WEST BEAVER TOWNSHIP -- Good Friday is the most solemn day in the Christian calendar because it commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. Many communities in our area re-enacted events with cross walks, and one of them was in Snyder County.
Step by step the men took turns carrying a 120-pound wooden cross down Route 522 near McClure. The walk was long, 27 miles, but the men did not mind. The cross walk was in observance of Good Friday.
"It's a great opportunity to fellowship with a bunch of men from our church and just to show the people in our community that Good Friday is about the sacrifice that the lord made and remind them it's about the cross," Mike Sellers said.
"This is not the Easter Bunny time. This is God's time. We can't endure the pain he endured for us," Wayne Stoltzfus said.
The walk started in Mifflin County and ended at the men's church, Christ Church of Beaver Springs in Snyder County.
Throughout the 27-mile walk, a lot of people stopped to watch as the group carried the cross back to their church.
"We even had someone today stop and get out. They wanted to carry it. For about a half mile. We didn't know the man, never seen him before in our lives. But it was a great opportunity for the man and he felt blessed," Stoltzfus said.
Karen Wolfley of McClure heard about the cross walk before, but has never seen it in person, until now.
"I finally after several years have gotten to do this. It's awesome and what they do is just moving. It brings tears to your eyes," Wolfley said.
This year's cross walk was extra special for Jhon Matthews because it's the first year he was able to participate.
"I get to show people that it's all about the glory of God," Matthews said.
The cross walk ended with a Good Friday service at Christ Church of Beaver Springs.
