Largest Cross in Western Hemisphere Planned For Corpus Christi

By THC Staff | October 5, 2016

 

For the past 35 years, Rick Milby has been the pastor at the Abundant Life Fellowship Church in Corpus Christi. Though his congregation is rather small, if his new project is completed, he will gain the attention of around 80,000 people every day with a massive cross.

After seeing the 170-foot-tall cross outside of Sagemont Church off of I-45 in Houston, Milby wanted to build a large sculpture of his own. The Corpus Christi Cross Project began with the idea to erect a 150-foot-tall structure, but that number quickly increased to 230 feet.

Once it’s built, the cross will be “the largest cross in the Western Hemisphere,” and second in the world only to the 492-foot-tall Valley of the Fallen outside of Madrid in Spain. The sculpture will easily be seen by drivers coming into Corpus Christi via I-37.

Milby partnered with local eateries to raise funds for the project along with asking for donations. As Texas Monthly says, “It’s an ambitious project, one that is estimated to cost more than $1 million, a hefty sum to raise for Milby whose Abundant Life Fellowship Church averages about 150 attendees each service.”

Though ground broke on the project in January, the project Facebook’s page and website haven’t provided any updates.