MINER, Mo. — Members of Miner Baptist Church and community members gathered early Thursday, Sept. 25 as a 120-foot cross was lifted into place on the church’s property near Interstate 55, culminating the realization of a long-held vision by church members.
The installation, which was managed by Rozier Construction of Greenwood, Mississippi, drew a crowd that church member Ted Martin said resembled a Sunday morning turnout. The sky was overcast but just right for those in attendance — who ranged from babies to adults of all ages. The older students from The Christian Academy in Sikeston were also present to witness the event.
Heather Couch of Sikeston, who is a member of Miner Baptist Church, was on hand for the occasion.
“This has been a dream for so many of us because look how many people are going to drive by every single day and see it,” Couch said as she looked Thursday morning at the new cross in place on her church’s property.”
Locally, the newly installed cross is the largest in the region. The next closest would be the Bald Knob Cross in Alto Pass, in Illinois, which is 111 feet tall. The Branson Cross, located in nearby Walnut Shade, Missouri, stands at 218 feet tall and is known as the largest cross in North America.
Steve Francis, who has served as senior pastor at Miner Baptist Church for a little more than a year, said the vision for the cross came soon after he arrived.
“Coming in as pastor, I saw our property and had a vision on what God could do on our property and shared with what God could do here,” Francis said.
Francis, who was raised in the St. Louis metro area, said the church, which is located at 416 State Highway H, sits on several acres adjacent to Interstate 55 — a location he described as a gift. While the idea of a large cross had been discussed by the congregation for years, Francis said the timing felt right after he shared his vision with them this past year. Church members cleaned up the property, added signage and supported the plan to erect the cross, he said.
“God put it in my heart for us to put a big cross out there,” Francis said, adding he had seen similar crosses while driving through Mississippi and Tennessee which is how he first learned of Rozier Construction. He then reached out to Mike Rozier Sr., CEO of the company, with this project at Miner baptist marking his 28th.
“I called him (Rozier) one day on his cell phone and in our initial conversation, he said he feels it’s his calling at this stage in his life,” Francis said. “He has a commercial construction company and he feels like God is calling him to put up crosses. He’s doing it for the glory of God, and instantly we began to dream about what God could do out here.”
Soon after, Rozier began taking soil samples, drawing up plans and involving engineers for the project in Miner.
“And God has put it all together since,” Francis said.
Rozier and his eight-man crew who worked alongside church members from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, assembling the cross and preparing the site over the past 13 days. The process included pouring 160 yards of concrete for the base on Sept. 17 and setting the base pipe on Sept. 18 and Sept. 19. The base of the cross extends 9 feet into the ground, with 90 feet rising above the 30-foot base.
Church members were invited to sign the base and write Bible verses before the final installation. Bibles were also placed in the base as it was constructed.
On Thursday, Francis led a prayer for the safety of the workers prior to the installation of the giant cross.
“There is some danger involved here with this process and so they’ve asked us to pray for them this morning. We’re glad to pray for them,” Francis said.
Rozier also addressed those gathered for the occasion and to witness the installation Thursday.
“It’s my prayer that there’s a lot of people who find their way home when they drive down this interstate, and they look at this cross — because that’s what it’s all about,” Rozier said.
Francis emphasized the cross is not intended as a monument to Miner Baptist Church, but as a testament to faith.
“Our hope is that this will be a testament to the glory of God,” Francis said. “The cross is foundation to our faith. … It’s not to be a monument to Miner Baptist Church but a monument to our Lord for hope, healing, peace, forgiveness and worship.”
The project was funded by private donations. The church plans to landscape the area with hopes to create a space for visitors to stop and reflect, with ideas for a possible prayer garden, benches and walking trails in the future.
“We feel like God is showing himself faithful to our church,” Francis said. “We’re experiencing God’s favor and goodness. He’s just good. We’re just grateful for His goodness. We don’t want to be lifted up. We want Him to be lifted up.”
