A traveling Christian preacher known for carrying a cross through every nation of the world has died.
Arthur Blessitt “departed to heaven” on Tuesday, according to an announcement on his ministry page.
The 84-year-old is widely recognized for carrying a 12-foot, 45-lb cross over 43,000 miles in over 300 countries.
Blessitt was known internationally as the “Pilgrim with the Cross” and dedicated his life to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In his book The Cross, Blessitt wrote, “After having carried the cross in every nation, I can say that the world is open to and hungry for the good news of Jesus and the cross. The only problem is that the laborers are few, as Jesus said.”
“My goal has been to get the cross off the wall and into people’s minds and hearts, where they can understand and experience its message,” he continued. “A large cross being carried makes an unforgettable impact on the mind of the person who sees it. Years later people still remember when and where they saw the cross being carried.”
According to a statement, Blessitt began preaching at the age of 15 and was ordained as a minister at the age of 20. By the age of 29, he set out on his journey to share Jesus with the world.
