For many years, people driving by our property on Bowie Mill Road saw the lone cross high on the hill. It symbolized not only our faith and our future, but our presence in the community.

When building construction began in July 1998, the cross had to be taken down to accommodate the land clearing and heavy equipment work taking place. We were surprised when the church office received many calls from people in the community saying they missed it and wondering when the cross would be re-erected. We then knew how much the cross meant to not only us, but also to our community.

With the completion of the building in June 1999, our attention returned to our cross and putting it back up on the hill. Recognizing the feedback we had received from the community, we knew it had to be a visible presence to those passing by Bowie Mill Road. But, we knew it could be more. We developed a vision to not only have the cross standing visibly on the property, but to also create a place of meditation and memorial. We designed a stone wall around the cross that captures the theme of our building and sanctuary. Around the wall, above the cross, we designed a biblical garden that utilized herbs, flowers and fauna from biblical times. Surrounding the cross, against the stone wall, we placed benches for comfortable meditation. Finally, we paved the area around the cross with commemorative bricks. These bricks are engraved with the names of family members or other loved ones in either their honor or commemoration, or to recognize their service to the church or community.

Our cross has special meaning beyond it's Christian symbolism. We want it to provide a place of meditation, memorial and celebration to God for all of His gifts to us.