7 reasons to carry the Cross …
1. It’s the most powerful symbol of God’s loving kindness towards a broken and hurting world.
The Cross really is where the worst of man meets the very best of God. The Cross is where Jesus’ arms are stretched out in love and grace. It’s where His mercy and love triumph over sin, shame and rebellion. The Cross reminds us that through Jesus THERE IS a way open to people of forgiveness and peace with God.
2. Crosswalking represents the SIMPLE message of the Cross
The Cross is possibly the most recognisable symbol in the world but many people don’t understand or have forgotten what it means. I’m reminded that the ground at the Cross is level and ALL are invited to come regardless of age, status or background. The Cross confronts us with the stark truth that we have all sinned and rebelled against our loving Heavenly Father. He loved us so much He sent His Son to die so that we could be redeemed and restored. Jesus is ready to receive all who call upon His precious name. Our land needs this simple Gospel message to be made known through God’s people in this moment. The Cross itself is a simple picture of Jesus’ life and death on our behalf. Yet the Cross is as empty as his tomb! He is Risen! He lives and brings new life and new creation through the resurrection. We need to have these conversations on the streets.
3. Crosswalking is a prophetic picture of true discipleship!
Jesus calls all who say they follow Him to pick up their cross. Now of course I’m ready to join you in arguing that it is just a metaphor. However it wasn’t so much to the early church. Neither is it to the estimated 300 million believers who face persecution around the world each day. By carrying the Cross all of us may freshly identify with a Jesus kind of discipleship with the Cross at the centre of our faith. Yes Jesus calls us to a costly discipleship, a dying to self that we may live in the power of God’s Spirit kind of discipleship. This is so far removed from the indulgence of the prosperity, best-life-now, false versions of the me-centred Gospel. Rather, it is a radical cross centred discipleship that must be recovered in our land. It’s this kind of discipleship that first turned the world upside down, overcame empires, shut the mouths of lions and called others to pick up their cross. The early disciples faced hostility yet also the future without fear, seeing a Kingdom that was not of this world following King Jesus the risen Lamb of God.
4. Crosswalking is an opportunity to prayer-walk and pray-in God’s purposes
In Crosswalking, we are able to take Prayer-walking and prayers of blessing onto the streets.
As we cross-walk, there are many great promises in Scripture to lay hold of such as the great promise given to Joshua (1 v3) “I will give you every place where you set your foot”, We can pause to kneel in repentance. We can pray for God’s purposes to advance, for an awakening in the city, for churches to be strengthened and multiplied. For prodigals to come home. For Jesus to move in healing and transforming power (Isaiah 61 v 1-6a, Psalm 107 v1-16).
I believe this can help prepare for the coming move of God.
5. The Crosswalk can bring great encouragement to fellow Christians!
Aside from carrying the Cross, it’s important to seek to bless and give courage to others who love the Lord. Jesus is the Lion. He is the one who has overcome the world! Hallelujah! It is through His own blood that He has purchased people from every tribe and tongue and nation. (Rev 5:9) It is through the Cross He has disarmed the powers and authorities. (Col 2:15) The Cross is not just the place of Jesus’ sacrifice, it is the display of His Victory! When Christians see us I pray it will encourage and embolden them to step out in faith to lift up the name of the Lord on the streets.
6. People will encounter Jesus!
Jesus is moving in salvation power and people will encounter Jesus. I remember carrying the cross through Brixton a few years ago and as we walked through a park I noticed a group of Christians who were doing an evangelistic BBQ. Without any introduction, a man saw the Cross and immediately came to us to say he had been reading the Bible and wanted to become a Christian. We stood at the Cross and prayed on the spot. We had other encounters that day of praying with people and some wanted to touch it as a sign of God’s grace and peace. Pray we might be in the right place at the right time to see many encounter the power and salvation of God.
7. Because Revival is coming!
Please join me and others around the country seeking God for Revival. Listen to Him for direction as to how to pursue this in your personal life and if you’re a leader or intercessor, give God no rest until He moves once again to breath life on dry bones. Re-read the stories of Gods gracious outpourings in history and ask God to do it again! I see a cloud as small as a mans fist on the horizon!
Get involved in Crosswalk London this Easter, called ‘Hosanna in the City’
Hosanna in the City will take place from the 13th-18th April 2025. The route and timings are being finalised and will be announced on this page soon …
If you can’t join us for any of the Hosanna in the City, you can still get involved. Join us for our Heartbeat for Harvest conference in London on the 26th April. Sign up to pray for Hosanna in the City & Crosswalk England (see the bottom of this page for some initial prayer points). Please click the buttons below.
Why I want to carry the Cross
Phil Tate, March 2025
Earlier in the year I felt a stirring in my heart to prayer walk though the Country to pray-in God’s purposes. I am convinced these purposes involve a Spiritual awakening which may according to various sources have already begun! In the crazy and serious days in which we live, and even though we probably least deserve it, I believe it’s on the Lords heart to touch this land once more with Revival Streams.
While the great cry of the church is ‘Maranatha’, I’m encouraging everyone I can to first pray ‘Lord have mercy on the UK, please send Revival once more.’
So what do people make of someone carrying a 12 foot Cross and why am I doing it?
In short – to obey. But there is more to it. Crosswalking is a prophetic act and may be seen as foolishness by some (and I accept I might look like a real oddball! ) To some it’s an offense, to fellow Christians it encourages them as a sign of God’s grace reaching out to them. To the prodigals it’s a reminder of the Lord they once followed. As I carry it around, it is a physical reminder on my body of what my Lord Jesus did for me. I feel unworthy to carry it but I am reminded that without it, I wouldn’t know God’s mercy, I wouldn’t belong to Him. You can read my 7 reasons for doing the Crosswalk further down this page.
Pray for Crosswalk!
I would really value your prayers. Crosswalking is an adventure and apart from visiting a few link churches, I don’t know who I will meet, what challenges I will face or how God may use it.
Some prayer points:
- That we can lift up Jesus name and bring Him praise with thanksgiving in our hearts
- For protection for Phil, Steve and families (Psalm 91, Ephesians 6)
- For Spirit led conversations on the streets
- For soft and receptive hearts among people we encounter to receive the Gospel
- For blessing of the churches we meet and strengthening of relationships with Ichthus
- For wisdom and grace that we would be clear and bold in our witness