‘I’ll cherish the old rugged cross’: Mississippi association dedicates cross outside building

If you were listening as you drove down Highway 15 through Bay Springs, Mississippi, on July 14, you might have heard these words being sung by the crowd in front of the Jasper County Baptist Association building ...
Leaders from Jasper Baptist churches gathered to pray and dedicate a new 50 foot cross at the Jasper Baptist Building on July 14.
(Photo courtesy of The Baptist Record)

‘I’ll cherish the old rugged cross’: Mississippi association dedicates cross outside building

If you were listening as you drove down Highway 15 through Bay Springs, Mississippi, on Sunday afternoon, July 14, you might have heard these words being sung by the crowd in front of the Jasper County Baptist Association building: “So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down.”  Leaders from local Baptist churches were gathered to pray and dedicate the new 50 foot cross.

This singing was lead by “The Guys,” a men’s gospel ensemble from Antioch Church. The rally began with an honor guard from the Mississippi Army Guard raising the American flag to its proper place under the cross. Madalyn Stringer from Lake Como Church sang the National Anthem.

Hicks introduced Congressman Michael Guest (R-Mississippi), who led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. After the pledge, Guest shared with those present “What the Cross Means to Me.”  The rally closed with a “Prayer of Dedication” led by Kevin Blakeney, the project manager for designing and constructing the cross.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Don Hicks and originally published by the Baptist Record.

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