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Church Builds Giant “Statue of Liberation Through Christ” as Outreach Tool

Orginally published on Monday, July 03, 2006 at 7:04 AM
by Todd Rhoades

As drivers wait for a green light on Winchester Road, they automatically lean their heads forward to view the 72-foot sea-foam-green Statue of Liberation overlooking Hickory Hill. The towering replica of the Statue of Liberty -- with a few Christian touches -- is being erected in front of the 12,000-member World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church. Replacing the recognizable torch, Lady Liberty holds a cross.

A beige sheet veils much of the $260,000 statue and will be removed during a Fourth of July ceremony.

Lady Liberty’s uncovered eyes already peer down on the community. A tear falls from her right eye representing her concern for America.

Church members said the mixture of the statue and Christian symbols represent “America belonging to God through Jesus Christ.”

The statue’s famous inscription—“Give me your tired, your poor ...”—has been replaced with Roman numerals representing the Ten Commandments.

The seven-spiked crown that represents the seven seas of the world, has been changed to signify the seven redemptive names of Christ, according to church pastor Apostle Alton R. Williams.

Inscribed on the crown is the name Jehovah.

Workers are still assembling the Statue of Liberation for her Independence Day debut, but not all members of the community are happy.

“That church is trashing the meaning of America,” said 11-year Hickory Hill resident Evelyn Douglass.

“The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of the United States of America,” she said. “The cross represents a specific religion. It’s not right that they are mixing the two.”

Douglass now takes the long way home to avoid “the big green thing.”

[from the Commercial Appeal] You can read the rest of this article here... or view a TV report about the project here.

FOR DISCUSSION: What do you think… is this a valuable outreach?  Worth $260k?


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 TRACKBACKS: (0) There are 14 Comments:

  • Posted by Daniel

    Ewww, gross.  It’s bad enough that they would put the name “Jehovah” on the statue (which means absolutely nothing--it’s a misreading of the Hebrew YHWH with the vowels for Adonai), but to represent “America belonging to God through Jesus Christ” is ludicrous and unbiblical.  Surely they have wonderful intentions, but that Kingdom of the cross (represented by Jesus ‘power-under’ self-sacrificial Calvary love) should never be fused with any version of the kingdom of the world (he who lives by the sword dies by the sword).  God’s people on Earth is not America, it is the new Israel in Christ--his body.  And his Body transcends nationalistic allegiances, and civil boundaries.
    Maybe I’m misunderstanding the point… but the last thing I want to hear on this fourth of July week-end is some sort of pseudo-Christian state religion where the Almighty Creator of the universe cares only about America.  God cares for all people, regardless of geographic considerations.
    My two cents.

  • Posted by

    The idolatry of nationalism… pure and simple.

    God loves America best. Pretty arogant.

    I’m always wary when I see a pastor who is a “bishop” in a non-denominational framework.  All the moreso when the pastor is an “aspostle!”

  • Posted by

    I guess I only see this as an outreach to the Statue of Liberty Lovers of America who think that the Pledge of Allegiance is actually in the Bible.  Seems like a waste of money to me, with more potential negative reaction than positive.

  • Posted by

    I am so glad that he took a stand. I support him 100%.  Jesus took a stand for us and the Jewish leaders thought that he was crazy but now we have a chance to live forever.  One man
    put sin in the world and one removed by his blood. i love you my faithful brother in Christ!

  • Posted by

    I think that the pastor should focus more on getting the word in the hearts of man than shoving it down there throats. God does want liberty and truth, and yes he has rules for us to live by, but until a man in his own heart determine that he will change or respect himself enough to allow God to change him outside idolism is just that. Outside. God changes us on the inside out not the outside in. And if man will not accept the word of God as truth there is no symbol that will do it. The bible said “If I be lifted up from the earth, I’ll draw all men unto me” he does not need us to lift anything or anyone up, just him, and the only way we can truly do that is live the life. We have to be careful not to offend any brother or become the very thing we say is contrary to the word and the will of God. we must remember that “there is a way that seemth right to a man but the end there of is the way of death” My brother pastor, please be careful for nothing and don’t let your good be evil spoken of. And it does matter what people think, and to me it is paganistic and i feel that it might as well have been the virgin mary or some other saint if you are going to do it like that. God bless you and i pray that we all make it in. Don’t forget if meat offend my brother, then what will we do about that. Brother, you know, and please don’t get well my people believe in what i am doing. They believe in you and you persuade them, God hold you accountable. What does that statue have to do with salvation and saving lives when it is surely making people not want to even pass by, and if you don’t care then what type of cult are you starting.

  • It great some one can put up a cross and remove one ,, it looks like the Statue Of Liberty marching as to war with the ACLU with the cross of Jesus go on before

  • Posted by

    I absolutely adore the “Statue of Liberation”.  Since the Statue of Liberty is suppose to represent freedom, most nationalities can honestly say that they were not welcomed into this country.  The Statue of Liberation lets me know that God loves and accepts me for who I am.  What Americans are forgetting is that this country was founded on Christian values and someone had to take a stand before America has turned his back away from God.

    World Overcomers Church had donated millions to different charities, the poor, single mothers, elderly, and the list goes on. On the day of the unveiling of the statue, the church had FREE food, drinks, rides all day. You could go back as many times as you like.  To me, that’s giving to the poor and feeding the hungry. God wants America to come back to him and Pastor Williams did not build the statue for people to idolize it, but it is there to remind people of the cross that Jesus beared for all mankind.  The tear is for the lost souls that God is crying for the lost souls to surrender all to him. Go to http://www.worldovercomers.org for the rest of the information because it is self-explainatory. For over a year, it is a HUGE Buddha that sits on a street in Memphis, why did I not see a write up about that? I truly believe that the fuss is not truly the statue alone, but it is the CROSS because it bring conviction. Thank you.

