of Evansville, Indiana. Early in 1920 Elder Bartley Thompson of St. Louis, Missouri came to the city of Gary, Indiana, and finding a few saints, opened a mission at 1728 Adams Street. This mission remained open until June of the same year, but was closed because of financial difficulties. As God would have it. in the same month C. E. Bennett, a licensed minister, came to the city. Minister Bennett, seeing the need for a mission supplied money that allowed Elder George Gipson to rent a small place for a mission at 1716 Madison Street. Elder Thompson moved away from Gary, and Minister Bennett became the leader of the mission. In December 1920, State Overseer W. M. Roberts of Chicago, Illinois, asked Minister Bennett to assume the pastorate of the mission in Gary until further notice.

 

During the following six years, missions were opened in South Bend, Michigan City, East Chicago, Indiana Harbor, Fort Wayne, Elkhart, Indianapolis, and Terre Haute.

The churches and missions in Indiana were identified with the state work in Illinois until 1927. In 1927 Indiana was permitted to hold its first State Convocation in Gary, Indiana from July 27th to August 5th. Saints Home Church at 509 East 20th Avenue was the Host Church and the Elder C.E. Bennett was the Host Pastor. 

Indiana State work was headed by the late Bishop Wm. Roberts as Overseer and Mother Nancy Gamble as Supervisor of Women. The first State Convocation had only 11 pastors to support the state work, namely Elder C. E. Bennett and Elder T. H. Coffee of Gary, Elder L. J. Hall, and Elder Robert Miller of East Chicago, Elder E. A. McNeely of Michigan City, Elder E. A. Loveless and Elder R. A. Nelson of South Bend, Elder E. Renicks of Elkhart, Elder J. H. Boone of Fort Wayne, Elder G. H. Boyce of Indianapolis, and Eld. L. W. Burnice of Terre Haute.The first Convocation was graced with the presence of Senior Bishop C. H. Mason and General Supervisor of Women Mother Lizzie Roberson. 

The Second Convocation held in Ft. Wayne was presided over by the new State Overseer Elder C. E. Bennett, who was appointed during the National Convocation in Memphis, Tennessee December 14, 1927. (Evansville and Newburgh, on the southern end of Indiana, worked with the state of Kentucky until 1928 when Elder C. E. Bennett became State Overseer.)

The State Convocation in Indiana created new inspiration and increased interest in the church work. Beginning with eleven small churches and missions, by 1948 the number had grown to forty-eight churches. Shortly thereafter the state was divided into northern and southern portions. Sixteen churches were placed under Overseer Homer Worth and thirty-two churches were left with Overseer Bennett. The number soon grew to 90 churches and missions under Bishop C. E. Bennett.

Indiana was divided into two jurisdictions. Bishop Oscar Freeman, Prelate of the Second Jurisdiction of Indiana, further enhanced the growth and development of the Churches of God in Christ in the state. On June 27, 1972 the Lord called Bishop Bennett home to rest from his labors.

In December of 1972, Elder. William O. Blakely, Sr., pastor of Faith Temple COGIC was chosen to be Bishop of the First Jurisdiction of Indiana. He had faithfully and loyally served Bishop Bennett and now was chosen to secede him. Under Bishop Blakely's spiritual guidance the First Jurisdiction of Indiana grew to over 120 churches. Bishop Blakely was a spiritual and humble leader and retired in 1988.

On September 14, 1988, Elder Milton L. Hall, Sr., pastor of Grace Memorial COGIC, Kokomo, Indiana was elevated to the Bishopric of the First Jurisdiction of Indiana. Indiana was once more divided by the Senior Bishop, at that time, Bishop J.O. Patterson and the General Board. The First Jurisdiction of Indiana in 1999 had over 80 churches.

On August 20, 2006, the Lord called Bishop Milton Hall Sr. home. Superintendent  Mark H.Blade , pastor of Saint’s Home COGIC in Terre Haute, IN, was selected to be the next prelate of First Jurisdiction Indiana. Currently, Bishop Mark H. Blade has served with Godly wisdom and the knowledge to lead this great jurisdiction into the future.