The Cross at Wears Valley

The huge white cross just off the Parkway near the intersection of Wears Valley Road was erected by First Baptist Church as the first phase of development on the property that will eventually become home to some of the church's other ministries.

The cross was also erected as a landmark for Pigeon Forge to remind ourselves and the millions of visitors who come here of the great sacrifice made by Jesus Christ who died on a cross over 2,000 years ago.

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18

"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..." Galatians 6:14

Construction Facts

The cross measures 110' tall and 65' wide. The basic structure consists of steel pipes that have walls 1/2" thick. The bottom section is 48" in diameter and is set in a concrete foundation 10' square and 14' deep. The outer skin is aluminum with a baked enamel finish.

The finished cross is 7' square, but with a diamond shape, it presents a visible surface that is 9' by 9'.  The total weight exceeds 60,000 lbs. It was constructed on the ground and then set in place witha crane 

The Real Meaning of the Cross

The cross on which Jesus died was not a pretty landmark, but an ugly instrument of execution, devised by the Romans centuries ago as a means of tortuously killing society's most heinous criminals.

Originally it was desposed as a symbol of shame and death. It was feared and shunned even by the most rthless criminals. Jesus chose to die there to illustrate how awful and fuilthy sin realy is. He said that He could have called twelve legions of angels to deliver Him, but He freely and deliberately chose to lay down His life there as a ransom to bring us back into a right relationshihp with Holy God. 
Now the cross takes on a new meaning for Christians who have chosen to receive His free gift of salvation. It is a symbol of God's love for us and reminds us of the great sacrifice that Jesus made by dying on that cross. It is now a symbol of hope instead of despair, of life instead of death, of forgiveness instead of condemnation, of freedom instead of bondage, of heaven instead of hell.

We pray that when you see the cross you will be reminded that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)