Music around an illuminated landmark (15 photos)

A group of Sault Christians gathered around the the city’s landmark cross adjacent to St. Basil elementary school early Saturday evening for the inaugural ‘Thousand Voices at The Cross’ event, organized by Sault Christian radio station KFM.

The evening’s program included Christian music from the KFM Band, prayers and sermons from local Christian clergy.

Admission to the event was free.

The cross promoted by KFM as a ‘Beacon of Hope,’ station general manager Brenda Ansley said “it represents hope because Jesus died on the cross and He has offered us the opportunity of eternal life and a relationship with Him, and the fact is we live in a diverse society and we (Christians) need to be here to support one another and celebrate what we have in common and become one body in Christ.”     

Though not the first public gathering around the local cross, it marked the first KFM event at the site, said Ansley, who along with husband Bill Ansley, serves as joint general manager of the local KFM station (the parent station based in Sudbury).

The Sault satellite station, known as CJTK 106.5 FM, launched Sept. 27, 2017.

“In the spirit of unity, we decided to take a poll, and people had mentioned this idea to us as they came through our studio, so Bill and I decided we were going to look into organizing this event,” Brenda told SooToday.

“The committee members of the cross were more than happy to accommodate us. I can’t imagine a better place to hold a unity service in this city.”

The 120 foot high cross, which is illuminated at night, was built in 1960.

As of 6 p.m. Saturday there were already approximately 150 worshippers at the site.

“Bill and I called this ‘A Thousand Voices at the Cross,’ our goal is a thousand voices in years to come, but this being the first time, whether it be a hundred voices or a thousand voices, it’s a win either way for the Christian community in Sault Ste. Marie," Brenda said.