The Braselton Planning Commission in a 4-0 vote on Monday has recommended the conditional use permitting of a new church in a Barrow County office park on Hwy. 124.

Norwood Davis, chief financial officer for 12Stone Church, headquartered out of Lawrenceville, spoke on behalf of the applicant.

Church leaders intend to renovate approximately 11,230 square feet of office space in the Madden Building at 935 Hwy. 124, Braselton, to include an auditorium and a space for childrens ministries. The zoning classification on the property is M-D (Manufacturing-Distribution).

The church has also entered into a letter of intent agreement to lease an additional 1800 square foot space in the Mayhew building for church offices. That space shares a parking lot with the Madden Building.

The Braselton campus, which will take approximately 4-6 months to build, is one of five new campuses 12Stone is planning to launch in 2015. Services will temporarily be held at Duncan Creek Elementary School during the construction period.

Davis explained that 12Stone Church has been operating in Gwinnett County for 26 years with four campuses. In 2009, a Hall County church was launched in Flowery Branch. Were excited about this opportunity, said Davis. We have a long record of working with the communities at which we have church campuses and we look forward to working with the city of Braselton as we open this campus.

Planning commission member Chris Meadows said the residents he has spoken with are really excited. He asked if the church had any plans for accommodating the traffic.

Davis said he anticipated that there would be about 300 seats in the auditorium for adults for one service and the church plans to accommodate its members with two Sunday services, at 9 a.m. and at 11 a.m. He said the church employs off-duty police officers and plans to work with the City and the Braselton Police Department to ensure that traffic is not impeded on Hwy. 124.

There will be parking to the front and at the back of the Madden Building and an agreement has been entered with the Mayhew building, said Davis, in order to accommodate overflow parking. I think its pretty incredible that you already have 240 families involved, said planning commission member Edd Price.

Davis said the Hamilton Mill branch, opened in 2007, is the most active campus, which hosts five services, and it is in the process of moving to a larger campus that was opened in April of this year. The church still owns the other building and it is used as offices and youth ministry space.

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Planning and zoning commission in Braselton recommends approval of 12Stone Church in Barrow office park

The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of Scientology, a new religious movement. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall management, dissemination and propagation of Scientology.[2][3][4] Every Church of Scientology is separately incorporated and has its own local board of directors and executives responsible for its own activities and corporate well-being.[5][6][7] The first Scientology church was incorporated in December 1953 in Camden, New Jersey by L. Ron Hubbard.[8][9] Its international headquarters are located at the Gold Base, located in an unincorporated area of Riverside County, California, the location of which is kept secret from most Scientologists.[10]

The highest authority in the Church of Scientology is in The Church of Scientology International (CSI) and the Religious Technology Center (RTC), whose headquarters are in Los Angeles. CSI "is the mother church and has the mission of propagating the Scientology creed around the world." RTC's main function is to "preserve, maintain, and protect the purity of the Scientology technology in accord with Hubbard's original research and to insure its proper and ethical delivery." The Scientology Missions International is under CSI and RTC and functions as "the central church to Scientology missions worldwide."[11]

Although in some countries it has attained legal recognition as a religion,[12] the church has been the subject of a number of controversies, and has been described by its critics as both a cult and a commercial enterprise.[13]

The first Scientology church was incorporated in December 1953 in Camden, New Jersey by[8][9]L. Ron Hubbard, his wife Mary Sue Hubbard, and John Galusha, although the Hubbard Association of Scientologists International (HASI) had already been operating since 1952[14][15] and Hubbard had been selling Scientology books and other items. Soon after, he explained the religious nature of Scientology in a bulletin to all Scientologists,[16] stressing its relation to the Dharma. The first Church of Scientology opened in 1954 in Los Angeles.[17]

Hubbard stated, "A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology."[18]

Hubbard had official control of the organization until 1966 when this function was transferred to a group of executives.[19] Although Hubbard maintained no formal relationship with Scientology's management, he remained firmly in control of the organization and its affiliated organizations.[20]

