Carrying Christ's Cross Around the World

DENVER, April 10, 2009 — -- Evangelist Arthur Blessitt made the Guinness Book of Records last year for completing the "world's longest walk": a 40 year, 38,102 mile trek around the world, all while carrying a 12-foot-high cross. His story has been turned into a documentary, "The Cross," which was released last month. He wrote this story for ABC News.com

In the spring of 1968, I made a 12-foot-by-6-foot cross to hang on the wall of our Jesus Coffeehouse on Sunset Strip in Hollywood, Calif. The young people coming into the building were deeply touched to see a huge rugged cross. I would carry the cross on short trips along the streets of Hollywood and share with people the love of Jesus.

Then in the fall of 1969, I felt the call of Jesus to take the cross off the wall and carry it across America to identify the message of Jesus with people where they are. On this walk, I felt at home on the road and with the people as I saw the hunger of people for the love and hope of Jesus.

Soon after, I did my first overseas crosswalk through the United Kingdom and Ireland in 1971. From there it was on to the world.

I have now walked and carried the cross through 315 nations, territories and major island groups, this includes every nation and continent covering 38,102 miles, which is more than 1½ times around the world at the equator. The journey has gone through cities, deserts, mountains, jungles and 52 nations at war.

I was chased by elephants, attacked by baboons, a crocodile and a green mamba snake. I have been arrested, jailed or taken in for questioning two-dozen times. Once I was taken out to be shot before a firing squad. This has been through rain, cold, snow and extreme heat.

My passion and mission has been to obey the call of Jesus and lift up the cross and the love of God to all peoples. The welcome has been glorious with villages and towns gathering to greet the cross and hear the message of Jesus.

I have walked around the world but I have carried a cross. The cross is about Jesus and Jesus is about Love.

As people come to the cross they feel this love and hope. No matter what nation or religion people are equal at the cross. Even in the most hopeless places wracked by hunger and war, people would gather at the cross.