The Cross in Effingham

09/04/2026

Please plan to join us on Saturday, Sept. 19 for our 25th anniversary celebration and 9-11 commemoration prayer service. The event is FREE and is from 6-9pm. Here's a timeline of the events:

6:00pm - Food & Fun Begins -- Did we mention it's all FREE?!
6:30pm - Prayer Service and Music by Hillary Beard
6:45pm - EchoTap Band - Christian and Contemporary Rock
8:00pm - DRONE SHOW (Effingham's first ever!!)

We'll have FREE burgers & hot dogs, ice cream, drinks, giveaways, bounce houses, prayer & praise wall, and more! Bring the whole family for fun, prayer, and thanksgiving of 25 years of The Cross at the Crossroads.

Special thanks to our sponsors and donors:

Dr. Rick & Angie Workman Family
Ann & Dennis Deters Family
Anonymous Donor
Beck's
Koerner Distributor
Agracel
Culver's
Effingham Tourism
Teutopolis Treats
Mid-Illinois Concrete
J&J Ventures
Save-A-Lot Effingham
Akra

We're so grateful for their support in helping us provide this 25th anniversary event and Effingham's first-ever DRONE SHOW!

08/24/2026

One of the newest additions to our campus is the Life of Jesus Pathway, and you can experience it during our upcoming 25th Anniversary Celebration event on Sat., Sept. 19. The FREE event is from 6-9pm.

As you walk the pathway, you'll experience six life-size bronze statues portraying significant moments in Christ's earthly ministry:

✝️ The Nativity
✝️ Jesus with the Children
✝️ Jesus Healing the Blind Man
✝️ Jesus With the Loaves & Fish
✝️ Jesus Preaching to a Crowd
✝️ Jesus Walking on Water

Four additional statues — including Jesus in the Garden, on the Road to Calvary, on the Cross, and stepping out of the tomb — will complete the Gospel story as future donations make them possible.

Join us for our anniversary event on Sept. 19. We'll have free food, a prayer service, live music, children's activities, free gifts, and much more!

08/12/2026

Faith doesn’t mean we always understand what God is doing. It means we trust who God is, even when we cannot see what comes next.

There will be seasons when the future feels uncertain. Keep walking with Him. Keep praying. Keep believing. God sees what you cannot, and He is already at work. Fix your eyes on Jesus and take the next step in faith.

“For we live by faith, not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7

08/11/2026

Every Great Ministry Begins with Someone Willing to Say “Yes” to God.

Twenty-five years ago, John and Fran Schultz answered that call with a vision to build a Cross that would boldly proclaim the Gospel to those traveling through the crossroads of America.

It was an ambitious dream, but God provided! Through faithful supporters, community volunteers, dedicated leaders, generous donors, and countless answered prayers. And in the summer of 2001, that dream became a reality.

Since then, millions have passed by the Cross in Effingham, and hundreds of thousands have stopped to walk the grounds and visit the Welcome Center. Countless lives have been impacted — a beautiful reminder that God still uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.

Now, we invite YOU to celebrate God's faithfulness as we commemorate the 25th Anniversary of The Cross at the Crossroads! Join us on Saturday, September 19 from 6:00–9:00pm.

Join us for an amazing evening featuring:
✝ Community prayer
✝ Live music
✝ FREE food
✝ Commemorative giveaway
✝ Children's activities
✝ And Effingham's FIRST-EVER DRONE SHOW!

The entire evening is FREE and everyone is welcome! Mark your calendars, invite your family and friends, and please LIKE & SHARE this post to help us spread the word!

08/05/2026

25 Years of Faith, Hope, and Impact!

Twenty-five years ago, a dream became reality. On June 27, 2001, The Cross at the Crossroads was erected, creating a landmark that would become a beacon of hope for millions of travelers and a place of prayer for countless visitors. For 25 years, this Cross has shared the message of Jesus Christ — His love, His forgiveness, His hope, and the promise of eternal life if we give ourselves fully to Him!

Join us for "25 Years of Faith, Hope, and Impact," a FREE evening of food, music, fellowship, prayer, children's activities, and Effingham's first-ever drone show!

We can't wait to celebrate with you...

* Saturday, September 19 |from 6–9pm
* The Cross at the Crossroads - 1900 Pike Avenue in Effingham, IL
* Community prayer led by Pastor Roger Marshall
* Live music from Hillary Beard & EchoTap
* Free hamburgers & hot dogs
* Effingham's first drone show
* Family-friendly & FREE

08/04/2026

We’re happy to bless this amazing Christian ministry with our smaller storage shed, now that we have our larger maintenance shed in place. God is so good!

Check out the Newton Family Life Center (and the Effingham and Shelbyville locations too) who provide free ultrasounds and ongoing support for mothers and fathers facing unplanned pregnancy.

A heartfelt thank you to The Cross in Effingham for their generous donation of a storage unit for our center! Our staff truly appreciate having extra space for the items we provide to our clients.

A big shout-out to Bear Creek for delivering the unit to Newton for us! Your support means so much to our team and those we serve. Thank you for caring about our mission and community!

07/30/2026

God is so good!!

We have a brand new maintenance shed on our campus, thanks to some amazing volunteers and local businesses! We want to give a huge THANK YOU to the following volutneers who worked many hours to build the shed, including: Wayne Funneman, Mike Schabbing, Steve Swingler, Ken Schabbing, Tom Schabbing, Doug Schabbing, Ken Ritz, Charlie Semple, Wayne Donsbach, and Frank Schniederjon (most are pictured herein).

Local businesses who either gave in-kind material/labor gifts or helped make the shed possible inlcude: Collin Funneman of FCI Construction (fciconstructioninc.org), Blake and Brandon Wesselman of Wesselman Roofing, John Burford of Burford Electric, Effingham Builders Supply, Niebrugge Lumber Company, Quatmen Lumber Company, and Roepke Overhead Doors.

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58

07/23/2026

In a world that often feels dark, every follower of Christ is called to shine His light.

A kind word. A helping hand. A forgiving heart. A simple act of love may be exactly what someone needs to experience the hope of Jesus. Be the light that He commands us to be!

07/21/2026

The world offers temporary comfort, but only Jesus offers lasting peace. When worries weigh heavy on your heart, take time to be still in His presence. Lay your burdens at the foot of the Cross and allow His peace to fill your soul.

It doesn't matter the despair you may be feeling today — Christ is your refuge, your strength, and your peace. Trust in Him always!