The Longest Walk! This is the 56th year of me carrying the cross around the world in every nation. 1968-2023. The Guinness World Record for the longest walk/pilgrimage. Over 43,340 miles (69,748 km) in 324 countries, island groups & territories. 86 million steps and over 19 billion pounds of total weight carried. Sharing Jesus, the cross and the gospel message. My wife Denise has driven in front with supplies and has been with me in 294 countries. We are just pilgrims, donkeys lifting up the cross and Jesus. God bless you.
Arthur and Denise Blessitt

51 YEARS OF CARRYING THE CROSS AROUND THE WORLD BY ARTHUR BLESSITT

Glory! This is the 51st year of walking carrying a 12 foot cross around the world. (1968-2019) My mind is focused on Jesus!  As of October 17, 2019 I’ve walked with the cross 43,326 miles (69,726 km) including every nation, major island group and territory. For the Glory of God. Jesus did it. At the age of 78 I’m still carrying the cross in 2019! This is the Guinness World Record for the World’s longest walk/pilgrimage. 86 million steps, over 19 billion pounds carried as I walked with the cross. The weight is figured by the total of my body weight and the cross weight on my shoulders multiplied by the number of steps.

The faces of millions of people I have seen or met along the way flood my memory. As a young pastor the night Jesus called me to full time evangelism as I prayed on a hilltop outside of Elko, Nevada. Jesus showed me the sky filled with the faces of people I had never seen before. People of all colors, races, cultures and religions. It was to these I was called. None of these faces I had ever seen before. His call to me was the world! I have now seen almost all the faces I saw that night. I believe when I see the last face Jesus will call me home.

This took place about four years before Jesus called me to make the 12 foot cross and take the first steps with it. I was then 27 years old. I had no idea what lay ahead or that my life would become so intertwined with the cross. I got a taste of carrying the cross in 1968 and 1969. But little did I know it would consume my life when I walked out of Hollywood, California down Sunset Strip on Christmas Day, 1969 heading east toward New York and Washington DC.

I was to become a fool in the eyes of many and a saint in the eyes of others. The road with the cross would lead me through wars, jungles, deserts, cities and to every continent, nation and major island group and territory.

I walked into the world to meet people face to face. To hear the hurting and lost calling out to hear the message of love and hope as well as the screams of hate, anger and rejection.

To help lead people to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord is the ultimate mission of carrying the cross and of my life. I preach and share the Gospel message of the cross, the Holy Blood of Jesus shed for our sins on the cross. The call is to repent of our sins, believe and trust in Jesus and to follow Him. Nothing is greater than to share the hope and life there is in the resurrected Christ. 

Along the way I was to kiss the lepers, touch the sick and diseased. I wept with the hurting and shared hope with the lost and dying. I saw the love of Jesus manifested in peoples lives and rejoiced with them along the roads. Sometimes one person and at other times with tens of thousands of people.

The people of the world have welcomed us or we would not be here. We ate their food, drank their drinks, slept on their mats or bed and were welcomed as family the world over. However, neither the cross or Jesus or ourselves were always welcomed.
The curses rang out, knives at my neck, guns at my head, a firing squad with guns pointed at me, spit on my face, beaten and so often in danger, arrested 24 times and in 54 nations at war. My life became a saga of struggles and triumph, praise and damnation. Attacked from every direction beyond what anyone could imagine. Don’t ever think that carrying the cross around the world will only attract applause.

I’ve carried in my heart the suffering of the poor, the hungry and wept with the pain of seeing injustice, discrimination, hate, killings, wars and persecution. The attacks on the followers of Jesus in our world is so common. Lack of freedom of religion is rampant. It has been a true miracle that my wife Denise and I have gone openly into all these nations that have sought to destroy and restrict the Bible, the cross and the message of Jesus. Yet Jesus led us in and led us out.

The cross the devil hates. Anything to destroy the cross or the cross carrier is open game. I had to reach the point where criticism and praise affect me the same.

There were no bodyguards to protect. The way of the pilgrim is not to defend yourself but to bless your enemies. To love in the face of hate, lies, evil and discord. This has been for us to live out and put into practice as Jesus has asked us to do.

Our life of walking with the cross and sharing the message of the cross… Jesus has been hard for many to comprehend. Denise and I are too religious for many of the secular and too secular for many of the religious. The cross shakes everything up. I’ve been turned away from leaving my cross at over half the churches I’d asked to leave my cross at overnight but was never turned away from leaving my cross at a bar.

I want to clearly say that my wife Denise is fearless and loving yet strong and a true follower of Jesus. So often she is in front of me and faces the dangers first. God knew that I could not make it without her. She is as much a part of the cross mission as I am. We are one. How awesome to have been blessed with Denise by my side.

