Posted on 04/19/2014 6:23:29 AM PDT by Gamecock
A church in Grapevine, Texas, is getting into the Easter spirit this week by creating a giant chalk-portrait of Jesus Christ in their parking lot.
Fellowship Church is led by Pastor Ed Young, who started the evangelical Christian church in 1990 with about 150 people in Irving. They now have 10 church campuses worldwide. His father is Dr. Ed Young, the head of Second Baptist here in Houston.
According to church spokesman Andy Boyd, the 17,000-square-foot drawing of the face of Jesus took 700 volunteers over 9,100 man-hours to create. They also used 6,700 individual pieces of chalk and 125 bags of charcoal, for the black parts of the drawing. The creation is little under half the size of a football field.
The project was only days in the planning stages, Boyd says. Pastor Young woke up with the idea and set out to make it a reality.
"He got the idea a week ago to create the world's largest chalk Jesus," Boyd said. One week later, volunteers showed up to make it happen.
"Work began at 7 a.m. on Wednesday morning and worked until the sun went down that night," says Boyd. It took a little over 12 hours to create.
It can be seen from planes flying into and out of nearby Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
It's a part of the church's Art of Easter celebration, based on the pastor's current sermon series, which runs through this weekend. Boyd said Young will be painting as a part of his sermons this weekend.
Easter and Christmas are the two biggest holidays when people who don't have a relationship with a church go looking for one, Boyd said. The drawing is a way to create interest in the church.
Local stores let the church buy the chalk at below sale price, he said.
Is the church worried about rain washing away the drawing?
"It actually rained a bit yesterday, and we are expecting some rain on Sunday," says Boyd. "If that happens we'll just have the world's largest abstract portrait."
Boyd said the church is rather unique in the fact that they have embraced projects like this and they have also keyed into social media with their flock.
'We have Selfie Sundays where we encourage church members to take pics of themselves in church," Boyd says.
The YBPDLN Ping List is generally published infrequently but based on the exploits of the megachurch pastors posts can spike for a season. If you would like on or off of this list please FReepmail me.
![](http://7drizzles7.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/everybody-is-going-there.gif?w=472%22%22")
*YBPDLN=Your Best Purpose Driven Life Now
The google satellite photo of their building has a large logo for the church....they ARE working the technology.
The graven images crowd will be along shortly...
Duuuuude...you go to that church that made gnarly huge picture of that bearded dude? WOW! That's righteous...dude.
Can I go to church with you sometime?
(Yeah...right)
I have visited Ed Young’s church. He gives a salvation message. What’s the problem with Ed Young?
Looks like Jim Messina. Why would they want people in planes to see Jim Messina?
Did I say something is wrong with Ed Young? I report, you decide.
I report, you decide...
Giant-sized chalk etching in honor of Jesus or “museum worthy” piss-Jesus, you decide. A picture is worth a thousand words.
“He got the idea a week ago to create the world’s largest chalk Jesus,”
Yeah...and Christians wonder why the faith isnt being taken seriously anymore?
It would be awesome if they could set all of the dark areas on fire(including the eyes), and took pics of it from a plane or satellite!
I dunno more like Kenny Loggins to me.
A little like a cross between Dan Fogelburg and Tim Weisberg. Like if they were twins sons of different mothers.
As Robin Williams said, “When Jesus comes back, he’s not going to look like Ted Nugent....he’s coming back as Charles Bronson and he’s going to be [ticked off].”
They mocked Jesus before He was crucified . . .now where are they?
This chalk portrait is a testimony. It represents Light in a dark country. People that can’t stand to look at a portrait of Jesus must be in darkness.
I always picture Jesus as a young Billy Crystal.
better that it Be Jesus than Obie!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.