Dear Prayer Partners:
As you know, the Southeast was hit hard by tornadoes Wednesday night and Thursday morning. At least one of those hit very close to home, in Sunnyside. Thank goodness none of our members who live in the area were injured or suffered significant property damage. But many others have lost everything. I had the opportunity to tour the Sunnyside area yesterday afternoon as I drove out to check on some of our members who could not be reached by telephone. It looks like a war zone. The destruction is terrible.
I am proud to say that Georgia Baptist are already responding. We have disaster relief teams on the ground at First Baptist Church of Sunnyside, and also in Rome. Although these teams are not waiting for funds to pour in before they begin to help, there is a great need for funds. If you would like to give over and above your regular tithe to help victims of these tragedies, please write a separate check for this purpose and write "Disaster Relief" in the memo field of your check. We will forward these funds to the Georgia Baptist Convention and direct that they be used for this purpose.
Please continue to keep the victims of this tragedy in your prayers.
Rev. Mike Hardin, Pastor
April 29, 2011
February 24, 2011
The Cross Ministry featured in Christian Index
Published with permission of
Jimmy Livingston's answer to the removal of crosses
LOVEJOY — Religion News Service recently reported that the British branch of the YWCA has dropped “Christian” from its official name because according to the charity’s officials “it no longer stood for what we are or what we do.”
The YWCA leadership said, “The Young Women’s Christian Association will now be known as Platform 51.” The new name is based on the reality that 51 percent of the people in the organization are female and the women and girls involved use it as a platform to express their views.
A secular worldview seems to be exerting its influence to denigrate the word “Christian” and also remove the Christian cross from public life. The Bible speaks of “the offense of the cross” in Galatians 5:11.
In Spring Lake, Mich., Christ Community Church decided to remove the cross from its church and change its name to C3Exchange. The pastor, Ian Lawton, explained that the move was designed to reflect the church’s diverse membership.
Lawton added, “Our community has been a really open-minded community for some years now. We had a number of Muslim people, Jewish people, Buddhists, atheists … We’re catching up [to] ourselves.”
When Lloyd Clarke, former board member of the American Civil Liberties Union who professes to be an atheist, spotted two little crosses on the Cass River Bridge in Frankenmuth, Mich., he decided to try to have them removed. He registered his complaint and the city manager removed them.
The residents decided they had been subjected to the complaints of atheists long enough and expressed their convictions by placing small crosses in their front yards. When Clarke saw the response he withdrew his complaint, but the small white crosses remain in the front yards of many of Frankenmuth’s citizens today.
On Jan. 4, a three-judge panel of the United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals filed its long-awaited opinion in what has been popularly called the Mount Soledad Cross Case. In effect, it held that because the cross is a Christian symbol it must be removed from a war memorial.
The Cross has stood on Mount Soledad since 1913, but these three judges have decided after all these years that the Cross is a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and agreed that it has to go.
Jimmy Livingston, a member of First Baptist Church of Lovejoy, has taken the demeaning of the cross personally and like the citizens of Frankenmuth decided to do something about it. In fact, Livingston has launched a ministry to counteract the efforts of those who would like to remove the cross from the public’s view.
He is making small white crosses and encouraging individuals and churches to strategically place the crosses on their lawns.
Livingston has been a member of the church since 1962 and serves as a deacon, a member of the finance committee, and the audio/visual technician. He has always been interested in making an impact for the cause of Christ.
Livingston stated, “I was reading an email sent to me by fellow church member Martha Stone about the residents in Frankenmuth. The end of the article said, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to see Christians across America with a small cross in their front yard?’
“I felt that not many people would actually go out and do this on their own. I thought this would be a great ministry for churches and individuals to take on as a witness for Christ. In August 2010 God planted in my heart to begin ‘The Cross Ministry’ to build, paint and distribute small white crosses to individuals and churches as a quiet, yet powerful message.”
The Lovejoy deacon added, “I also have a ‘cross garden’ in my yard where people can stop and get a cross and information about what we are doing. What has encouraged us most is receiving responses from people that echo the same desire that God has placed in our hearts to see ‘The Cross Ministry’ grow and expand. Our objective is to have small white crosses in yards all across America as a witness for Christ, our Lord.”
Livingston admitted that the response has been phenomenal. The crosses have been distributed to individuals and churches across Georgia and beyond. Pastor Mike Hardin recommended at October’s church business meeting that the church adopt Livingston’s spiritual enterprise as an official ministry of the church and the church voted in the affirmative.
Other churches, including one in Montgomery, Ala., and one in Canyon Lake, Texas, have also caught Livingston’s vision and started similar cross ministries.
Livingston added, “‘The Cross Ministry’ is not a political thing. It is not an individual, church or denominational thing. It is a God thing. God has inspired this ministry and it is designed solely for His glory.”
Jimmy Livingston's answer to the removal of crosses
Published: February 24, 2011
LOVEJOY — Religion News Service recently reported that the British branch of the YWCA has dropped “Christian” from its official name because according to the charity’s officials “it no longer stood for what we are or what we do.”
