There’s a new addition to Organ Lutheran Church.
At first glance, the granite statue looks like a guest book waiting to be signed, but a closer look reveals the Ten Commandments etched into the stone.
Last year, members of the Organ Men’s Group, known as the OMGs, decided they wanted the historical text displayed outside the church, member Kenny Lambert said.
Their next step was approaching fellow church member Robbie Holshouser, who works at Carolina Quarries, to see if such thing was possible.
It was, and about a year later the massive statue arrived from Rock of Ages, the parent company of Carolina Quarries.
“They did it for us, but the stipulation was that they would do it during their filler time, just working on it when things were slow,” Lambert said.
The men’s group designed the statue based on various images they found on the Internet.
The 4,300-pound structure consists of two pieces, including a book-shaped piece of stone that rests atop a pedestal base.
“I had no idea it would look as good as it does,” Lambert said. “What really fits in a church better than the Ten Commandments? When you get right down to it, that’s what we should be living by.”
Pastor Carlin Ours said he never dreamed the church would have such a monument right outside its front door.
“It’s wonderful, it fits right in,” he said. “I think most people have enjoyed looking at it.”
Ours said the Ten Commandments is a fitting document to display at the church.
“As Lutherans, we’re very traditional and orthodox,” he said. “We’re taught law in the gospel from Genesis to Revelation. What better represents the law than the Ten Commandments?”
Ours said the statue will serve as a reminder for people to follow God’s golden rules.
“We’re trying to become a discipleship church, not just a church of members,” he said. “If you want to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, there’s no better place to start than the Ten Commandments.
“This is something we want on folks’ mind as they walk out the door; we’re hoping this will push people in that direction.”