On September 27, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. The Second Annual Light Up the Cross was held at the father Serra Cross at Grant Park in Ventura, California. Worship music was provided by Expression Ministries. Several of the pastors, and three young people, who are the presidents of their high school Bible study groups, took turns leading the approximately 400 worshipers in prayer.
Ed Lupton, Sr., 90 years young, was recognized with Certificates of Recognition by United States Congressman, Elton Gallegly, California Assemblywoman, Audra Strickland, and Light Up the Cross for his efforts in the early 1960's for constructing Grant Park and for placing the original lights on the Cross. The lights were removed in 2003 after 40 years of lighting Ventura's Cross because of the objection of an atheists and the threatened law suit of an ACLU backed attorney from San Fransisco.
In addition, a donation was taken, a portion to benefit the maintenance of the Cross, and the remaining portion to benefit Ventura's youth. Mayor Christi Weir, on behalf of the Cross Conservancy gave a prayer of thanksgiving for the donation.
When darkness fell Kimble Ouerbacker offered a prayer and asked everyone to turn on their flashlights and "Light Up the Cross. Out of the pitch black darkness, as if the stars in heaven instantly lit up, the Cross came alive with the light of hundreds of worshipers flashlights and the Light of Jesus Christ.
"Light Up the Cross" consists of Kimble Ouerbacker and over twenty local Christian churches, both Protistan and Catholic, with the list of participating churches still growing.
The reason for "Light Up the Cross" is threefold:
1) It is an opportunity for local Christians to leave the four walls of their own home church and join hands and hearts with other Christians to worship Jesus Christ as "one body." And to give back to the community in the form of financial donations raised at the Lighting;
2) A movement to encourage a return to the pre-2003 lighting of the Father Serra Cross at Grant Park;
3) An opportunity for Christians to show solidarity in the face of ever increasing national anti-Christian sentiments, the like of which forced the City of Ventura to sell the Cross in 2003, championed by the ACLU and similar minded groups and individuals.
Though I am Jewish, I have tremendous respect for those of Faith, true faith. At a time when even the mention of religion brings a horde of ACLU attorneys, it great to see hundreds of people stand up, turn on their flashlights and Light Up the Cross.
I should note that the founder of this effort and coordinator of the event was Kimble Ouerbacker, of Ventura. Good to see people do the right thing, in the face of government and the ACLU.
Steve, one correction here: The cross IS currently lighted. There are two lamps in the base which shine up and illuminate it at night. They are on a timer to go on at dusk and off at 2 a.m. Vandals frequently go up there and break the coverings over the lamps. It's a constant struggle to maintain it and keep it graffiti free, too.
I am one of the original group who purchased the Cross and one acre of land surrounding it from the City of Ventura when the city was threatened with a suit over the constitutionality of the city owning a religious icon. I sit on the board of the group which actually owns it, San Buenaventura Heritage, Inc. I am secretary of the group which maintains it: The Serra Cross Conservancy.
Mr. Ouerbacker is not affiliated with our group but we certainly appreciate any donations which come our way from his efforts. We have an ambitious beautification project planned for the site. I leave the link above.
Also, our mayor spells her first name with a "Y": Christy.