|
Established 1987
The history of Life Center Ministries began through
a series of events within a short period of time. These events began
in 1984 when Mary Crum, a devout Christian counselor attended a conference
in the panhandle of Florida. The teaching and the Biblical revelation
began to change her life.
 Although
she and her husband, Buddy Crum, had been active within their local
church for many years, there was a difference at that time in her understanding
of the scriptures. They had both been active in helping to start a new
church in Dunwoody in 1981.
The next event was the death of Mr. Norman Berg who
was a neighbor of the Crum's. Mr. Berg had moved to Dunwoody in 1938
to be in the country. He had bought some land there, about 50 acres
to keep his birddogs. He was an avid hunter. Just prior to his death
he had sold the land to a developer to build homes and the shopping
center known today as Orchard Park. He had kept approximately five acres
for his home. The land he kept was the original home place for a dairy
farm that had been in place since the mid 1800's. He had converted the
original milking barn to his personal home. There was also a small house,
near Mt. Vernon Road, that had been the home for the dairy farmer originally
and he had used it for authors to write their books. Mr. Berg was a
publisher and had a number of now famous authors living in this little
rustic house. After the death of Mr. Berg the Crum's knew the land would
be sold to a developer.
 Since
their home was adjacent to the property (white house where Mt. Vernon
and Dunwoody Club divide), they desired to buy a buffer zone before
it was sold. In the negotiations with Sean Berg, son and heir of the
property, the Crum's bought all of the land instead of a buffer strip.
In order to utilize the property, Buddy Crum moved his consulting firm
to the old house. In 1985 Mary Crum received a vision from the Lord
while she was praying concerning the property next door. She has recorded
this vision on tape. Although much of the vision was not understood
at that time, it was clear God had a purpose for the property. Soon
after that the Crum's, still attending a conference each month in North
West Florida, began having ministry in the "old barn" once
a month. They were still active in their local church. Soon the monthly
meeting grew to twice a month then by 1986 to once a week. In 1986 they
received a call from God to become full time ministers as a husband
and wife team and were ordained as ministers of the Gospel by Christian
International Ministries. They did not know at that time they were to
begin a church.
In 1987 along with nine original families who wanted
to be part of a church, they felt it was time to begin a church. Then
Pastor Buddy Crum continued to work in his consulting business and Pastor
Mary Crum was the acting Pastor. The church began to grow and in 1990
they both made the transition to full time Pastoring of the church.
 They
began a building program as the church grew to accommodate the growth.
The intent was to build the new building without borrowing. Because
of this decision the new facilities were under construction for several
years. When Atlanta was awarded the 1996 Olympics the church decided
to borrow enough money to finish the building because of the anticipated
increase in building cost. So in October of 1996 the old "barn"
was razed and the new building was dedicated to the use of the church.
|
