Contact: Colby May, TBN, 202-544-5171, cmay@tbn.org
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Trinity Broadcasting Network, America's favorite faith-and-family channel, is highlighting the award-winning video documentary The Cross: The Arthur Blessitt Story, produced and directed by TBN Vice President of Administration Matt Crouch, as this month's stewardship and love gift for TBN viewers and partners.
On Christmas Day 1969, Arthur Blessitt, a simple street evangelist sharing the gospel on tough and gritty Sunset Strip in Hollywood, California, began a 3,000-mile hike from the West Coast to Washington, D.C, carrying a 12-foot, 45-pound rugged wooden cross on his back. His only focus was to share with all he met what that cross symbolized: the forgiveness, hope, and healing all can find through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
That initial trek across the U.S. turned into a 40-year mission of carrying that symbolic Cross, the universal emblem of God's unconditional love for humanity, on foot across all seven continents (including Antarctica), through 315 nations, island groups, and territories, over every imaginable terrain -- 38,102 miles in all -- to share the love of God with everyone Arthur met. "Through it all I was compelled by God's love," explained Arthur, "to simply share Jesus with everyone who crossed my path and to offer peace to everyone God brought to me."
Along the way, Arthur met with prime ministers, presidents, and Pope John Paul II, and even ministered with Dr. Billy Graham. He was also arrested over 20 times, faced execution at the hands of guerillas in Central America, and was in danger more times than he can remember. "I never knew how these journeys would end or if I would live through them," recalled Arthur. "But my calling was clear and I trusted God to carry me through."
In 2009, after Arthur completed his final cross-country journey, he and Matt Crouch teamed up, poring through decades of 8 mm film, video, news stories, interviews, and countless photographs to sculpt the unforgettable and moving account of Arthur's decades of sharing Christ in every corner of the world. "Working with Arthur to produce The Cross was a life-changing experience for me personally," said Matt. "Since its release, this powerful movie has had the same impact on those who have viewed it and shared in the life of this man known the world over as the 'Pilgrim With the Cross.'"
TBN's founder and President, Dr. Paul Crouch, noted that Arthur Blessit has been a close friend and ministry associate since the early years of the network. "We're proud to have partnered with Arthur many times over the past 40 years," said Dr. Crouch. "In a very real sense, his consistent witness of the Cross of Christ throughout those years mirrors the steadfast commitment TBN has pursued to broadcast that same gospel to every corner of the earth. We're honored to offer Arthur's personal story, The Cross, to our many friends and partners."
Click Here to find out more about receiving a copy of The Cross: The Arthur Blessitt Story, from TBN.
