Testimony & Powerful Praise Break @ Temple of Deliverance Bishop Gilbert Earl "G. E." Patterson (September 22, 1939 [1] -- March 20, 2007[2]) was an American Pentecostal-Holiness, Charismatic minister who served as the international Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), Inc. Dr. Bishop Gilbert Patterson was born to Bishop W. A. (1898--1991) and Mary Patterson (1901--1981) in Humboldt, Tennessee. He was reared in Memphis, Tennessee and Detroit, Michigan. Bishop Patterson's uncle was J.O. Patterson, Sr. (1912--1989), the Presiding Bishop of (COGIC) from 1968 until his death. He was the first cousin to Bishop J.O. Patterson, Jr., a former interim mayor of Memphis, TN and the current Chairman of the COGIC General Assembly. His best friend and First Assistant Presiding Bishop of the COGIC, Inc., Charles E. Blake, Sr. succeeded him as Presiding Bishop. Bishop J. S. Bailey ordained him in 1958 as an elder in the Church of God in Christ. In 1962, Patterson became co-pastor with his father at Holy Temple Church of God in Christ in Memphis. Patterson continued his pastorate in 1975 as the founder and pastor of Temple of Deliverance, the Cathedral of the Bountiful Blessings near downtown. Today, Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ is one of the nation's fastest growing congregations with over 18,000 on its membership roll. In 2000, Calhoun street where Bountiful Blessing is located was renamed GE Patterson Ave., in honor of the Bishop. Patterson founded the rapidly growing Bountiful Blessings Ministries (BBM) which is viewed internationally on The Word Network weekly, as well as on local TV stations throughout the nation. Bountiful Blessings Ministries has a mailing list of over 100,000 active donors from outside the Memphis viewing audience. Evangelist Louise D. Patterson is now the Chairperson and CEO of Bountiful Blessings Ministries. Patterson studied at the Detroit Bible Institute, and LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis. He held an Honorary Doctorate from Oral Roberts University and was the President of the Charles H. Mason Bible College of Tennessee Fourth Jurisdiction in Memphis. Patterson was the publisher of Bountiful Blessings Magazine and a contributing writer in the Spirit Filled life Bible (King James Version) published by Thomas Nelson Publishers and edited by Dr. Jack W. Hayford. In July 2002, Whitaker House released Patterson's first book, entitled Here Comes The Judge. Patterson was married to the former Louise D. Kelly for over 35 years. Patterson died on March 20, 2007 of heart failure. In 2005 he announced that he was battling prostate cancer and was hospitalized in January for an unannounced illness. On March 28, 2007 the Senate of the United States of America passed a resolution celebrating the life of Bishop Gilbert E. Patterson. The sponsors were Senators Obama, Levin, Kerry, Alexander and Corker[3] He was interred at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis Presiding Bishop GE Patterson Preaching Advice Help Preachers COGIC Classic Preachin Church of God In Christ Mattie Moss Clark Sisters Dorinda Twinkie Memphis Elvis talk speech hypnosis politics gospel talking "mind control" interviews guide pastor tips tutorial Donnie McClurkin TD JAKES Paul Morton Joyce Meyer Joel Olsteen Marvin Sapp Dewey Smith singing Noel Jones Holy Ghost