Biblical message at busy intersection

KENDALLVILLE, Ind. (WANE) -- - A Kendallville couple's spreading their message of faith in a unique way: they're displaying two 6-feet tall granite tablets engraved with the ten commandments in a store plaza.

"I have no problem with it all, I think the normal citizen of the U.S. should be darn proud of it," said Kendallville resident Jim Stahlman.

The ten commandments monument has been greeting drivers near U.S. 6 and State Road 3 since November.

"I think its wonderful. I think it's representative of freedom of speech and Christians have a right to it too," added resident Jennifer Buss.

Shelly and Roger Diehm own Cornerstone Plaza, and the private property where the monument sits.

Roger told NewsChannel 15, "I thought if I was ever put in a position that I could have a prominent corner, a prominent piece of property that we would display the ten commandments and flag and it would be a great testament to our country."

Shelly added "We wanted to make a stand and the best way to make that stand was to put emphasis on a biblical scripture that our country was founded on and that's where the ten commandments came from."

The couple's received hundreds and hundreds of cards, letters and emails in support of the move, but have faced some minor opposition.

Negative emails were sent to the CVS store leasing space from the couple that sits the closest to the monument.

A CVS rep Mike DeAngelis told NewsChannel 15 the display is a "non-issue", and said "we have no position on it one way or the other, and it's at the landlord's discretion whether it's up or not."

The Diehms say they have no plans to take the monument down.

Given the economy, they feel its a time when people need to see this kind of message the most.

"In this day and age, when economics are tough, we're looking across the board at so many things and it gives people encouragement, it gives them hope," said Shelly.

The Diehms have plans to unveil a similar monument in LaGrange in next few weeks, and they're also in talks to have other locations outside of Indiana.