First Look: Andrews 70 -Foot Cross Project
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Updated: August 17, 2010
Andrews cross will stand 70-feet-tall and weigh about 48,000 pounds. It's made out of oil field pipes, symbolizing the community's special connection to the oil patch.
"Yet, it's designed to really be worthy of Christ and what Christ represents in the way of hope and life to Christians and people everywhere,"said Glen Hackler, who came up with the idea to build the cross.
When finished, the cross will have Greek writing on it reading: "Christ is Lord over Andrews."
"It's more grand than anything I had in mind," Hackler tells Big 2 News.
For Hackler, this is thee moment he's been looking forward to for years. In 2008, the enormous cross was merely a vision he had while dreaming.
"Once I had this vision I really prayed for another month or two, just to see was this something that I was just thinking of a good idea or was this something I felt like God wanted me to do," Hackler said.
Community support poured in to help build the cross. That's when Hackler knew his vision was a calling from God.
"We raised $24,000 in cash. We probably had donations of the way of labor, and equipment, and some work down to the tune of $75,000," he said.
Hackler credits people like Loren Gribble, who has given several hours of his time to make this project a reality. Gribble volunteered to be the project manager, and has worked 6 to 8 months to finish the cross.
"Anytime you can help with a big project like this... it just gives a good feeling," said Gribble.
Hackler said they still need $12,000 to paint the cross and is confident they'll be able to raise the money. The structure of the cross should be completed in the next few days. Then, it will be taken apart and transported it's final site-5 miles south of Andrews along Highway 385. The final touch: The cross will be lit with four 1,000 watt lights.
