After a 9 year epic struggle, the 77’7” Kerrville Cross, nicknamed “The Empty Cross,” has been raised at the site of the Coming King Sculpture Prayer Garden located near Kerrville, Texas.

Austin, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/02/2010 -- Tuesday, July 27th a two-million-dollar, 70-ton, 77'7" red-brown contemporary sculpture named The Empty Cross™ was erected by The Coming King Foundation (TCKF) overlooking Interstate 10, half-way between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, on the transcontinental highway that connects California and Florida. The purpose, according to TCKF Vice President Jim McKnight, is to "draw people to God and to bless all those who visit the 23 acre Sculpture Prayer Garden in Kerrville, which will be free to the public."

The week-long process to erect the cross began on Monday morning, July 26th. Eagle Bronze of Lander, WY supervised the raising of the massive cross sculpture with the help of local welders, steel erectors, and crane companies. This historic event caps a 9-year epic struggle to raise the cross which included several financial "miracles", threats and attacks by atheists and others opposed to the cross, numerous letters to the media and city government, and a lawsuit filed by neighboring landowners, which was settled.

The spiritual park, located at the main entrance of Kerrville, looks like the "Holy Land" and happens to be at the same latitude as Israel. The "Hill Country" town of Kerrville is home to about 23,000 people. It is known for its beautiful Guadalupe River, scenic views, and abundant wildlife. The area is a favorite of tourists, campers and hunters from across the USA. Only 60 miles northwest of San Antonio's main tourist attractions, the Alamo and River Walk, over a thousand people a day are expected to visit the free "Coming King Sculpture Prayer Garden" when it is completed.

Sudie Burditt, Director of the Kerrville Convention & Visitors Bureau, said: "Thanks to TCKF for making our world aware of Kerrville, Texas. The national publicity it has received for the Sculpture Prayer Garden is enormous, and the publicity and awareness of the City of Kerrville is great for our economy. As the Garden is developed and the beautiful art is put in place, the rocky, cedar-covered hillside will become a place of beauty and serenity that will attract visitors for generations to come. These visitors will eat, sleep and shop in Kerrville, making a positive growth impact on our hospitality industry."

The non-denominational Christian Garden and the seven-story hollow cross sculpture are the "vision" of artist/evangelist Max Greiner, Jr., a 1974 architecture design graduate of Texas A&M University. The spiritually symbolic, Cor-tin steel cross is the largest sculpture featured in the Garden park and the largest sculpture ever created by the artist and his foundry, Eagle Bronze, of Lander, WY, one of the largest art bronze foundries in the USA.

The unique hollow cross symbolizes the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The "walk-in" cross sculpture is being displayed at the top of a 1,930' hill, at the end of a 100-yard-long, cross-shaped Garden. The Garden when completed, will display 77 Biblical scriptures on 16" etched ceramic tiles in multiple languages. According to Max and Sherry Greiner, God "called" them on December 9, 2001 to build a "last days, outdoor tabernacle" as a way of sharing the love of Jesus Christ with the world.

In May of 2004, the Greiners formed The Coming King Foundation, a non-profit, tax-exempt arts foundation, so these meditative gardens could be built across the USA and world. Today, the 17 Trustees of the 501c3 organization consist of leaders from different Christian denominations. Since the beginning, the non-profit arts foundation has trusted that God would provide all the funds needed to build the Kerrville Garden, without debt, public tax money or professional fundraisers.

To date, about two million dollars has been donated by generous Christians across America for the glory of God. In addition, three million dollars worth of monumental, contemporary Christ-honoring sculptures have been donated by three internationally- collected Christian artists. The sculptors are Beverly Paddleford of Lander, WY, David Broussard of Dallas, TX, and Max Greiner, Jr. of Kerrville, TX. The 23 acres of valuable land that fronts IH-10 was donated by the Hershel Reid family of Dallas, TX.