In May 1987, following Hubbard's death, David Miscavige, one of Hubbards former personal assistants and video photographer, assumed the position of Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology Center (RTC), a non-profit corporation that administers the trademarked names and symbols of Dianetics and Scientology. Although RTC is a separate corporation from the Church of Scientology International, whose president and chief spokesperson is Heber Jentzsch, Miscavige is the effective leader of the movement.[21]

The Church of Scientology promotes Scientology, a body of beliefs and related practices created by L. Ron Hubbard, starting in 1952 as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics.[22]

Scientology teaches that people are immortal spiritual beings who have forgotten their true nature. The story of Xenu is part of Scientologist teachings about extraterrestrial civilizations and alien interventions in Earthly events, collectively described as space opera by Hubbard.[23] Its method of spiritual rehabilitation is a type of counseling known as "auditing", in which practitioners aim to re-experience consciously painful or traumatic events in their past, in order to free themselves of their limiting effects.[24] Study materials and auditing courses are made available to members in return for specified donations.[25] Scientology is legally recognized as a tax-exempt religion in the United States[26] and other countries,[27][28][29] and the Church of Scientology emphasizes this as proof that it is a bona fide religion.

Scientology describes itself as the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, others, and all of life. According to the Encyclopedia of American Religions, it is concerned with the isolation, description, handling and rehabilitation of the human spirit.[30] One purpose of Scientology, as stated by the Church of Scientology, is to become certain of one's spiritual existence and one's relationship to God, or the "Supreme Being."[31]

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Church of Scientology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coordinates: 334404S 1505739E / 33.734503S 150.960935E / -33.734503; 150.960935

Hillsong Church is a Pentecostal megachurch affiliated with Australian Christian Churches (the Australian branch of the Assemblies of God) and located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The church was founded in 1983 when the Sydney Christian Life Centre at Waterloo, which was established by Frank Houston, merged with the Hills Christian Life Centre in Baulkham Hills, established by his son, Brian Houston.[1]

While headquartered at its "Hills" location in Baulkham Hills' Norwest Business Park in the Hills District of Sydney, Hillsong is a multi-site church with campuses in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Gold Coast and Noosa. Its second campus, designated as the "City" campus, is located in Waterloo, near Sydney's central business district. In 2009, a third Sydney campus, "South West", located in Campbelltown and a fourth interstate location, the "Brisbane" campus in Mount Gravatt, Queensland were added. In 2012 it was announced that a fifth campus, also interstate, was to be opened in late 2012 or early 2013 in Melbourne, Victoria.[2] Additionally, Hillsong Church currently has 12 extension services across Sydney.[3]

Hillsong Church's international offshoots include Hillsong Church London in the United Kingdom, Hillsong Church Kiev in Ukraine, Hillsong Church Cape Town and Hillsong Church Pretoria in South Africa, Hillsong Church Stockholm in Sweden and Hillsong NYC in New York, United States. Hillsong services are also held in Hillsong Church Paris in Paris, France, Hillsong Connect Group Lyon in Lyon, Hillsong Church Germany in Konstanz and Dsseldorf, Hillsong Church Amsterdam in Amsterdam, Hillsong Barcelona in Barcelona, Hillsong Church Copenhagen in Copenhagen and Hillsong Church Moscow in Moscow.

On 10 August 2013 Pastor Brian Houston announced that Hillsong would be setting up a church in Los Angeles, California.[4]

Hillsong Music has topped Australian charts, with albums having achieved gold and platinum sales status. Hillsong is well-known through its teaching, album sales and annual Hillsong Conference. According to the church, over 30,000 people attend services each week.[5]

Brian and Bobbie Houston moved from New Zealand in 1978 and joined the Sydney Christian Life Centre in Darlinghurst, pastored by Brian Houston's father, Frank Houston.[6] They started Hillsong Church, which was then known as Hills Christian Life Centre, in August 1983 with services held at the Baulkham Hills Public School hall[7] and with an initial congregation of 45.[8] In 1990, the church moved from "the warehouse", which they had occupied since 1984,[7] to hold services at the Hills Centre. In 1986, an annual conference was developed, now called Hillsong Conference.[9]

In the early 1990s, praise and worship recordings from the Hills Christian Life Centre were released in Australia and internationally under the name Hillsong. The name is also used for a television show featuring clips from the videos of the recordings and a message from Brian Houston. In 1997 the church moved into its new building at Baulkham Hills' Norwest Business Park.

