Matthews – Mint Hill Weekly

MINT HILL – Six area churches – Mint Hill Baptist, Wilson Grove Baptist, Philadelphia Presbyterian, Trinity Fellowship, Mint Hill Community Church and Blair Road United Methodist – came together on Good Friday, April 3, for the annual Walk with the Cross event.
Mint Hill Baptist Pastor Lee Proctor, former Philadelphia Presbyterian Church Pastor Chuck Williamson and former Blair Road United Methodist Church Pastor Ted Troutman started the tradition 11 years ago.
Proctor said the event has a personal and communal meaning.
“For me, it’s remembering that Jesus carried the cross for me,” he said. “… It also follows the Bible’s message how one day every tribe, tongue and nation, a spectrum of skin colors and languages will come together.”

One hundred-fifty people and three churches were involved in the first event, and six churches and 450 people participated in this year’s Walk with the Cross.
Each church took turns leading the group with Bible verses from Stations of the Cross and carrying the full-sized wooden cross. The ceremony began at Mint Hill Baptist Church and ended at the intersection of Lawyers Road and N.C. 51.
Rob Mariucci, pastor of Wilson Grove Baptist Church, said his church has been involved with Walk with the Cross for two years, but this was his first year participating.
“We come together, united as one faith, and pray for the Mint Hill community and let them know we are here, we believe in God and God is alive,” Mariucci said.