Reverend Bernard Coffindaffer, from Nicholas County, West Virginia, was the founder of Christian Crosses Inc. After two heart by-pass surgeries he had a vision that the crosses should be placed across the county. In his home office on September 28th, 1984 he began his project. He had a full time secretary and a crew of seven full time workers who erected the crosses that were all made of California Douglas Fir. The center one was painted gold for “royalty” and the other two were pale blue. The three crosses symbolize Christ on the Cross flanked with the two thieves that were crucified with Him. As each cluster of crosses was erected, the same consecration service was held and prayers were offered for repentance and forgiveness of sins. Owners of the land donated the site for the crosses and Reverend Coffindaffer paid for the rest of the expenses himself. Before his death in 1993 he erected 1,864 crosses in twenty-nine states, the District of Columbia, Zambia and the Philippines. PBS did a documentary on his life entitled “Point Man for God” that was shown on the series “different Drummer also CBS did a segment on him on “Sunday Morning”. He drew national attention for making the cluster of crosses a common sight through the United States and two foreign countries. He once stated” The crosses speak peace with in as we struggle without.” |