In the late 1990s the church realised that the name Hillsong was more well-known than Hills Christian Life Centre due to the branding of its recordings. The church was renamed Hillsong Church in 1999, about the same time its mother church, Sydney Christian Life Centre, was merged into Hillsong Church.[10]

A new convention centre at the church's "Hills" location, was opened on 19 October 2002 by John Howard, the then Prime Minister of Australia. Due to the growth of the "City" location, in 2007 the church announced its intentions to develop a significant area of land on Rothschild Avenue, Rosebery into the new "City" location.[11] In August 2008, Hillsong withdrew the development application they had lodged with the Sydney City Council after an independent report recommended against the council approving the development. In August 2009 it was announced that the site was for sale.[12][13] Since then, Hillsong has opened up another City location in Alexandria.[14]

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Hillsong Church - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

New Ideal Continental Headquarters Launches Key Next Phase for Scientologys European Expansion

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK October 25, 2014

If you happened to be in Copenhagen, Denmark the afternoon of October 25, you could have seen the future of Scientology in Europe unfold literally before your eyes.

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EAST GRINSTEAD, UNITED KINGDOM October 17, 2014

It all began in 1984, a time when Scientology could be found in just 39 nations on the planet. Thirty years later, members of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) hail from 130 countries across North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, fortifying the Churchs stature as the only world religion to emerge in the 20th century that's also thriving well into the 21st.

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CLEARWATER, FLORIDA June 29, 2014

More than 4,000 Scientologists gathered in downtown Clearwater, Florida, on Sunday, June 29, to mark the dedication of the landmark Coachman Building. The historic structure now stands transformed as the religious training and counseling center for more than 2,000 members comprising the ecclesiastical ministry of the Flag Land Base, the international spiritual headquarters of Scientology.

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Scientology Church & Religion - What is Scientology?

What is the purpose of my life?

Who am I? Why am I here? What happens when I die? Explore the purpose of life and discover God's plan for you through the restored teachings of Jesus Christ.

Sterling Wotherspoon loves motor mechanics, road cycling and ballroom dancing. He knows physical activity is only part of lifes equation. His priorities: being spiritually strong on the inside as well as physically strong on the outside.

"The nickname 'Mormon' sounds more like a label rather than who you are. But I believe in Christ and I try to follow Christ... I do what I do because I believe that's the right thing."

Jenna Kim Jones chases her stand-up comedy dreams in New York City while living true to her high standards.

No matter the distance we are from Him, we can receive direction from our loving Heavenly Father.

I want to:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official name of the religion commonly called the Mormon Church. We believe first and foremost that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the Son of God.

While our backgrounds and experiences are diverse, Mormons are united by a commitment to Jesus Christ. This site features members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sharing their stories and telling what their faith means to them.

Learn more about our faith

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Mormon.org | What is the Mormon Church and Religion?

Published March 24th, 2014 by Bobby Henderson

Team FSM has reached $2 Million in loans on the micro-lending site Kiva. Were now the top-lending religious congregation on Kiva, above the Buddhists, Catholics, Muslims, and especially pleasing to me above the Mormons, who weve been in a friendly competition with for years. Congratulations everyone!

What is Kiva? Kiva is a platform where you can make small loans to people in poor areas that need help starting small business. We make small, interest-free loans towards the projects we support, and Kiva combines them to fund the loan to the person who wants to build a small workshop, farm, restaurant, fruit stand, etc. These are interest-fee loans in places like Cambodia, Peru, Uganda places where traditional bank lending to the poor is unavailable (or predatory). Kiva ensures that the loans are paid out and that the money is paid back. A lot of us feel this is the best way of bringing economic growth to the poorest areas.

Ive had a good experience with Kiva and I encourage anyone interested to check it out. And please join our amazing team and help us continue to trounce the mainstream religion teams.

