Mitchel Manning, a Middle Tennessee man, was doing a walking trek from Florida to California with a cross when it got either stolen or misplaced.

Luke 9:23: And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

I am doing this to be a living example of this verse. To the one who does not know Christ, representing the sacrifice Jesus made to save us from our sins. To the christian, representing that every christian to die to their self and let Christ live through them (Galatians 2:20)

Stolen Cross from Mitchel Manning, Man Walking Across America

Manning now has a detour, the 12 foot cross either went missing or misplaced, from a park in Seminole, TX. He laid it down in a grass area to stay some time with a friend. When Manning went to get it, it was no longer there.

This giant cross also bares signatures of people he has come in contact with on his journey.

This trek started October 24, 2015, Manning hopes to finish by the end of the year, 2016.

Manning is not sure that it’s been stolen, just replaced as he is trying to see best in people. He also knows that God is in control and everything will work out.

“The cross is so big it’s hard to carry even if you do have a truck,” Manning said, “so I’ve always just left it on the side of the road in the grass.”

others helping

People around him has also offered to help replace the cross. Also, if you are along his path or see him, stop and offer him some encouragement and see if there is any needs he has, like food, lodging, clothing, shoes, etc. I know other people and churches have already helped him along his trek.

Manning has been staying at David Peters home temporarily. Peters believes this was a blessing “because of the cross [missing], this testimony or message has reached out to so many more people,” as Peters said.

Manning will camp out at nights. Other days strangers have offered to take him in or pay for a hotel room. Manning walks about 10-15 miles per day. He carries around 150 pounds with him.

I wonder if he is using a fitbit or pedometer to track steps?

Please keep Manning in your prayers on the rest of his journey. I actually thing this would be awesome to do. I remember talking to a young man, Junior Garcia, June of 2012, who passed through Tennessee doing a trek like that. Both of these young men remind me of the movie The Cross, a story about Arthur Blessitt who carried a cross just like this one across the world.

If you saw this cross please contact Mitchell Manning on his Facebook page Cross Walk America or at 615-489-5162.

Update: a company donated untested red cedar, the same type of wood used in the original cross. That same company helped him build it too. Manning was back on the road July 20, 2016. 

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