Paul Botica's Site

Cedarcrest Community Church of Lagrange, GA formerly known as United Congregational Christian Church was founded on August 16, 1931 at a joint meeting of the First Christian and Congregational churches.  The first official worship service was held on October 4, 1931 at the new church building of the Christian Church on Juniper St. which also became the building for the newly founded church. 

For the next 40 years United Congregational Christian of Lagrange was a successful and growing Christian community ministering in its neighborhood where workers of several major mills lived.  Worship services during this period reached about 250 attendees and even 300 sometimes.

Decline: Beginning in the late 60’s early 70’s, our church began to experience a period of stagnation and even decline due to several major factors including: general economical decline, demographic changes, generational changes, and in small way a lack of relevant leadership. 

New Vision: In the early 80’s after much prayer and intercession before God, church leaders and members realized that the time came for the church to be relocated.  The church embraced this new visionary plan with excitement and a new building fund was opened.  For the last 27 years church members many of who went to the Lord, have given sacrificially to the new building fund, hoping and praying that one day they will see their new vision fulfilled.

New Property:  On December 21, 1999, United Congregational Christian purchased 9.500 acres of prime land at 2380 Roanoke Rd, State Route 109 West, in the vicinity of many new subdivisions, close to West Point Lake, and close to the future site of a new KIA plant.  Sacrificial giving was made to submit part of the payment and a little later a church family paid the remaining difference.

New Name: For the new property and church God gave our members the vision to name the new church Cedarcrest Community Church, because of the cedar trees growing on the new property.

Results:  Since moving to Roanoke Rd., we have had new visitors on a regular basis with several joining the church recently.  We are also glad to have old friends who did not attend the old church but are attending the new church.  We have plans to reach out in the community through visitation, advertisement, and different other ministries and projects.  The church provides special Easter, Christmas, VBS and regular weekly Bible studies for our youth and children and since October 2007 we have started AWANA Bible studies for the children in our community.

We are a church experiencing renewal and we would like to praise God for His help and guidance, and for fulfilling in the life and ministry of our church, His promise from Revelation 3:7-8, “These are the words of the Holy One, the true One, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens: ‘I know your works.  Look I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.  I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name…”  

New Beginning:  Starting on September 30, 2007, the church made an essential change in its life.  Under the leadership of Rev. Paul Botica all their church services and ministries were moved to the new property at 2380 Roanoke Rd.  It was hard to leave the place where many were born, grew up, and worshipped God for a long time, but the church members stepped out in faith and crossed the Jordan to a new with God.  Pastor Paul received from God a new mission motto for Cedarcrest, which is, Growing Deep, Branching out, Producing fruit.

New Building: We praise and thank God for helping us during the summer of 2008 to build the new sanctuary of our church.  We experienced His amazing grace and help in a powerful way throughout all this time, especially through sending us several volunteer teams among which Baptist Builders, Workers for Christ and different other teams from GA and AL.  Come and visit us if you want to experience the power and presence of God in your life through worship, study of the Bible, and service in His Name.