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Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

Tampa donations build Cuba church

Cuba has allowed construction of the country's first new Catholic church in 55 years, the church said Monday. Experts said it's a sign of improving relations between the Vatican and Cuba's communist government. The church, funded by donations from Catholics in Tampa, will be built in Sandino, a citrus and coffee-growing town in the far-western province of Pinar del Rio. The church publication Christian Life said it will have space for 200 people. "The construction of a church is a clear demonstration of a new phase, of an improvement, in relations between the church and the state," said Enrique Lopez Oliva, a professor the history of religions at the University of Havana.

Cargo for space station on hold

A delivery mission to the International Space Station was called off Monday after a sailboat got too close. Orbital Sciences Corp. got to within the 10-minute mark for the launch of its unmanned Cygnus capsule from Wallops Island, Va. But a sailboat ended up in the restricted danger zone, and controllers halted the countdown. The company will try again this evening. The capsule holds 5,000 pounds of cargo for NASA.

Pistorious case will be appealed

South African state prosecutors said Monday that they planned to appeal the conviction and sentence handed down to track star Oscar Pistorius after a seven-month trial that ended last week in ferocious debate over the magnitude of his punishment. In a post on Twitter, Nathi Mncube, a spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority, said the organization "will be appealing both the conviction and sentence." Pistorius, 27, was sentenced to a five-year prison term for culpable homicide, equivalent to manslaughter, in the killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, 29, on Feb. 14, 2013. Under the terms of the sentence, he may be released into house arrest after 10 months.

Mammoth skeleton may be a rare one

A portion of a Columbian mammoth skull and tusks have been uncovered in southeastern Idaho, and experts say a rare entire skeleton might be buried there. Experts estimate the mammoth was about 16 years old and lived 70,000 to 120,000 years ago in what was a savanna-like country populated with large plant-eaters and predators.

Times wires

Tampa donations build Cuba church 10/27/14 [Last modified: Monday, October 27, 2014 9:17pm]

Excerpt from:
Tampa donations build Cuba church

HAVANA (AP) The Catholic Church says Cuba has allowed construction of the country's first new Catholic church in 55 years. Experts say it's a sign of improving relations between the Vatican and Cuba's communist government.

The church is being funded by donations from Catholics in Tampa, Florida, and will be built in the town of Sandino in the western province of Pinar del Rio.

The church publication "Christian Life" says it will have space for 200 people.

The Cuban Catholic Church had tense relations with the government for many years after the 1959 revolution, but relations have been slowly improving in recent years.

Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI visited the island, the government recognized a Christmas holiday and began allowing masses or homilies to be broadcast on official media.

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Original headline: Cuba builds first new church in 55 years

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Cuba Builds First Church in 55 Years

Published October 27, 2014

HAVANA The Catholic Church says Cuba has allowed construction of the country's first new Catholic church in 55 years. Experts say it's a sign of improving relations between the Vatican and Cuba's communist government.

The church is being funded by donations from Catholics in Tampa, Florida, and will be built in the town of Sandino in the western province of Pinar del Rio.

The church publication "Christian Life" says it will have space for 200 people.

The Cuban Catholic Church had tense relations with the government for many years after the 1959 revolution, but relations have been slowly improving in recent years.

Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI visited the island, the government recognized a Christmas holiday and began allowing masses or homilies to be broadcast on official media.

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Cuba builds first new church in 55 years, called part of improving relations with Vatican

HAVANA Cuba has approved construction of the country's first church in 55 years, Catholics said Monday.

The move is a sign of improving relations between the Vatican and Cuba's communist government, experts said.

Funded by donations from Catholics in Tampa, the church will be built in Sandino, a citrus and coffee-growing town in the far western province of Pinar del Rio.

The church publication Christian Life said it will have space for 200 people.

The construction of a church is a clear demonstration of a new phase, of an improvement, in relations between the church and the state, said Enrique Lopez Oliva, a professor of the history of religions at the University of Havana.

The Catholic Church has had tense relations with what was an officially atheist government since the 1959 revolution. They slowly began to improve with the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1998.

The government revived observance of a Christmas holiday and began allowing Masses or homilies to be broadcast on official media. It dropped a ban on church membership for Communist Party members.

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Cuba to build first church in 55 years