Historic Church Embraces Newcomers

Website: www.logcabinchurch.com

Services: 10:45 a.m.

Worship Style: Traditional.

Average Attendance: 40

Pastor: Rev. Rich Landers

Affiliation: Nondenominational

Mission statement:

“To provide a meeting place for the community—a place to study and worship together, a friendly spirit, an atmosphere of reverence.”

History:

In May 1912, a log cabin became home to a Cobb County religious center, named the Log Cabin Union Sunday School.

In 1919, a larger cabin was built. The original was renovated and now is used for Sunday school and community meetings. Members recently discovered a quilt made by the ladies aid group in 1934. The coverlet has been framed and hangs in the church.

The stone chapel was built in 1949 for worship services, and has become a popular wedding chapel.

Pastor’s path:

The Kansas native, son of missionary parents, grew up in Brazil but moved back to the United States to attend Yale Divinity School. He was ordained as an American Baptist minister in 1995.

Landers served a rural New York church and an urban Chicago congregation before moving to Georgia in August 2008, when his wife accepted a teaching position at Candler School of Theology.

Landers’ part-time pastoral position allows him to participate in the chaplaincy training program at Emory Hospital and serve as a case manager for Mental Health Georgia in Tucker, working with teens and their parents.

Ministries:

The church’s origins as an education center are lived out today, through topical sermon series like the current one:  “Life-Changing Actions: 10 things to do to change your life.” Landers explores what the Bible says about topics such as listening, reading, and meditating, and offers practical life applications.

The church is the birthplace of Boy Scout Troop 1, which continues to meet, and hosts several Girl Scout troops. Members support MUST Ministries with weekly collections.

Landers points out several new traditions, including a Blessing of the Animals service and neighborhood community picnic each fall. This year’s Easter egg hunt hosted 100 children.

Many of the church’s neighbors are young and single folks, according to the pastor, who wants the community to know that the historic church welcome newcomers.

“Log Cabin connects you with some spiritual roots and tradition but it also allows you to come in and be yourself, be who you are,” said Landers. “You won’t feel that you’re stepping back in time here.”

Thoughts from the pastor:

“The gift of faith is a truthful awareness of who we are as people with both our burdens and saving graces. We encounter this truth about ourselves in the presence of a living God in worship and in our daily lives.  What excites me about our church members is that their faith is as distinct and personal as the lives they lead. The gift of faith is not ‘one size fits all’.”