The Miracle Cross: Fundraising & Construction Updates
Click here to view construction photos.
by Bishop Timothy W. Cummings, Founder
First Corinthians 1:18 says “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” God has given us an assignment to build a 110’ cross on the property of New Creations Chapel. In this difficult economic time it seems like foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us that are born again, it is the symbol of the power of God. I will even go on that to my flesh it seems foolish, but my spirit keeps shouting, “Build the cross!” In these difficult economic times people don’t know where to turn, and they don’t know what to do, but at the very sight of the cross, they could catch the vision to know what to do, and know where to turn.
We know that the location on the property we are putting the cross on that more than 50,000 different people will see it each day. Interstate 70 is parallel to our property and the location that we have picked for the cross there is no way a vehicle that is traveling on Interstate 70 will be able to miss the view of the cross. I have asked God why we are to build this cross when by our logical thinking all funds received need to go toward the general budget. Why has God challenged our heart to build the cross now? The answer that keeps coming back is that the people need the sight of the cross more than ever to get through the tough times and to know where to turn.
We have completed the first phase of the 12’ x 12’ x 17’ deep cement foundation to hold the 110’ cross up. We have installed in the cement a 41’ x 4’ round post which is in the ground 17’ deep, and is out of the ground 24’. We have done all the engineering work, and all the first phase requirements, and we are now working on the second phase to get the funds needed to complete this miracle cross project. As a born again person I can see the cross finished and showing the power of God to the people who travel along Interstate 70 and live in our local area.
One of the reasons that we have to build the cross now is because the new zoning laws may not let us build the cross. If you will remember, I said that the zoning department said we had to get the cross up this year or we could possibly lose the chance of ever getting to build a cross of this size on our property. Miracle after miracle has already happened to get us this far, and we need to get the funds to complete the miracle cross on the property of New Creations Chapel in 2009. It could only take a maximum of 60 days to complete the building of the cross once we have the funds. We must have $78,200.00 to complete the cross. We are working on the next round tube that needs to be built. Every dollar that comes in for the cross is sent to the company that is building the cross so they can order the material to complete the cross. As I look out my office window I keep saying, “In the Name of Jesus come out of the ground 110‘ cross now!”
Help us help people by building this cross that will give hope, direction, light from above, and encouragement to all those people traveling Interstate 70 and passing New Creations Chapel. Our location is the only reason to ever build a cross of this size so the people can see and get the benefit of the power of God through the CROSS OF JESUS!
60,000 cars will pass by the giant cross every day
June 2008: In a recent newsletter article “From A Dream to Reality” we shared with you our dream to build a One Hundred Foot Cross on the property of New Creations. It is estimated that sixty thousand cars pass New Creations property daily so what a witness it will be!
Since the release of our May 1, 2008, newsletter sharing “From A Dream To Reality,” we have had the following things happen:
1. Since the release of the story that we were going to build the cross on May 1, 2008 until now May 12, 2008, the date we are writing this newsletter article, we have been given $5,050.00 cash and a solid commitment of $20,000.00 to help build the cross.
2. Through a miracle of God we have received an engineering drawing that has been signed by an engineer free of charge.
3. We have been told that the cost of the cross will not exceed $150,000.00, and everything will be done to get contractors, steel suppliers, and cement companies to lower there cost of there product to us that is used on the cross.
4. We have received the approval to build the cross on New Creations property, and we have all city, county, and state approvals that we need to start building the cross. We must have $50,000.00 more so we can order the steel as soon as possible.
5. The cross has been included in the Ultimate Gift Campaign.
6. Our prints have revealed to us that the Cross will be 110 foot high, the Cross-arms will be 64 foot wide.
7. We have found out that the cement base of the Cross will be 12 foot by 12 foot, and be 16 foot 6 inches of solid cement just to hold the Cross-in the ground.
Once the Cross is constructed we will move toward the final phase of this marvelous miracle and erect a copy of the Ten Commandments at the base of the cross. Now this will really be a miracle and have us to increase our faith to build. I want us to be known as the town where the cross sits. We sit on the Indiana and Ohio state line on the Indiana side at the corner of Interstate 70 and National Road East in Richmond, Indiana.
We are so blessed to have Jon and Connie Odom, owners of Steel Fabricators, a company which has built many high rise signs in our area and around the United States, to assist us in getting the Engineer, and to build the cross for us.
We are asking you to assist us in building this cross, and for each $150.00 given to us to build the cross we will buy a brick with your name, city and state on it and place it at the foot of the Cross. We want to have this Cross up soon for the glory of God and we are asking you to assist us.
