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HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
, ™" ' 7 ; ——
Journal Nancy Hawk
Cross Point Baptist staff members, from left, secretary Judy deFore, Associate Pastor Scott McMillian, Associate
Pastor Jason Mangrum and Lead Pastor Jeremy Morton at Cross Point Baptist Church in Perry.
Leading the way at Cross Point
By NANCY HAWK
Journal Staff Writer
Cross Point Baptist
Church “exists to reach
the un-churched with the
Gospel in a real, relevant
and relational way.” Cross
Point has made this con
nection with community
and regional folks so suc
cessfully, that the church
has grown from a small 41
member congregation to
a membership of over 600
plus, in just more than four
years.
Cross Point is a member
of the Southern Baptist
Convention and is one of 58
churches within the local
association. Jeremy Morton,
25, is the pastor. The church
building has 30,000 square
feet of worship space and
sits on 40 acres of rolling
farm country. Morton and
his wife, Carrie are busy
in the special ministry to
the church as well as in
education. Carrie Morton is
working towards a Masters
in Family and marriage
counseling. Morton is a
graduate of Brewton-Parker
College, and soon to gradu
Little things really do mean a lot
The phrase, “Little
things mean a lot,” is
often used to empha
size the value of small acts
of thoughtfulness. The sig
nificance of the phrase was
impressed upon my mind
and heart by the touch of a
young man’s hand and two
unexpected words.
It was my privilege and
honor to present the invoca
tion for a sixth grade grad
uating class. Seated with
other adult participants, I
remained on stage during
the ceremony.
Students filed off stage,
one by one, passing by the
group of proud adults. One
student, however, gently
tapped me on the shoulder
and softly uttered, “Thank
You.”
That small gesture of
thoughtfulness has never
faded from my memory. Not
only did it impress upon my
mind and heart the signifl
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ate of New Orleans Baptist
Theological Seminary.
Morton is a lifetime
church worker. He came to
Houston County as a little
boy, growing here in the
Second Baptist Church fam
ily of which his father, Music
Minister Gary Morton. The
senior Morton is a source
of inspiration to his oldest
son. “ I really look up to my
father,” Morton said with
no hesitation.
When referring to the
church’s phenomenal
growth, Pastor Morton,
places the credit, “directly
with God who has blessed
us, in allowing us to serve
a perfect God.” At 25 years
old, this pastor has observed
other churches and how
they suffer with the worries
of today’s church life. “Our
church has been spared the
petty traps. We have a uni
fied worship, a fellowship,
relation which you are truly
a member of our community
where your gifts and talents
are so important; where you
can connect not with, just
other people but with your
creator.”
cance of an ordinary phrase,
it stimulated an awareness
of the value of two typical
words.
Hopefully, somewhere
along life’s way I have
passed on to another that
feeling of
warmth
and love
which
was gen
era t e d
to me
through
a gentle
touch
and a soft
spoken,
“Thank
Earline Cole
Reflections
You.” It is a little thing, but
“Little things do mean a lot!
Over 25 years have passed
since the touch of the stu
dent’s hand and his words
of kindness were impressed
upon my mind and heart.
Just recently the memory
was revived as I sat in the
LONGHORN
BUTCHER SHOP
Your HomrowN Burcm Sim 1976
1207 Sunset Ave. • Perrv Pla/a
Perry, GA 31069
Lee Lassvter 478-987-5711
Greer Lavscter
v
Cross Points adult minis
tries are active and attuned
to the modern life, while
keeping focused on the
Bible. Men’s Ministry is
described in this way.
“The men of Cross Point
meet together periodically
to promote brotherhood
with closer bond., 11 Morton
believes, “the focus is on
raising up men of charac
ter and integrity. Men are
the main gauge of the fam
ily,” the pastor portrays this
ministry by this outlook, “it
is a man’s job to love his
wife, love his children, even
to love his job. This family
is a calling in its own way.”
To strengthen the men
of the church the meet for
prayer on the first Monday
of every month. They pray
about all things in their life
and strength the boundaries
that define a Godly man.”
Women’s Ministry is
described by the church as
striving to meet “the spiri
tual, physical and emotional
needs of women.”
Children’s ministry is a
kaleidoscope of opportunity
no matter the age; AWANA
waiting room of Dr. Robert
Bridges.
In conversation with
another patient, a young
man was overheard mak
ing mention of Bonaire.
“Are you from Bonaire?”, I
inquired. “Yes Ma’am,” he
responded. “I grew up in
the sub-division off Moody
Road (near the park). “What
is your name?” I further
inquired.
The young man told me
his name and was attempt
ing to tell me the name
of his well-known dad. His
introduction was quickly
interrupted as I stood and
asked, “Do you mind if I
hug your neck?” He gra
ciously obliged, not having
the foggiest notion of who
the hug was coming from.
With his memory refreshed,
he voluntarily returned
the hug. My eyes were a bit
misty as Zachary and I
See COLE, page 6B
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9 9 /4(truxti9Ki
478-988-2448
740 Main Street
Perry GA 31069
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W OF PERRY
Please worship at the
church of your choice
1006 Main St. • Pern
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RELIGION
-third through sixth grade,
pre-school through 6th
grade, and a children’s
praise service on Sunday.
