Cross to bear: Minister visits Havre during walk of U.S. for God

An Oklahoma minister is garnering attention through his quest to walk across America - carrying a cross - while spreading the message of the Christian faith.

Minister Steve Epp of The Well Tulsa, which Epp said is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, visited Havre Wednesday during his trek through Montana, the 30th state he has visited on his journey this year. Epp said he has done this feat multiple times over the last eight years.

"I was going to work in the rougher part of Tulsa and start another church and a ministry to reach young people because 85 percent of young people don't go to church. He said, 'No, I want you to build a cross and start walking.' Well, about six, 7,000 miles later, I'm out here," Epp said.

Epp said his first journey, along with his wife, Sondra, was from Wilmington Beach in North Carolina to San Diego. 

"I thought that was it. I felt like the Lord said 'No, you've got 38 states to go.' So, we've gone on different journeys. At the present time, I'm kind of trying to finish up (U.S.) Highway 2. From this point on, I've got from Wisconsin, on the border, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska and I'm heading on 2 now, heading toward Idaho. I don't know if I'm going to get the whole state in, but I'm gonna get most of it and then I'm gonna go across Idaho, then we'll head back home," Epp said.

He referenced a line from the baseball movie "Field of Dreams," "If you build it, they will come."

"I think if I actually said it was from the Lord, people might think I'm crazy, but I felt in my spirit one day he said, 'Build a cross.' He said, 'We don't need more buildings.' He said, 'They're empty,'" Epp continued.

The cross he carries is between 35 to 40 pounds and is the fifth cross he's made. He said the endeavor isn't a fundraiser for a particular cause but there is a PayPal link on Facebook if people would like to donate so he is able to continue, but he doesn't ask for donations.

"We live off Social Security, basically. We have no retirement. The donations go to keep us out here. We don't have any debt, our RV is paid for, our old Jeep Wrangler is paid for. It costs me about two grand a month to live out here. The last campsite was $250 a week. It's gas for my diesel rig, gas for the Jeep, you know, groceries, but we give a lot of money away that we could get to. We don't need to live off very much money," Epp said.

Epp, 69, walks about 7 to 10 miles a day, usually 8, compared to 12 to 15 miles in his early 60s. Epp doesn't train physically but eats a healthy diet. He said he hasn't had to deal with any side effects from his walks across the country, but he does feel he's wearing down a bit due to age.

He said it's not about the miles but the journey. He said the life-changing experiences he's had on his walks have been amazing, adding that he's met veterans on the verge of suicide, people on drugs or struggling with depression.

"I realized they aren't coming to our church but they came to me. So, they figured, 'Well, this guy must be a Christian, I don't want to go to a regular church.' So, they come to the cross. I've literally prayed for thousands, more than I prayed in my life as a pastor. Been amazing," Epp said.

Epp said he's up around 5:30 in the morning and will spend a lot of time reading the Bible, in prayer and resting. He'll walk from about 8 a.m until between noon and two o'clock, depending on how many people he ministers to in a day. He said people typically pull off the side of the road up to his cross. 

He added that he's ministered to 100 people in a day. He'll then have a light lunch and relax in his RV.

Epp said he wants to give hope to anyone, particularly young people of the current generation, to help get them through whatever they are struggling with. He's been in the ministry for 40 years and wants to leave a legacy.

"We're not promised tomorrow. but we have today. Like the Lord said, 'This is the day the Lord has made.' So, I'm going to help somebody today. I just got so bored. I just go into church and doing the routine and meeting a few people. If I can preach to 50 to 100 people in a congregation, I can reach thousands. My goal was to reach a million people for God and we've already done that," Epp said.

Epp reiterated he feels this is his calling but revealed he's almost been killed several times on his journey by fast or distracted drivers.

"They drive fast out here, but these people have been precious out here. They've been so generous. I use this analogy when I'm walking now, I'm looking straight ahead. I say, kids you don't have to get on drugs or alcohol if you look straight ahead. You don't have to get on pornography and things of this world If you look straight ahead," Epp said.

"When I'm looking at God as long as I keep my eyes on him, that the things of this world won't overcome me," he added.

He said he will continue his walks for as long as he can and then go home. 

He added that a scripture serving as a theme of his ministry is Proverbs 3:5-6 which says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

People interested in following Epp's journey can visit The Well Tulsa Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheWellTulsa .