The Interstate 70 Cross: From a Dream to Reality
Oct, 1, 2009: At our 40th Annual Banquet on October 23, 2009 at 6:30 PM we will dedicate the cross! We have instructed the builder that we are taking a giant step of faith and saying to him to complete the cross even though we still need almost $70,000 to do it. We will dedicate the cross on the 40th anniversary of the birth and vision to start the ministry of New Creations Chapel, a church with mission projects to serve all people specializing in youth ages 13-23. We know that it is time to complete the cross and walk in faith because of the signs of the times, and the way that God has lead us. The following things have happened to confirm this project timing:
- The 1970s vision.
- From the 70s vision to the death of the vision of the cross. We had just plain given up on building it in our lifetime.
- Now we know we should take the step of faith because $81,865 has been received in money and donated labor and materials.
- We need only to believe God for $68,135.00 to completely pay for the cross.
- Over 100 yards of cement was donated by Ernst Concrete.
- The excavation was donated by Delucio & Son.
- Family Trucking donated the transport of the materials to the cross location.
- Doan & Mills donated the time capsule.
- Productive Fabricators donated all the labor to fabricate the cross and a large gift of money.
Thank you to Jon & Connie Odom for encouraging us to move forward on this project. Without your long time friendship, love and encouragement, we would have never stepped out in faith. Thanks to the engineers for the wonderful $10,000 gift of engineering and assistance in helping us build the cross. Thanks to all those who have purchased the $150.00 bricks that will be laid with the names on them in front of the cross. Thanks to all the Unsung Heroes who have made the dream and vision of a 110' cross to be a reality. Thanks to all that are helping us to move closer to having a welcome center that will be open to the travelers on Interstate 70. So many miracles have happened! There will be so many more miracles come as hundreds and thousands of people accept Jesus Christ as lord and Savior of their life at our welcome center.
Now it is our turn to take the giant leap and get the cross done. Will you join us by faith and help us complete the cross paid in full? Come celebrate with us 40 years of ministry and dedicate the cross on October 23, 2009. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. Order your FREE tickets now by contacting us to reserve your spot! Click to download the 40th Annual Banquet flier.
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May 1, 2008: In the early 70s I had a dream to build a cross on the property of New Creations 100 feet tall. That dream is finally coming to pass!
When I first had the dream, we weren’t able to build it, which is why we have the big gravel cross on the side of the hill in the ground that you see as you drive by on Interstate 70. Three years ago I went to the zoning board again to see about building this dream cross. We received the authorization! I was so excited, but the ministry fell into hard financial times, and I couldn’t pursue it. So, again, the dream was put on the shelf.
Recently, I went to Cracker Barrel to eat and ran into John & Connie Odom of Productivity Fabricators, who constructs big billboard signs. He said to me, “When are we gonna build that cross?” My heart leaped!
About a week later, I went to the city planner’s office about another matter and out of the blue, Scott Zimmerman said, “When are you gonna build that cross?” Wow! When God gives two direct words, it’s time to get going and step out in faith! Later that same day, I went to see Gordon Moore with Beals-Moore & Associates about it and he said, “Let’s do it!” So a meeting was scheduled with the three men plus David Inderstrodt of Maze Design, Inc. At the meeting, information was brought on the cross that was built similar to this dream in London, TN. To our amazement John Odom knew one of the key people who engineered that cross! He called and was referred to Jim Potter who enthusiastically jumped on board this dream by sending us the plans. All of these men and businesses have agree to help keep the costs low and make this dream a reality!
It is estimated that the total project cost will be around $150,000 from the design to the installation. Scott Zimmerman, City Planner, informed me at the meeting that we must do this now because the zoning will change in nine months! If you would like to help make this dream possible, please consider planting a financial seed gift toward this project. Thank you in advance for helping to make this campus and the city of Richmond, Indiana a landmark to be remembered!
~Bishop Timothy W. Cummings
Our miracle cross is projected to look like this giant cross on I-75 in Tennessee
Details taken from the information given on the cross structure in London, TN:
The cross was designed by an engineering firm in Madisonville, TN and fabricated by a steel company in Birmingham, AL. The design of the all-steel structure had to meet building codes including the ability to withstand tornado-strength winds. The corrugated steel siding surrounds a steel pipe & welded form structure that stands nearly 100 feet high. The frame is set 16 feet into the ground, and a concrete foundation measuring 8x8x9 with over forty cubic yards of concrete weighing over 80,000 pounds holds the structure in place. The cross measures nearly 60 feet across & 24 feet around the diamond shaped body. It will require two tractor-trailer trucks to haul the pieces of the cross to the site & several weeks to dig the foundation, weld the pieces together, place each piece of siding on the frame, lift the cross into place, pour the concrete, install the lights that shine onto the cross & complete the project.