The YWCA leadership said, “The Young Women’s Christian Association will now be known as Platform 51.” The new name is based on the reality that 51 percent of the people in the organization are female and the women and girls involved use it as a platform to express their views.
Cross Ministry
Jimmy Livingston prepares to cut in creating crosses.
A secular worldview seems to be exerting its influence to denigrate the word “Christian” and also remove the Christian cross from public life. The Bible speaks of “the offense of the cross” in Galatians 5:11.
In Spring Lake, Mich., Christ Community Church decided to remove the cross from its church and change its name to C3Exchange. The pastor, Ian Lawton, explained that the move was designed to reflect the church’s diverse membership.
Lawton added, “Our community has been a really open-minded community for some years now. We had a number of Muslim people, Jewish people, Buddhists, atheists … We’re catching up [to] ourselves.”
When Lloyd Clarke, former board member of the American Civil Liberties Union who professes to be an atheist, spotted two little crosses on the Cass River Bridge in Frankenmuth, Mich., he decided to try to have them removed. He registered his complaint and the city manager removed them.
The residents decided they had been subjected to the complaints of atheists long enough and expressed their convictions by placing small crosses in their front yards. When Clarke saw the response he withdrew his complaint, but the small white crosses remain in the front yards of many of Frankenmuth’s citizens today.
On Jan. 4, a three-judge panel of the United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals filed its long-awaited opinion in what has been popularly called the Mount Soledad Cross Case. In effect, it held that because the cross is a Christian symbol it must be removed from a war memorial.
The Cross has stood on Mount Soledad since 1913, but these three judges have decided after all these years that the Cross is a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and agreed that it has to go.
Jimmy Livingston, a member of First Baptist Church of Lovejoy, has taken the demeaning of the cross personally and like the citizens of Frankenmuth decided to do something about it. In fact, Livingston has launched a ministry to counteract the efforts of those who would like to remove the cross from the public’s view.
He is making small white crosses and encouraging individuals and churches to strategically place the crosses on their lawns.
Livingston has been a member of the church since 1962 and serves as a deacon, a member of the finance committee, and the audio/visual technician. He has always been interested in making an impact for the cause of Christ.
Livingston stated, “I was reading an email sent to me by fellow church member Martha Stone about the residents in Frankenmuth. The end of the article said, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to see Christians across America with a small cross in their front yard?’
“I felt that not many people would actually go out and do this on their own. I thought this would be a great ministry for churches and individuals to take on as a witness for Christ. In August 2010 God planted in my heart to begin ‘The Cross Ministry’ to build, paint and distribute small white crosses to individuals and churches as a quiet, yet powerful message.”
Cross Ministry
First Baptist Lovejoy Pastor Mike Hardin, left, and church members Perry Livingston and Butch Lewis paint crosses, which are then placed on holders to dry, with Hardin.
The Lovejoy deacon added, “I also have a ‘cross garden’ in my yard where people can stop and get a cross and information about what we are doing. What has encouraged us most is receiving responses from people that echo the same desire that God has placed in our hearts to see ‘The Cross Ministry’ grow and expand. Our objective is to have small white crosses in yards all across America as a witness for Christ, our Lord.”
Livingston admitted that the response has been phenomenal. The crosses have been distributed to individuals and churches across Georgia and beyond. Pastor Mike Hardin recommended at October’s church business meeting that the church adopt Livingston’s spiritual enterprise as an official ministry of the church and the church voted in the affirmative.
Other churches, including one in Montgomery, Ala., and one in Canyon Lake, Texas, have also caught Livingston’s vision and started similar cross ministries.
Livingston added, “‘The Cross Ministry’ is not a political thing. It is not an individual, church or denominational thing. It is a God thing. God has inspired this ministry and it is designed solely for His glory.”
Cross Ministry
Cross Ministry
Butch Lewis, a volunteer with the Cross Ministry, stands at the ready at Oak Bower Baptist Church in Hartwell for those wanting a cross.
6405 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA 30097
February 1, 2011
Ladie's Tea 2011
Thanks to Marcia West for taking these pictures, and to Diane Atkinson for emailing them to the church. If you have more pictures please send them to fbclovejoy.pictures@picasaweb.com with the subject line "Ladies Tea 2011" (without the quotes).
You can view still pictures and download them here.
January 17, 2011
Until Sunday: The Most Important Part of the Day
Please take time to read this article by my friend, Dr. John Waters, pastor of First Baptist Church in Statesboro, GA. I could not help but think of our challenge to our members to read through the Bible this year.
Until Sunday: The Most Important Part of the Day: "Developing the discipline and habit of daily devotions and time alone with God is not easy. Each new day presents itself full of activity..."
Until Sunday: The Most Important Part of the Day: "Developing the discipline and habit of daily devotions and time alone with God is not easy. Each new day presents itself full of activity..."
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