Many don’t know where we fit. I’ve been welcomed and kissed on the cheek by Yasser Arafat in the middle of war, spent the night at Prime Minister Begin’s home in the Sinai, received the Sinai Peace medal in Egypt at the Presidential Palace, met with Pope John Paul II in Rome, took Billy Graham into the battlefield in Belfast, prayed with George W. Bush in Midland, Texas, preached on stage during the 1960’s with Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan talked with me in the park as I preached in Miami, have been welcomed by the President of the United Nations General Assembly and preached at some of the largest churches and stadiums in the world. On and on I could go.

The path of the cross winds it way through every nation in the middle east and the world including North Korea. Our lives as pilgrim followers of Jesus has led my wife and I and also my children to feel that the world is our home. Fifty years with the cross has changed me as well as it has changed others. I feel as much at home in a crowded Indian market as I do in Los Angeles. I feel more at home kicking a ball made with rags by African children than I do at Disney World. I love to preach on the roadsides with no time clock and live stream on the internet for as long as I want to. It is too hard now to fit me into an 18 minute sermon inside a lovely building with a time clock that turns red when you go overtime.

On the road I returned to my early young days of preaching in jails where there was no music. So I have preached the world over with no music groups or worship music to warm up the crowd. I just speak and the people who want to hear will stay.

When I walk, I walk with Jesus. Wherever we go we share Jesus. Whatever we do we seek to lift up Jesus. That is my passion. I am just a simple Jesus loving gospel preacher and a lover of people the world over. We love all people. We share Jesus and when people meet Him He gives them a new heart and life. When the heart is changed the life starts to look more like Jesus. I stay focused on letting Jesus change people, not me.

Another thing I’ve learned is commitment to the call and mission Jesus gives for us to live. To stay determined and to go forward no matter what is ahead. I learned early on that ‘circumstances don’t alter the call’. We are to act and not live our life reacting to the events, words or actions of others. Follow Jesus.

I am a work in progress. Jesus has been grinding me to powder so that He can blow me where He will. I’m a saved sinner. Every day I pray and repent and say “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me a sinner.” I love the Holy Spirit showing me where I have failed and welcome God being the Potter molding me and making me more like Jesus. I want to be convicted of my sins, things I may do or things I did not do or thoughts that are not from the Mind of God. I truly love to follow Jesus.

I love the Bible, the Word of God. I quote scriptures as I walk, sing songs to the Lord along the road. I worship and praise God. Jesus likes my company too. I love to live in the Presence of God the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

One day soon I shall take my last breath and will step into the glory of Heaven and onto the streets of Gold to meet my God the Lord of Hosts.

I feel that I’ve had the most blessed life in the world. From a child I’ve sought to follow Jesus. I recommend Jesus to you.
See your sin…Understand your need, repent and welcome Jesus who shed His Holy Blood on the cross for my sins and yours. Ask Jesus to save you and come to live in your heart right now. Start following Jesus without shame. Tell others the message of salvation in Jesus.

The greatest value in this world for a follower of Jesus is to lead a lost person to Jesus to be saved. I live from one soul saved to the next. A person’s soul and where they will spend eternity is the most important thing in the world. Jesus said “what shall it profit a person if they should gain the whole world but lose their own soul.” If we say we love others yet do not care where they spend eternity, something is very wrong.

Together we shall see a world-wide awakening as the cross is shared and Jesus lifted up in all the earth.

The cross has been with me for so long my body has been changed by the weight of the cross…my shoulder, my feet and my knees, etc. But most of all the weight of the cross and the Presence of Jesus has changed me, my heart and life.

I close with this thought. Simon of Cyrene was in Jerusalem at the time appointed by God to be there to help Jesus carry the cross to Calvary. Simon was a sinner like you and me but he could help Jesus on the way to the place where Jesus was to die on the cross. Simon could help carry the cross but Simon could not die for the sins of the world. Only Jesus, the Word that became Flesh and lived without sin could do that. God gave Himself and shed His Blood for our salvation that whosoever will may come.

After the cross and the resurrection and Jesus ascending into heaven those that know Him as Savior are to be His witnesses.
We are to carry the cross into all the world with the message of Jesus.

I don’t know why but before Jesus called me to carry a large life-sized cross on a long journey, it to my knowledge had never been done before. Sure some had carried the cross at Easter and others a few miles. But I have never been able to find any historical evidence of a person carrying a large cross across nations or continents. I am so humbled and truly unworthy to even carry the cross. But I learned that Jesus’ call makes me worthy. I have learned not to follow the normal but to be willing to step out and break through the walls that have been holding back the bold and daring in their journey of following Jesus and His radical callings.

