How this 60 ft. cross came into being, as told by Reverend Erny McDonough of Fisherman’s Chapel at its official dedication on the evening of November 24, 2024:
It was early on the morning of November 20, 2014, when, whether asleep or awake I do not know, but I heard the unmistakable voice of God speaking, “Erny, will you put up a 50 foot cross for Me?” I was totally taken back, but I remember well that I pondered a few seconds before replying, “Lord, I will do anything for You that You will help me with!” And that started this journey.
My head was whirling! How? Never “Why?” but always “How!” I, to this day, ten (10) years later, do not know the Why, but I truly don’t care! Pastor Joane was immediately on board and ready to give encouragement, especially in those times when I doubted. We have always felt that when we follow His directions, He will lead us where He wants, and we will accomplish His plan for our lives. We always want to be OBEDIENT to the voice of God!
God brought us to a special couple that we first met while cleaning their home here in Port O’Connor. Dr. Marsh Miller agreed to provide the funds for the project in honor of his lovely wife Mable. Without their financial backing, this project would have languished greatly! On several occasions, Dr. Marsh would give us a check for the Cross and always tell me there was more when it was needed.
Our first action, besides a lot of asking for wisdom, was to contact every lumber mill we could find on both the Northeast and the Northwest coasts. I only knew wood, so we felt a 12” by 12” treated beam would be what we needed. No one could produce one long enough for the 50’ cross. We knew we wanted the Cross beams to 20’ to make it look aesthetically correct. I drew on graph paper the concrete design and the placement of the sitting rocks to keep something in front of us to follow as we pursued the goal.
Just before Christmas, Donny Haynes came by and bluntly asked me, “What do I need to help you with?” I could not think of anything, so after a few minutes, we prayed and asked the Lord what He wanted. I then told Donny that we were trying to put up a Cross for the Lord, and he told me that a man had just given him a lot of scrap beams that he would gladly help us use. We were humbled, yet overwhelmed.
The Corp of Engineers heard by the grapevine that we were installing a lighted Cross on our property. They contacted us and asked if we would give them permission to put the Cross on their nautical maps. I assured them that that would be great because of its value in tacking into Port O’Connor, but I added, “We have one request that you place on the bottom of each map, ‘If your lost, look to the Cross!’” He replied, “Preacher, that is catchy, but you know we can not do that!”
Needing additional input, in early 2018, we contacted our Missionary friend, Norman Knoodle, asking if he knew an Architectural Engineer, and he placed us in contact with Alone Church – yes, we have just learned that was his given name! What a great resource! He gave us drawings and ideas that are incorporated in this structure! He told me we had to go at least 15’ in the ground and build a base 4’ by 4’ and 2’ deep to hold a 50’ Cross, without any guide wires. We also learned that this Cross was his last project before he went to Heaven!
With our great lack of understanding, we contacted at least 4 other architects and firms, and each had some knowledge from which we gleaned, and Donny kept working on the 21’ base. We do not know who all worked on this Cross Base, but several different men told us the hours they spent welding on it. It was complete and sat outside Donny’s office – Action Welding – for several months until finally we asked him to bring it to the Chapel. We had been talking about this cross without any evidence for years, and we wanted to let everyone know that the task had begun. Frankly, people were beginning to ask us to stop talking about the cross because it was embarrassing! Donny brought it and laid it beside the Chapel.
We talked with landscapers. We talked with lighting experts. We talked with painters. We talked with concrete workers. We talked with anyone and everyone we found who would talk to us about some of the phases of the Cross. David Williams found some stadium lights that would put a beam of light 120 feet in the air. We purchased them and they sat in our office for years.
There were several memorials that came to the Chapel for the Cross, the first being from Bob Stevens in memory of his wife Elaine. There were funds from Steve Peters in memory of his wife Sherri. Johnny Rhyne’s family also contributed.
The base lay beside the building way too long. We could not find anyone who could drill a hold large enough, nor wide enough to hold the steel base and the concrete that was needed. Finally, two (2) of our church men came by and told us, “Preacher, we have a man coming this morning who will put that base in the ground!” They were Ricki McKinney and John Scott – and true to their word, men come on May 12, 2022, and left with a base successfully placed at the foot of our Cross. On May 23, 2022, the forms were laid, and the rebar was installed readying the pouring of the concrete slab.
With the concrete base installed, we began looking for help with the Cross. One summer morning in 2022, a wonderful couple attended our services. Afterwards we learned that they owned a steel fabricating company, River City Industries in San Antonio. After service, we told them about our vision and showed them the slab of concrete with the base for the Cross. Two weeks later, Steve and Margaret Jones arrived at my office with a plan. “We will build the Cross, if we can make it 60’ tall, and truck it to Port O’Connor.” We cried with joy – God had sent another team to help us with our goal.
True to their word, the steel arrived on February 25, 2023. It was welded together March 3 by Rudy, with the careful supervision of Steve, and stood up on April 30, 2023. But, we are a little ahead of ourselves. On January 29, 2023, while working, John Scott was killed in a construction accident. At the memorial service, Trent and Ashley Kucera of Victoria Crane came over and told us that John had talked continually about the Cross. John’s enthusiasm was so infectious that Victoria Crain would raise the Cross when we were ready.
River City employees got very involved. We want to mention Hank Perez and especially Ray, who did the engineering. There were many whose efforts and expertise made the project possible.
We had Allen come by and install the lights with the assistance of Clint Beard and John Belden. We had Dwayne lay the base stones, which were donated by Keith and Jana Hermes and put in the “fish” where were inspired by Pastor Joane and created at Tanza, in Edna. Frankie Deloach was around here helping with almost everything. Butch Fincher kept showing up, ready to help at any given time.
Now our story goes into September 2024, when the blocks showed up. Steve and Kyle Hay worked to put them in the exact placement as you see them today. We have requested 7 blocks, but Steve – always trying to do better, brought 8 and eight (8) is the number of New Beginnings – WATCH OUT!
We desperately needed new street lights and our dear neighbors, Dennis and Donna found them, donated them, painted them, and installed them on November 14, 2024!
We are certain that we missed mentioning several people who labored for the Lord with this endeavor. Today, we are honored to say, “God, we feel we have completed this task You have given us AND we as a Community of Believers, who have kept the faith with personal sacrifice are ready for Your Next Assignment! May this Cross bring salvations to Port O’Connor and the surrounding areas!
