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The Great Commission Window

This window was dedicated to the Glory of God and in memory of John Barney Johnson (1797-1884, Mary Ellen Massey Johnson (1802-1859), William Raleigh Johnson (1830-1870), and Sarah Ann Oakham Johnson (1833-1890).

This one-of-a-kind window, unique to Churchland Baptist Church alone, depicts our congregation's history as it bears out the theme "Go Ye and Teach All Nations," a phrase taken from the oft-quoted Matthew 28:19: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

Main Scene:
Standing atop the globe, Christ sends his disciples into the world to tell "all nations" about "the pearl of great price," the Good News that God loves them and will eternally reach out to reconcile them to himself.

Vignette:
Portrays Paul, in the midst of his second missionary journey, standing atop Mars Hill in what is now Athens, Greece.

Upper Roundel:
Depicts a ship with a cross on its sail, which not only represents the Church Universal but also harkens back to Noah's ark, the ship by which God spared "the remnant."

Lower Roundel:
Features a Bible with a pilgrim's staff, representative of Paul.

Diamonds:
Beginning in the top left corner and "reading" down, we see:

1. the world
2. the inscription "Shoulders Hill Baptist Church, 1785," representative of the establishment of our congregation
3. a small, plain white, rural meeting house and the date 1829 - our second building and the date of its construction
4. a brown church of the Civil War era, dated 1868 Beginning in the top right corner and "reading" down, we see:
5. two globes
6. a white frame church and the date 1884
7. the old brick sanctuary, erected in 1911 and demolished in 1978
8. the present sanctuary and the date of its construction, 1963. 

To close this walk around the windows inside the sanctuary, the words of Dr. Albert Schweitzer are perhaps most appropriate:
He comes to us as One unknown, without a name, as of old, by the lake-side, He came to those men who knew him not. He speaks to us the same word: "Follow thou me!" and sets us to the tasks which He has to fulfill for our time. He commands. And to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal Himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings, which they shall pass through in His fellowship, and, as an ineffable mystery, they shall learn in their own experience Who He is.

Continue to Narthex Windows:
​The Disciples Window