Dr. J. David Griffin, Senior Minister. ( dgriffin@tds.net ) Dr. Griffin began his ministry on October 6th. He comes to Cherry Log Christian church after ministries in Atlanta, Euless (TX), Tulsa (OK), Kokomo (IN), and Winterville (NC). He is a lifelong Disciple. He is a graduate of Atlantic Christian (Barton) College (B.A.), and Brite Divinity School (TX) (M.Div., D.Min.). He has done post doctoral studies at the C. G. Jung Institute in Zurich, Switzerland. He is married to Jane Alexander, and together they have 4 children and seven grandchildren.
Dr. Fred Craddock ( craddockcenter@tds.net ) is minister emeritus of Cherry Log Christian Church in Cherry Log Georgia. He is Bandy Distinguished Professor of Preaching and New Testament, Emeritus, in the Candler School of Theology, Emory University. Much sought after as a lecturer, he has delivered the Lyman Beecher Lectures at Yale, the Scott Lectures at Clarmeont School of Theology, the Adams Lectures at Southeastern Baptist Seminary, The Schaff Lectures at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, the Cole Lectures at Vanderbilt, the Westervelt Lectures at Austin Presbyterian Seminary, the Mullins Lectures at Southern Seminary and Earl Lectures at Pacific School of Religion. Dr. Craddock has traveled the World giving lectures in many Countries. Dr. Craddock has written a number of books and contributed articles to various journals.
Richard Lumpkin, Minister of Music, ( dogwood@tds.net ) is the son of a Methodist minister. He has spent 27 years serving as a music director in a number of churches in the southeast. Mr. Lumpkin’s formal education was from Kennesaw State College where he was the first person to receive a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal performance. Following his time in school he performed extensively in Europe and throughout the southeastern United States appearing with The Atlanta Boy Choir, Friends of Opera, Capital City Opera, and The Atlanta Chamber Opera Society. Richard’s first love however, is church music and he has served Methodist, Episcopal, and Christian (Disciples of Christ) congregations in Georgia and Florida.
Malinda Geers, Administrative Assistant ( clcc@tds.net ) is the mother of 3 grown children, two of which are twins. Malinda grew up in Smyrna, GA and moved to this area several years ago. She has been Administrative Assistant of Cherry Log Christian Church for over 2 years and looks forward to many more years.
Bob Clarke, Men's Chorale and Hand Bells Director, Bob played the flute in the shipboard band of the Idaho in WWII. Then he attended Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J. from 1946-1950. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree having majored in voice and piano. He attended Emory University’s Candler School of Theology and received a master’s degree in Christian Education. Bob went to the First Christian Church of Decatur (Disciples of Christ) in Decatur, Georgia as Minister of Music and to develop a Youth and Children’s choir program. He retired from this church on Easter Sunday, 1996 after 46 years of service. In July of 1998 Dr. Fred Craddock, known from his membership at Decatur while he was at Emory, called and asked if Bob and Ida-Anne would come to Cherry Log and organize a choir program and music library for his new church. Since they were living in Decatur at the time, they gave 18 months until our present director, Richard Lumpkin, and pianist, Birdie Towle-Bright, were called. Bob directs the Chime Bell Choir of twelve that shares in worship services occasionally. Richard Lumpkin, the current choir director, supported Bob in the organization and directing of a Men’s Chorale of some eighteen voices, accompanied by Ida-Anne. The men sing for church when asked to do so as well as sing for the community.
Birdie Towle-Bright, Accompanist has been the pianist for Cherry Log Christian Church since July, 2000. Her artistry and inspirational music is shared each week as an integral part of Sunday worship. Birdie accompanies the chancel choir and works with soloists in preparation for Sunday worship and other occasions.
Ida-Anne Clarke, Accompanist: Living in the small, farming community town of Abingdon, Illinois, Ida-Anne had wanted to play the piano from the age of six. Subsequent experience was gained accompanying the children’s choirs at Decatur First Christian Church (D. O. C.) under Bob Clarke’s direction. She has played for weddings, memorial services, substituted for church services, high-school musical competitions, and college scholarship competitions.
After leaving the public school teaching, she taught kindergarten at Bassett Kindergarten in Decatur, Georgia. She was responsible for the music program there as well as her 5 year olds’ class. From there she became the controller’s administrative assistant at Decatur Hospital and was permitted to take college level piano lessons at DeKalb Community College in Clarkston (now Perimeter College) where she also was involved in a four piano, eight-hands ensemble that performed publicly each spring for several years in the ‘70s. She accompanied church services for 3 months at Shiloh Christian Church (D.O.C.) in 2000 before moving to Blue Ridge in 2001. She served three months at the Blue Ridge United Methodist Church. Although offered a position at each church, she chose to be involved at Cherry Log Christian Church (D.O.C.) where she sings in the choir, plays chime bells or accompanies chime-bells, and accompanies the Men’s Chorale and Children’s Choir as requested, as well as being active in other expressions of the church.