Free event at the base of the Sault’s landmark cross will include live music, encouraging sermons

Sault Christian radio station CJTK 106.5 FM is getting ready for its second annual ‘A Thousand Voices at The Cross,’ a free event for the public which will include inspirational live Christian music and encouraging sermons from several Sault and area clergy members.

The event will be held around the base of the Sault’s landmark 120 foot Cross on the Hill at 250 St. Georges Ave. E. (behind St. Basils Elementary School), Saturday, August 24.

The grounds will open at 6 p.m., the concerts and sermons running from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

“We estimate we had 650 people last year, it was a good start, but we would like to see 1,000 people at least this year. That would be awesome,” said Bill Ansley, who serves as joint general manager of CJTK 106.5 FM along with his wife Brenda (CJTK’s parent station, KFM, is based in Sudbury).

Ansley told SooToday the event will include seven musical performances by Christian solo artists and groups, including the KFM band.

“We’ll have an opening prayer and a soloist doing the opening song, then Bill Webb (a well-known local singer and guitarist) doing two songs, other songs by other artists and a closing song and prayer, and in between each song there’ll be local pastors speaking. We’re going to say prayers for our local youth and our local churches. We’re going to have the last song at dusk when the cross lights up. There’ll be a message of hope delivered,” Ansley said.   

“The main message will be about the parable of the lost sheep from the Gospel of Luke, where the shepherd (Christ) leaves the ninety-nine sheep (people) He’s already found to find the one lost sheep, the one which strayed away. He puts it over His shoulders, brings it back to His friends and says ‘rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’” 

The famous sermon has encouraged many who have had a sense of feeling lost and have converted to Christianity. 

“It’s all about hope, and the only hope is in Jesus Christ,” Ansley stated.   

“It’s an absolutely free event. Just bring your own lawn chair, and we’ll have a tent to protect people from the sun, along with free water. We got a lot of positive comments from people at last year’s concert. People drew a lot from it and said they hoped we could do it again this year.”

CJTK 106.5 FM, run by volunteers, launched in the Sault Sept. 27, 2017.