Now there are thousands carrying large crosses in nations and cities all over the world. What Jesus called me to do has opened the floodgates and people will be carrying large crosses until Jesus comes. May God bless all those who are or will be carrying crosses for Jesus as a witness to others and God bless all the pilgrims who are following Jesus. I encourage you on your journey. Remember this world is not our home. We are but pilgrims and strangers “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Jesus said.

This is just another step on the long journey with the cross for the One that is truly Worthy! Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!
Worthy is the Lamb! Amen. All Glory to God.

Pilgrim followers of Jesus,
Arthur and Denise Blessitt, Luke 18:1;

Oblitz:
Mehn!!!!
Matt 16:34
"........Carry your cross and follow me".
This man did it literally

FASCINATING FACTS AND FIGURES

*This is the first cross to be carried around the world on foot and the longest walking journey in the history of the world.
*First made and carried the cross in 1968, Hollywood, Ca.
*Years carrying the cross. 1968-2022 this is 55th year.
*Length – 12 feet. Cross cut in two. Bolt together to be 12 foot. Had to do this to fit airline regulations.
*Width – 6 feet
*Thickness – 4″ x 4″
*Weight – 45 pounds. Earlier crosses weighed more, first one 110 pd. Had to reduce to fit airline weight limits.
*Tire – 12″ inflatable
*Average tire life – 2,000 miles
Miles carried cross on foot (Actual) Over 43,340 miles (69,748 Km.)
*Cross taken by boat – Estimated 20,000 miles
*Air miles cross flown – Estimated 2,330,000
*Miles cross carried on automobile(s) – Estimated 435,000 miles
*Number of continents cross carried – Seven (North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, Australia and Antarctica)
*Average shoe life – 500 miles until getting a resole.
*Longest walk in a day – 72 miles in 24 hours (with help); 47 miles (alone)
*Longest walk (time wise) – Africa west to east; Mexico to Colombia (almost two years each)
*Number of different countries, island groups and territories cross carried -324
*Times arrested or in jail – 24
*Most apt country to be arrested in – USA
*Most apt city to be arrested in – Hollywood, CA
*Most beautiful countries – Norway, Switzerland, Greenland, Antarctica
*Most peaceful places – American Samoa and Manus Island (both in the Pacific), Maldives
*Most modern city – Perth, Australia and Hiroshima, Japan
*Worst traffic – Lagos, Nigeria; Istanbul, Turkey; India and Bangkok, Thailand
*Most angry toward the cross – Amsterdam, Holland and Tetouan, Morocco
*Greatest welcome to the cross – Papua New Guinea, Poland, Spain, India, Lithuania, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Guatemala & West Africa
*Friendliest Armies – Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Army
*Coldest city (reception) to the cross – New York, USA; Montreal, Canada and Sydney, Australia
*Hardest road to walk – Pan-American Highway. Mexico City to Panama
*Toughest jungle to walk – The Darien Jungle, Panama to Columbia
*Best road to walk – Holland
*Worst auto accident – Turkey, Guam
*Worst poverty – Chad; Mozambique, Djibouti, Ethiopia, India and Bangladesh
*Worst war – Lebanon and Mozambique
*Murder Capital of the World in 2010– Juarez, Mexico
*Most beautiful views – Mount Kilimanjaro, Kenya/Tanzania; Mount Cameroon, Africa; Mount of Olives facing Jerusalem; Sea of Galilee, looking toward Mount Hermon; Mount Sinai; Norwegian Coastline; Antigua; Guatemala; a Swiss valley with lake and mountains beyond Tierra del Fuego (Chile); Penguins nesting in Antarctica; Icebergs in Greenland, and Bronzal Pass in the Hindu *Kush – Pakistan-Afghanistan.
*Most beautiful City – The city of Jerusalem
*Smallest country (in size) cross carried – The Vatican City in Rome and Sovereign Knights of Malta
*First step with cross – Hollywood, California early 1968
*A few historical places and moments with the cross – Washington, D.C. 1970, 1980; Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany; the Coliseum in Rome; The Pantheon in Athens, Greece; the pyramids of Egypt; Cebu City in the Philippines at Magellan’s Cross; carrying the cross across the Panama and Suez Canals; the cross at the top of the world’s biggest pyramid in Cholula, Mexico; October 31, 1987 Hollywood, CA completed the distance around the world at the equator 24,901.55 miles; China Wall and Red Square, Moscow; Cross above the walls of Babylon; North Korea; Completed every nation and major island group June 13, 2008 Zanzibar in Indian Ocean; Cross carried back to Hollywood to Grauman’s Chinese Theatre for the premiere of the movie “The Cross”; Lifting the cross up at second base at Yankee Stadium, New York in front of 40,000 people. Crossed 40,000 miles on foot at Whitehorse, Canada, June 25, 2012. Carried the cross into Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and spoke April, 2016. Jan.1,2021 started the 54th year carrying the cross in Douglas County, Colorado.