The pastor says, “It takes
kind, generous talented
people, who will spend the
time, that are led by the
Lord who provides all that
we have.”
What sort of inspiration is
left for the future ? “Forty
acres are there and with
God’s guidance we have
many opportunities possi
ble. Future promises could
be; a Sports and Recreation
Ministry, Develop and staff
a Children’s daycare, a
launch pad for missions.
“Churches want people
to come in but they also
want to send the strength
Christian out to do missions
elsewhere.”
Morton says that Cross
Point asks three things of
its people; love God, love
each other and serve the
world. He welcomes visitors
to Cross Point, “it is bet
ter to spend one day in the
presence of the Lord than
a thousand days elsewhere.
Psalm 84:10.”'
Submitted
If you have old Christmas cards, the Christmas Card club volunteers can put them to
good use. They made 1942 alphabet books from old Christmas Cards last year. The books
went to First Baptist Perry, Perry Methodist Church, PVO and the Salvation Army. If you
have cards you would like to donate drop them by Perry UMC or Crossroads UMC. This
is an ongoing project and all occasions cards are also accepted. They had their wrap
ping party at Cathy Shaw’s House. Front row from left, Lisa Gentry, Susan Cantrell,
Elizabeth Fountain, Marjorie Deibert, Aileen Hardin, Geri Little, James Little; middle row
from left, Evelyn LeVan, Shelia Gentry, Nancy Golder, Fran Hartman, Suzanne Moore,
Doris Clay, Ken LeVan, Dee Glover, Lou Glover; back row, Joy Albright, Cathy Shaw.
Perry
Drug Company
Friendly. Professional Sen/ice
Ben Bartlett & Hubert Bennett,
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1036 MACON BD. • PERBV, GA
988-1144
Arnold’s Auto Service
1202 Main St.
Perry, Ga. 31069
Complete Car Maintenance
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Call Thomas or Shelby
987-94.19
__ uwmal
100042313
Dictators face an
ignominious end
Saddam Hussein ruled
Iraq with an iron fist
for 24 years, from 1979
to 2003. He killed and tor
tured thousands of Iraqi citi
zens considered threats to
his dicta
torship.
He stood
defiantly
before
the world,
thumbing
his nose
at world
powers
that con
dem n e d
his atroci-
Hilly I’i.u.ll
Columnist
ties, yet when American forc
es invaded his homeland, he
was forced to flee his palatial
estates, living in a spider
hole like an animal for eight
months. After capture by
American soldiers, Saddam
was tried by his own people
Appeasement rarely
works in relationships
Question: Earlier this
year, my husband of 11 years
announced that he didn’t
love me anymore. Joe told
me that he would be leav
ing, though by begging and
pleading
with him,
he agreed
to stay for
a while.
Then one
night he
became
cruel and
said many
mean
things
before
walking
out.
Dr. James
Dobson
Focus on the Family
Every time I see him, I
humiliate myself. I beg him
to call the kids and me, but
he only says, “I don’t want
to talk to you.” I tell him
how much I love him, and
Christmas cards
Perry
Antique Mall
631 Courtney Hodges Blvd.
Perry, GA 31069
next to Perrv A nitiial Hospital
478-987-8775
&NGC perryantiques@alltel.net
#OIOI7B CCUiCiaiS
—'
100042324
1812 II.S. 41 N.
Perry, GA
987-1112
Qt&mocs
FloonngfiMSlCA
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2007 ♦
and hanged for his crimes
against humanity.
The lives of many tyrants
have come to ignominious
ends. India’s Mohandas
Gandhi observed that dicta
tors “can seem to be invin
cible, but in the end they
always fall.” Prime exam
ples are rulers of the axis
countries aligned against the
United States in World War
11. Germany’s Adolf Hitler
was forced to commit suicide
to prevent his capture by
Soviet troops. Italy’s Benito
Mussolini was tried by the
Italian people and execut
ed; his dead corpse hung by
its heels for public display
in Milan, Italy. After the
Japanese surrender in 1945,
the wartime prime minister,
Hideki Tojo, and six other
Japanese leaders were tried
and executed.
See POWELL, page 6B
he’ll reply, “I have no love
for you! I don’t hate you, but
I don’t love you either.”
I was recently told by my
doctor that I must have sur
gery on my eyes and that
I might possibly lose my
vision. Out of fear and panic,
I broke down and called my
husband, but he respond
ed with indifference to the
news. I asked if he would
take me to the hospital and
stay in the waiting room
while I had the surgery. Joe
hesitated and then said,
“Well, I guess so.” Why is
Joe acting this way to me? Is
there something I am doing
wrong?
Dobson: I’m going to
speak very directly to you,
although I understand
the pain that you’re going
through There is no greater
heartache in life than to be
See DOBSON, pahe 6B
Serving Houston County
Perry • Warner Robins
Member FDIC
CBsr
Bank of Middle Georgia
'Ttecv
uten&
736 Main Street
Perry, Georgia 31069
Jackie & Terry Mullis
987*1965 (khu , g
00042315
3B
00042314