History
Life
Center Was Established In 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.
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