Making Clarendon a lighthouse for the Lord is the mission of one local man as he erects white crosses and signs with inspired messages for all to see.
Jim Griffin says all his efforts are to be a witness for Jesus Christ and to plant seeds that people need in order to find their way to the Lord because the time is short.
“It’s not for anyone’s glory but God’s,” Griffin said, “and seeds are all the Holy Spirit needs to work with.”
Over the past several months, Griffin’s calling has led him to erect between 40 and 50 ten-foot tall crosses and a dozen or more signs that measure four feet by eight feet.
Permission is given by every property owner where the signs or crosses are located, Griffin said. The crosses are constructed of 4-inch thick-wall PVC and are concreted three feet in the ground, and the signs bear messages such as “Repent: Call unto Jesus. The end is near!” and “Receive Jesus. He died for your sins. Behold! The final day approaches.”
Griffin says it’s all designed to make people think and get them into a relationship with Jesus, and he says the wording for the signs comes to him after studying the Bible, hearing messages at church, and listening to inspirational CDs and sources.
“It’s all right from God’s word,” Griffin said.
One of his latest signs invokes the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States to convey its message. “911 Tragedy. Worse things coming! Find Jesus!”
“If you look at Syria and what’s going on in the Middle East and you study the books of Daniel and Revelation and others, you see it,” Griffin said. “Within two years we’re going to have a major catastrophe and be in a war. We are on the verge of the rapture at the doorstep.”
Griffin says he is just trying to follow Christ’s great commission to his disciples to spread the gospel, and he says many churches spend money to send missionaries oversees but don’t reach out to those here at home who need Jesus.
“I don’t want to see anyone go to hell; I want to see us all go to heaven,” said the 68-year-old who has battled cancer and other maladies.
His work hasn’t been without its critics, but he says he doesn’t let that bother him.
“I have had some persecution, but Jesus and his disciples were persecuted,” he said. “I’ve heard one comment that the crosses look like the work of a cult. Whoever believes that doesn’t know what a cult is. A cult doesn’t follow Jesus.”
But Griffin says he also has people who believe in what he’s doing, volunteers who help him install the crosses and signs, and others who have made positive comments.
“A lot of people tell me how blessed they are to have seen it,” he said. “You won’t see any other town that has done what Clarendon has for Christ.”
The mission has not been cheap. Each cross cost $70 to $100 for the material, and each sign costs between $250 and $525. Griffin says he’s paid for 60 to 75 percent of all that cost himself but says he has had some donations.
“I won’t take anybody’s money unless they have a willing heart,” he said. “If they offer money because they feel they have to or they’re ashamed, I won’t take their money.”
For crosses that have been requested outside of Clarendon – in Hedley, Howardwick, Dumas, and one in Colorado – he asks those folks to pay for the materials. But he says if someone can’t afford it, he will still make one for them.
Griffin’s work is also partly a response to the words of President Barack Obama.
“Obama said we’re not a Christian nation anymore,” Griffin said. “Well, I want the world to know that we are a Christian community. A few crosses would have been fine, but a lot of crosses makes an impact.”
Griffin says it is not his intention to demean anyone who believes differently than he does and he says everyone is welcome in Clarendon, but he says he wants to spread the message that he feels is vitally important.
“There is only one way to heaven… through the cross of Calvary,” Griffin said. “Do not be deceived.”
I love it. He should put a banner from one side of the street to the other at both end’s of town,that proudly proclaims Jesus is Lord of Clarendon. I think that its awesome that this man has stepped out and proclaimed his faith in Jesus. My family has lived in Clarendon for over 50yrs,my Grand parents cofounded a church in town.They taught me Christian principle’s and faith from a young age.
If there are some folk’s that are offended so what thats their problem,maybe I would be offened by the way they cut their hair or dress and that would be my problem.The Bible say’s dont be offended.He is simply and affecttivly exspressing is faith and love for Jesus and others,of course some will be offended and hurt. That’s what happens when we are told the truth of the word of God. Truth hurt’s.
We came through Clarendon this past weekend and loved what we saw. I got so excited that a town would not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. Thank you Clarendon. I also read a comment from a gentleman and his wife from Houston and they were freaked out by the crossed. Sounds like they watch to many scary movies to me. Anyway, we take our hats off to a town that would be so bold and take a stand. Good for all you good citizens.