TCKF still needs about $250,000 to build the main entrance and parking lot. Around two million dollars more is needed to build the interior roads for the Sculpture Prayer Garden so it can be opened to the public. Guided tours to see the cross are possible now by calling the TCKF office. People around the world can also watch "LIVE" streaming video of the cross at the organization's website: http://www.TheComingKingFoundation.org

Many Christian-owned businesses have donated their services to raise the 77'7" cross sculpture. These include, Max Greiner, Jr. Designs of Kerrville, TX; Eagle Bronze of Lander, WY; Choat Painting & Sandblasting of Kerrville, TX; Alamo Crane Service of San Antonio, TX; Debsteel, Inc of Spring Branch, TX; Equipment Depot of San Antonio, TX; Town & Country Welding of Kerrville, TX; Nixalite of America, Inc. of IL; Cherokee Septic of Kerrville, TX and professional welders Everett Blair, Daniel Wolfe, Earnest Taylor, and Rex Vandiver.

Max Greiner, Jr., TCKF President, said: "Like the American flag that was raised in World War II at Iwo Jima, we believe God will use the raising of 'The Empty Cross' to energize and inspire Christians across our land to rise up and fight for the Christian principles that founded this great country."

This ambitious Christian project has many well-known supporters. Governor Mike Huckabee, Dr. James Dobson, Franklin Graham, Dr. Pat Robertson, Rick Warren, the late Dr. Bill Bright and Dr. Oral Roberts have all prayed for the Kerrville Garden.

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About The Coming King Foundation
The Coming King Foundation (TCKF) still needs about $250,000 to build the main entrance and parking lot. Around two million dollars more is needed to build the interior roads for the Sculpture Prayer Garden so it can be opened to the public. Guided tours to see the cross are possible now by calling TCKF office. People around the world can also watch "LIVE" streaming video of the cross at the organization's website: http://www.TheComingKingFoundation.org

View the latest photos from the Coming King Sculpture Prayer Garden here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Coming-King-Foundation/111995418188?v=photos

Contact:
Max Greiner
The Coming King Foundation
PO Box 290555
Kerrville, TX 78029
Phone (830) 367-7706
pressreleaser@bestonlineresults.com
http://www.TheComingKingFoundation.org

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

David Broussard will be joining two other professional American sculptors, Beverly Paddleford and Max Greiner, Jr. of Kerrville, TX by donating his artwork to the sculpture park, located in the Texas Hill Country.

Kerrville, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/01/2010 -- Three million dollars worth of monumental sculptures have been donated to The Coming King Foundation for display at a 23 acre Sculpture Prayer Garden on Interstate 10 in Kerrville, TX.

The non-profit Christian arts foundation announced this week that Dallas, TX sculptor, David Broussard will be joining two other professional American sculptors, Beverly Paddleford of Lander, WY and Max Greiner, Jr. of Kerrville, TX by donating his work to the sculpture park, located in the Texas Hill Country.

Broussard uses carbon steel and heat from his blow torch to construct colorful, contemporary sculptures, while Paddleford and Greiner carve their realistic originals out of clay or wax, which is later cast into bronze. Together, the three artists are giving more than a dozen monumental sculptures to the Christ-honoring garden.

In addition to the art, two million dollars in donations have already been spent on the world-class garden park. However, two to three million dollars are still needed to complete the entire Sculpture Prayer Garden, which is being built without debt from the donations of Christians across America.

In December of 2008, construction on the spiritual Garden was halted for 15 months due to a lawsuit filed by neighbors, who sought to stop the largest sculpture, a 77'7" contemporary cross, from being erected.However, on March 1, 2010 Judge Keith Williams of the 216th District Court in Texas approved a Settlement Agreement, which allowed the Christian arts ministry to raise "The Empty Cross", a two million dollar, 70 ton, Cor-tin steel, sculpture.

