Congregants bear the cross in Jesus' memory

Mar. 29—SHARPSVILLE — In the Bible, Jesus carried the cross on the way to his crucifixion. He walked around 2,000 feet carrying the roughly 165-pound wooden frame on his back and shoulders.

Once Jesus reached his destination, he was nailed to that cross and left for dead. It is said in the bible that Jesus died for the sins of mankind.

As they have for six years, on Friday members of Sharpsville's Our Freedom Chapel marked that sacrifice, commemorated as the Christian faith's Good Friday.

The Sharpsville church is full of people who found religion at different points of their life.

"We have such a beautiful and diverse congregation," Pastor Cary Parsons said. "We all realize that we are all sinners who were saved by grace."

Among them is Barbara Madasz. Madasz suffers from scoliosis, which prevented her from doing the walk. Though for the last five years, she found her way to contribute to the group.

"I've been up since 4 a.m. making breakfast for everyone," Madasz said. "It's what I do, it's how I can show my grace to God today."

The dozen or so who went on the cross walk begain with breakfast, then took turns carrying a cross through the streets of the community.

While the cross they carried wasn't as heavy as Jesus', they walked several miles more.

The walkers included John Falvo, who will be turning 83 in April. Falvo is deaf, but his spirit is not broken.

"I'm about to be 83 and I'm still marching along out here," Falvo said. "These young people need to keep up with me."

Falvo has been a part of the church for many years, and has even created several of the paintings seen throughout the church.

Also among the crowd was Edie Meiss and her son Doug.

Edie joined the church around the time of COVID. She said that the church would have their sermons on a loudspeaker so people could listen from their cars, which is why she joined.

"I also love that there is no hierarchy," Edie said. "Everyone here is one part of the church."

Doug found religion when he was able to beat his addiction to chewing tobacco with prayer. He had been struggling with it for 38 years.

Members of the group took turns holding the cross as they made their way down the path. They traveled down South Walnut Street and through several neighborhoods during their trip. Passing cars and trucks honked as they passed.

While they walked they wore shirts with the message "Is your name written in the Lamb's book of life?" which is the motto of the church.

"I want people to know that when they see this, they should think about us," Parsons said. "I want them to look at the Christ within us as we walk in his glory."

The walk was just one of several services the church will host this Easter weekend. Thursday the church held a foot washing ceremony, Friday night they held a remembrance service and on Sunday they will host their Easter celebration at 10:30 a.m.

Elsewhere, members of Orangeville Baptist Church conducted their own cross walk on Good Friday, traversing the downtown streets of Greenville to profess their faith.

Ty Kohler can be contacted at tkohler@alliednews.com.