| As concrete was poured, a bible was placed in the foundation of the ministry building |
| Lori & Jim Bakker and Jerry |
| Jerry Crawford |
Jim Bakker moves ministry to southern Stone County
By Cindy Hembree, Stone County Gazette
Jim Bakker is in the process of moving his worldwide ministry to southern Stone County. Beginning
this month, Bakker will be broadcasting live from the atrium at Morningside, located near the
intersection of Hwy 86 and 13 in Blue Eye. Veeda Smith, producer of The New Jim Bakker Show,
stated, “The staff and crew of The New Jim Bakker Show are hopeful to have Jan. 28 as the first
broadcasting date from our new location.” Program Director Keith Buchanan added, “We’re just
waiting on the power.” Once everything is ready to go, all of the broadcasts taped in the Blue Eye
studio, located in the heart of the new development, will be open to the general public.
Morningside is a creation of Bakker and land developer Jerry Crawford. “The name Morningside
comes from scriptures,” said Bakker. “The Bible says God’s mercies are new every morning. It also
states that joy comes in the morning.” Bakker and his family will reside at Morningside, along with
many others who are starting to move there.
Morningside has been a dream of Jerry Crawford’s for more than 20 years. It began when he and
his wife, Dee, attended a marriage seminar sponsored by Bakker at Heritage USA in Fort Mill, SC.
Crawford was so blessed there that he wanted to bless others with a similar place of refuge, he
said. Bakker met Crawford for the first time nine years ago in California. The two men forged a
friendship and the seed of Morningside was planted. Heritage USA, a four-square-mile
development, was the inspiration behind Crawford’s dream, but on a much larger scale. However,
Crawford said he never thought his idea would become a project of this magnitude. “We didn’t
choose Blue Eye, Blue Eye chose us,” Crawford said. “Blue Eye was God’s choice.”
The Morningside development, set on a 560-acre lot, is scheduled to be the site for 1,700 new
dwellings that consist of condos, town homes and single family homes. The atrium at Morningside is
a building with a small village inside. There is a cobalt blue halo that illuminates the entire
circumference of the dome ceiling. On the lower level there are several spaces being made
ready for boutiques, gift shops, Bible/book stores, a restaurant, meeting and Bible study rooms, a
chapel and a conference room. Each of the stores are fashioned in Old World style architecture.
The upper portion of the atrium is decorated with silk plants. There are 115 one, two and three
bedroom condominiums still under construction. The prices range from $87,300 to $350,000. All of
the condos will be fully equipped with washers and dryers, granite counter tops, smooth top
ranges with continuous clean ovens, refrigerators with ice makers, microwave ovens and garbage
disposals. The floor plans will be similar, but the interior color scheme is chosen by the individual
buyer.
Although the complex is opening in two weeks, not all of the shops will be up and running. There is
still a lot of work to be done. Many of the workers are occupants awaiting the finishing touches to
be done on their new dwellings within the boundaries of the new development. Several people
volunteer their time to other parts of the project on the premises. Some even make lunch for the
workers and volunteers.
Talking with the residents is a real joy. There is already a sense of unity and love that is beyond
compare. Morningside is a place where a new resident will quickly find friends and visitors will not
feel like strangers. For more information on The New Jim Bakker Show broadcast, go to www.
jimbakkershow.com. For more information about the Morningside development in Blue Eye, go
online to www.morningsidemo.com or email info@morningsidemo.com.
Jan-19-08 | Stone County Gazette
By Cindy Hembree, Stone County Gazette
Jim Bakker is in the process of moving his worldwide ministry to southern Stone County. Beginning
this month, Bakker will be broadcasting live from the atrium at Morningside, located near the
intersection of Hwy 86 and 13 in Blue Eye. Veeda Smith, producer of The New Jim Bakker Show,
stated, “The staff and crew of The New Jim Bakker Show are hopeful to have Jan. 28 as the first
broadcasting date from our new location.” Program Director Keith Buchanan added, “We’re just
waiting on the power.” Once everything is ready to go, all of the broadcasts taped in the Blue Eye
studio, located in the heart of the new development, will be open to the general public.
Morningside is a creation of Bakker and land developer Jerry Crawford. “The name Morningside
comes from scriptures,” said Bakker. “The Bible says God’s mercies are new every morning. It also
states that joy comes in the morning.” Bakker and his family will reside at Morningside, along with
many others who are starting to move there.
Morningside has been a dream of Jerry Crawford’s for more than 20 years. It began when he and
his wife, Dee, attended a marriage seminar sponsored by Bakker at Heritage USA in Fort Mill, SC.
Crawford was so blessed there that he wanted to bless others with a similar place of refuge, he
said. Bakker met Crawford for the first time nine years ago in California. The two men forged a
friendship and the seed of Morningside was planted. Heritage USA, a four-square-mile
development, was the inspiration behind Crawford’s dream, but on a much larger scale. However,
Crawford said he never thought his idea would become a project of this magnitude. “We didn’t
choose Blue Eye, Blue Eye chose us,” Crawford said. “Blue Eye was God’s choice.”
The Morningside development, set on a 560-acre lot, is scheduled to be the site for 1,700 new
dwellings that consist of condos, town homes and single family homes. The atrium at Morningside is
a building with a small village inside. There is a cobalt blue halo that illuminates the entire
circumference of the dome ceiling. On the lower level there are several spaces being made
ready for boutiques, gift shops, Bible/book stores, a restaurant, meeting and Bible study rooms, a
chapel and a conference room. Each of the stores are fashioned in Old World style architecture.
The upper portion of the atrium is decorated with silk plants. There are 115 one, two and three
bedroom condominiums still under construction. The prices range from $87,300 to $350,000. All of
the condos will be fully equipped with washers and dryers, granite counter tops, smooth top
ranges with continuous clean ovens, refrigerators with ice makers, microwave ovens and garbage
disposals. The floor plans will be similar, but the interior color scheme is chosen by the individual
buyer.
Although the complex is opening in two weeks, not all of the shops will be up and running. There is
still a lot of work to be done. Many of the workers are occupants awaiting the finishing touches to
be done on their new dwellings within the boundaries of the new development. Several people
volunteer their time to other parts of the project on the premises. Some even make lunch for the
workers and volunteers.
Talking with the residents is a real joy. There is already a sense of unity and love that is beyond
compare. Morningside is a place where a new resident will quickly find friends and visitors will not
feel like strangers. For more information on The New Jim Bakker Show broadcast, go to www.
jimbakkershow.com. For more information about the Morningside development in Blue Eye, go
online to www.morningsidemo.com or email info@morningsidemo.com.
Jan-19-08 | Stone County Gazette
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