Arizona church carrying cross from Mesa to Payson as part of fundraiser

The Payson Living Word church will carry a cross from Mesa to Payson as a part of a fundraiser to help the church collect funds for a new building.

BY JOE GILMORE

Mar 28, 2018, 3:23 PM

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(Payson Living Word Facebook Photo)

PHOENIX — At 7 a.m. on Monday, the pastor and members of a Payson-based church began to carry a full-sized cross from Mesa to Payson, walking six to eight hours per day, as part of a fundraising event.

Payson Living Word, and its lead pastor Mark Henning, started a GoFundMe to help the church purchase a new building to hold services and mid-week ministries in.

“At the end of last year The Word Church had to relocate to a school gym,” the GoFundMe post said. “The facility we had been renting for some time, was needed for another use, so we had to relocate.”

The church was also accepting donations through its website to help reach its $50,000 goal.

Payson Living Word said that the 80-mile trek was being done in remembrance for what Jesus Christ did for them.

Henning posted multiple live videos to Facebook to provide updates to donors and spectators on how the journey has gone so far.

“Thanks for everybody that’s watching right now, appreciate it,” he said. “If you can help out with us building, buying a new church that would be great. If not, just keep on praying for us.”

The fundraiser began Monday and will end Sunday, which is Easter.

The church is located off the State Route 87 between Wade Lane and Frontier Street.