    Another important note, Pastor Williams had a 12 million dollar debt on the mega-church and the church paid the debt off in 5 years.  That should be something you should consider writing about. Good day.~

  • Posted by Jeff

    No, the fuss is definitely over the statue.  A huge monstrosity now sits out in front of a church, the money of which could have really helped the poor and tired huddled masses.  And really, were those poor the ones benefiting from the free food?  Were there lines and lines of homeless and welfare mothers eating as many hot dogs as they wanted?  Or was it just church members who helped the pastor pay off the church’s debt?

    The cross doesn’t call us to pour a bunch of money into statues.  That’s one of the last things that it represents.

  • Posted by

    Really, it was more than just the members of the church celebrating the fourth of July. This event was opened up to anyone who wanted to come. Were you there to see if the poor and mothers on welfare stand in the lines to receive food? The church was paid off, because the pastor and his congregation was being obedient to God. I believe that paying off a 12 million dollar church, while helping those in need, and doing many things for the community is a very big accomplishment. That is a blessing. I am supporting Apostle Williams 150% . So, say what you want to say. The statue will stay regardless of the negative comments that are being made.

  • Posted by

    I want to comment back to Jeff. It were hundreds of people that came to the church to support the event.  Some ate food and rode rides just like some of the people did that are members of the church.  I still noticed that you didn’t make a comment on the Buddha statue.  I don’t know how much it cost exactly, but I assure you that it was very expensive.  Deep down if you search your heart and ask God to give you an open mind about the statue he will. I do believe within my heart that God is very well pleased because we as the body of Christ at World Overcomers are sticking behind our pastor.  Their are things like violence, abortions, rape, and molestation happening daily across our nation and it’s really sad.  I believe that God gave Pastor Williams this vision because it will give people Hope that their is a God somewhere and that he is concerned about them.  Jeff, I pray that you and others will open up your hearts and look at the statue for more than just a statue. No, it’s so much more than that to me.  To me, it stands for truth, liberty, self-worth, integrity, and most of all love.  I want you to know that I really do appreciate the commment because I enjoy talking about my relationship with God with you.  The statue also brings conviction to me when I’ve sinned and immediately I ask for forgiveness.  I assure you that it’s nothing monstrous about the statue, but it’s all glorious.
    Good day.~

  • Posted by

    Tiffany, I can’t answer for Jeff, but my guess is that he and the other posters here have not made a comment about the Buddha statue, because Buddhists are pagans, and constructing idols, either in their hearts, or in this case physically, is something that pagans do.  That is why we call them pagans.  They are making no pretense about being Christians, who are not supposed to have idols.  It’s interesting to me that you are the one making the connection between the Buddha statue and your statue.  “The statue also brings conviction to me when I’ve sinned and immediately I ask for forgiveness” This statement here makes me uncomfortable, Tiffany, because that statue is nothing but a lifeless sculpture, and yet you’re attributing to it properties of the Holy Spirit.  I’m sure, or at least I hope, that your church is not actually worshiping the statue, but Jesus did say “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”.  There’s some serious treasure in that statue.  The other issue is that the message of the statue seems to intertwine the USA & Jesus.  The two are not the same; nor are their fates tied together.  God Bless, Nora

  • Posted by Jeff

    Valerie wrote, ‘Were you there to see if the poor and mothers on welfare stand in the lines to receive food?’ No.  That’s why I asked if there were any actually there.  Were those truly in need of free food in attendance?  And obviously, the statue stands regardless of what I think.  The statue also stands whether it was a good use of stewardship.

    To Tiffany, I didn’t say anything about the Buddha because I don’t really care.  This Statue of Liberation, however, is an ‘in-house’ issue as it were, and that’s why I took an interest.  As I said, this is a stewardship issue, and I don’t consider it good stewardship to erect a $250 million 72-foot statue in the hopes that people are convicted.

    I figured that the cross was enough for that.  Jesus paid with his life for what he said and did.  And as we look upon that cross, the crucified Christ challenges us to think about whether this is what he died for: a big expensive statue while the poor, blind, and lame continue to suffer.  Jesus had a lot to say about the latter, not so much about the former.

  • Posted by

    The statue is not to be worshipped and it is not.  We are not idolizing the statue. Nora when I said that when I look at the cross it made me want to repent, you took it way out of context.  When I look at the statue, the cross reminds me of all of the sacrifices Jesus made for me.  So that’s why I made that statement. Nora, this country was founded on biblical principles and that’s why Jesus is part of the USA and they do mix. Jeff let me correct you on the price of the statue it wasn’t $250 million it was $260,000.  That let’s me know that you haven’t been getting all of the details correctly.  I would encourage you and others to visit the website about the statue and I assure you that we aren’t worshipping anything or anybody but God at our church.  Like I said before, I pray that you ask God to open up your heart to what our church has done.  Their are so many ungodly things that happen every minute in the USA, but when a church takes a bold step and do something out of the norm it makes people a little uncomfortable.  I hope that I have helped to enlighten you about our statue and encourage you again to go to the website and get all the information then I will respond back to you.  Have a wonderful and blessed day.~

  • Posted by

    Also, I forgot to mention that the young lady, Evelyn Douglass read more into the statue and did a little research of her own and now she loves the statue.  She came to our church and apologized to our congregation and to our pastor and she is behind us 100%.

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