*Highest mountain climbed with the cross – Mount Fuji, Japan (12,388 ft) Bronzal Pass, Pakistan-Afghanistan border (18,200 ft – 5,547 M.)
*Deepest into the earth cross carried – Carlsbad New Mexico (850 feet)
*Lowest point below sea level cross carried – Dead Sea (1,200 feet)
*Worst cold weather – Golan Heights, Syria-Israel; Rome to Assisi, Italy; Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Antarctica and Baltic Republics
*Hottest temperature – Jordan Valley; Chad; Yemen, Iraq & Djibouti (135 degrees plus)
*Coldest temperature – 20 degrees below in Nova Scotia, Canada
*World’s largest tree cross-carried to – 3,000 year old tree in Mexico (163′ high, 163′ around)
*Worst food – Squid in ink in Spain, monkey leg in Africa, Rat Soup in Belize and Pork Soup for breakfast in USSR
*Best food – Freshwater shrimp in El Salvador and fresh salmon in Finland
*Longest fast – 40 days Washington D.C. 1970
*Worst dog – Israeli Army dog in the Sinai Desert
*Worst mosquitoes – The Amazon River and Greenland
*Worst fast food – McDonald’s, Yellowknife, N.W. Territories, while we ate, manager ran out front, grabbed my cross & rushed to the garbage container to throw it away as trash! July 3, 2012. No happy meal if you brought your cross 🙂
*Best beds – St. James Club, London England; Livingstonia Beach Hotel, Malawi
*Friendliest airline to the cross – Swiss Air
*Highest cross has ever been – 60,000′ on Concorde
*Fastest the cross has ever flown – Mach II (1240 mph – twice the speed of sound on Concorde) 5 different flights
*Longest time cross lost – one month (Alitalia Airlines)
*Cross stolen – Christmas Day 1979, Assisi, Italy
*Cross wheel stolen – Bordeaux, France
*Cross overboard ship – Philippines
*Cross in Space – A small cross cut from my cross was launched into space August 2, 2008 from the Marshall Islands reaching 134 miles (217km). May 22 – June 26, 2012 another cross from the cross orbited the earth by SpaceX.
*Cross broken – Joplin, Missouri; Nigeria; Guam, Turkey, London
*Worst storm at sea – Philippines and Papua New Guinea and The Drake Passage to Antarctica
*Best road pets – El Salvador del Mundo (parrot), Central America; Basco (rabbit), Spain; Belfast (dog), Northern Ireland; Loretta (parrot) South Africa – USA; HRH Windsor (dog) U.S.
*Biggest animal scares – Green Mamba snake in Ghana; baboon attack in Kenya; elephant chase in Tanzania; crocodile attack in Zimbabwe
*Number of people prayed for, blessed or saved at the Cross – Many Millions but only God knows
*Worst jail – Concord, New Hampshire, West Hollywood
*[/b]My Wife[/b] – Denise has been with the cross and me in 294 nations, island groups and territories
*A few memorable scares – Firing squad in Nicaragua: stoning and beating in Morocco; Civil Guardia attack in Spain; LAPD choking, Hollywood, California; pistol attack, Orlando, Florida; “to burn the cross,” Birdseye, Indiana; man broke the cross, Nigeria; War in Lebanon crossing minefield, Belfast, Northern Ireland bomb blast.
*Worst bed – The “Pig Hilton” (a pigpen in Columbia); a single narrow board at a blown up bus stop in the Golan Heights, Syria- Israel border area, a hotel somewhere in China with dripping water
*Biggest crowd preached to – Half a million, Atlanta Rock Festival, 1970; Washington for Jesus Rally, half a million-1980, Carried the cross into Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and spoke April, 2016 to 65,000.
*Wars – Carried the cross in 54 countries at war
*Steps Walked – About 86 Million:
*Total weight carried: Over 19 Billion Pounds.
2022 still carrying the cross at age 81. Glory.

The cross has been turned away from being left overnight at more than half the churches requested, but has never been turned away from spending the night at a bar or nightclub in 55 years around the world.

jesusjnr2020:
Matthew 16:24 (KJV)

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Matthew 10:38 (KJV)

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Kobojunkie:
All this for what again? Guinness record recognition?

Kobojunkie:
All this for what again? Guinness record recognition?

Kobojunkie:
All this for what again? Guinness record recognition?