1.28.10 - Hammarsdale, South Africa
Cross 0006
Hammarsdale, South Africa
Story Behind The Cross
Scripture: 1 Kings 19:11b
“A mighty windstorm hit the mountain” NKJV
In 2002 Baaa Baaa Ntombela came to America and asked me come to South Africa and help start the construction of churches for Maranatha Crusades. I was still on the mend from my 1994 car accident but knew it was the right thing to do.
In 2003 seven of us flew from Minnesota to Johannesburg, South Africa and then drove to Hammarsdale which is near Durban. We began construction and over the next two weeks we poured the foundation and built the walls about two thirds of the way up. We left confident that the local church could complete the task.
Six months later we were contacted by Baaa Baaa Ntombela that a mighty wind storm with hurricane type wind erupted --- and before the walls were complete they blew down. We grieved for the loss of our brothers and sisters in Hammarsdale.
But soon after --- we received notice that out of the crumbled walls of the first church a bigger and better church --- with stronger walls --- was being constructed by the church people and the surrounding neighbors. Within 18 months the walls were completed and it took another few years for the congregation to save enough money for a roof.
Last year they installed running water and toilets. This year we came to help complete their church with an electric panel and florescent indoor lighting and exterior safety lighting.
As part of the ccmCrossProject we constructed a cross to give God the Glory for this church, these people and their strong determination under extreme adversity to build their own church.

Here Glen is carrying the cross timer to begin the notching process.
Setting the notch locations
Pastor Bill gives Glen a break
Squaring off the notch
Fitting the timers together
Adding the nuts and bolts
Tightening the the nuts and bolts
Hoisting the cross using ropes
Using a truck for leverage
Setting the cross level
Pouring the concrete
Cross standing tall
Glen and Jabulani enjoy a moment of fellowship looking
at a job well done. Jabulani was with us in 2003 when
we started the project.
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