Carrying A Cross Across America

My name is CJ Stillman and I departed military service at 3rd Ranger Battalion, Fort Moore, GA, in February 2024 and began Carrying A Cross Across America on March 8, 2024.

Purpose. The purpose of this journey is to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The inspiration for this Journey comes from Mathew 16:24, “Then Jesus told his disciples, if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

By carrying a cross through the continental U.S. and conversing with the people of our nation, thousands will be exposed to the gospel of our Lord.

An Instagram page @carryingacrossacrossamerica will also keep track of the walk. Stories, scripture, updates, and fellowship will be shared on the page. Please email me at CarryingAcrossAcrossAmerica@gmail.com with any connections you have along the route, questions, or comments.

The Journey. The Journey will be a walk from Virginia Beach, VA, to Seal Beach, CA. While adhering to state traffic laws, the walk will be conducted on the roadside and through towns along the planned route. The start date for the Journey is March 8, 2024. The route will be just under 3,000 miles, with a tentative end date of August 31, 2024. The Route is flexible going from east to west as this will change with road closures, weather, availability of food and water, and sound churches. A scheme of maneuver has the journey going through Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

The Cross. The cross will be made of PVC pipe, and a wheel will be attached. Sleeping will be done in a secure location along the route or with a trusted church member. In itself, the walk will be a visual for those passing by to see a cross being carried, a representation of Mathew 16:24.

To conclude, this is a journey that will share the gospel of the Lord Jesus. Starting in the Atlantic and ending in the Pacific with a total shy of 3,000 miles. This mission is not to highlight the person walking or some feat of endurance but rather to highlight the act of denying ourselves and living a life dependent on God's grace.

CJ is raising all funds associated with this journey through GallantFew, a veteran support nonprofit. CJ will utilize donated funds as a way to make this journey more about the body of Christ supporting the effort than about himself.

The original trip estimate of $8,000 has been updated to $20,000. The increase reflects the need to utilize safe overnight billeting when no church or community family is able to meet the requirement.

We will update the cost estimate as needed during the journey.

CJ is maintaining receipts of all purchases to ensure no donation is wasted.