Jennings Baptist Church is the location for the latest Taliaferro County Historical Society Movie Mania Geocache titled Neon Bible.   The movie Neon Bible is a 1994 movie made in Crawfordville.  The Neon Bible Geocache was created by John Allen and placed online on Sunday October 17, 2010 at 7:30 PM.  One of the big rewards for Geocachers is being First to Find.  Immediately after a new Geocache is posted the location is e-mailed and texted to Geocachers in the surrounding area.  Mr Allen was in his living room at 8:00 PM when he noticed flashlights flickering around the Church.   Within minutes there were two cars in the parking lot and four flashlights on the hunt for the Neon Bible Geocache. 

Jennings Baptist Church is one of the oldest Baptist churches in Georgia still in operation today.  The current church building was built on land donated in 1894 by the Hadaway family and started out with 45 members.  Jennings Church was build on two acres of land that was purchased for the sum of $10.  The men of the church donated the labor and built the church themselves.  The Reverend L.R.L. Jennings, a Confederate Army veteran, was the first Pastor.  The church pews were made in 1924.  The Jennings church always lacked indoor toilet facilities.  Cohen Wright, a member and Babe Reese,  a local carpenter, built an outdoor “Privy” that is still used by passing motorists and the members today.  Until recently, baptismal services were held across from the Church in Jennings Creek.  The main structure of the church stands today.  A magnificent steeple was added to the existing structure in 2000.  Jennings Baptist Church is lit at night.  Many people stop and take pictures of the building to capture the past and present beauty.  The Church building has itself “starred” in a number of movies as a “picture perfect” country church”. The Church is still active today with 32 members.

Neon Bible, the movie, harkens back to a harsh time by reflecting on dark thoughts of a young boy as he contemplates his life during the Great Depression. The 1994 movie takes place while the boy, David, is traveling on a train, thinking and remembering. Flash back fragments of memory reflect Davids life.  The audience is left to flesh out the meaning of David’s thoughts. This was one of the darkest of times for people and the movie provides a sense of how hard life was during the 1930’s.  A number of Taliaferro County residents had the opportunity to be members of the cast including; John Allen, Sam and Louis Greene, and Myrtle Kendrick. 

If you are interested in Geocaching, go to www.geocaching.com and search for the Neon Bible Geocache.  Be sure to pick up a Neon Bible Key Chain to commemorate your visit.  If you just want to go for a ride in the country, come on out to Jennings Church on Route 47 East of Crawfordville.  Maybe you want to take some pictures of this picture perfect country church.  In either case take some time to look at the grave markers in the little cemetery adjacent to the church.  Some of the markers have outstanding engravings symbolizing the lives of those church members who are gone now.