The seven story, symbolic cross sculpture, when erected on a 1,930' hill, is destined to become a national landmark. It will be seen by travelers on the transcontinental interstate highway, which links Florida and California. The sculpture park is located approximately halfway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.The Texas garden is also at the same latitude as Israel and looks like the Holy Land. "Pilgrims" from across the USA and world are expected to visit the free spiritual garden when finished. According to Greiner, the organization's founder and current President:"This garden will be a great spiritual blessing to all, and a financial blessing to the local area. We expect it will become one of the top free tourist attractions in Texas when opened to the public."

The Kerrville Sculpture Prayer Garden is the "prototype" for other evangelical Christian gardens that will be built across the USA and world for the glory of God. The Christ-honoring artwork in the garden will be diverse, as more Christian artists are invited to donate their sculptures. The second garden is being built now at Christian Family Church in Owatonna, MN on Interstate 35, just south of Minneapolis.

About The Artists:
David Broussard, http://www.JeweledSteel.com, began his professional art business, "Jeweled Steel", in May of 2000, when the artist learned how to turn carbon steel into colorful sculptures using a blowtorch. Beverly Paddleford, http://www.HopeMonument.com, owns Eagle Bronze in Lander, WY, one of the largest art foundries in the world, with her husband, Monte. The Paddlefords donated all their profits to create "The Empty Cross" sculpture. Beverly has done many different commissions, from the Governors residence in Wyoming, the front of the Cabela's in South Dakota to the ground of Oral Roberts University.

Max Greiner, Jr., http://www.MaxGreineArt.com, started his professional fine art business in 1978, with his wife, Sherry and is the "visionary" behind the project. The work of these artists is collected in all 50 states and around the world. It is in the collections of President George W. Bush, the late Pope John Paul, Governor Mike Huckabee, movie, TV, sports and music stars.

To learn more about TCKF, the Kerrville Cross and the Prayer Garden or to donate to TCKF, visit their website at: http://www.TheComingKingFoundation.org or call (830) 367-7706.

Contact :
Max Greiner Jr.
The Coming King Foundation
P.O. Box 290555
Kerrville, TX 78029-0555
(830) 367-7706
pressreleaser@bestonlineresults.com
http://www.TheComingKingFoundation.org

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The Coming King Foundation (TCKF), a Texas nonprofit reached a settlement Monday with Mesa Vista landowners, settling a 15-month property dispute allowing TCKF to build a first class Sculpture Prayer Garden with a 77-foot cross to be raised on the TCKF’s lot.

Kerrville, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/06/2010 -- A last-minute settlement agreement was presented to State District Judge Keith Williams on Monday, March 1st, as trial was about to get underway in the lawsuit brought by neighboring landowners against The Coming King Foundation (TCKF), a Texas nonprofit arts organization. TCKF plans to build a first class Sculpture Prayer Garden on 23 acres overlooking IH-10 and Highway 16, highlighted by the cross on top of a hill. Mesa Vista landowners suit prohibited the raising of the cross within the prayer garden.

The settlement agreement reached Monday allows the cross to be raised as planned putting an end to the 15-month property dispute and bringing peaceful a resolution and healing to this Texas Hill Country community.

Last month the Mesa Vista landowners lost their bid to have the case dismissed in their favor and Judge Williams ordered the trial to proceed on March 1st. Shortly thereafter, settlement negotiations were initiated by the landowners, which for the first time included an agreement to allow the cross to be raised on TCKF's lot. "Once that point was conceded, both sides moved quickly to resolve differences and eventually agreed to a compromise", said Kevin Young, attorney for TCKF. "We're thankful that both sides could put away their swords and solve this in a Christian manner," said Fern Lancaster, TCKF board member and treasurer.

"The Coming King Foundation will realize its vision of a cross and sculpture garden and the Mesa Vista residents will realize their goal of maintaining the privacy of their neighborhood," said Mesa Vista homeowners' attorney, Richard Mosty, in a prepared statement.

As part of the settlement, The Coming King Foundation will construct a solid fence on the site where the $2M, 70-ton cross will be located. The settlement also allows for lighting of the cross that is non-intrusive for residents of the subdivision and limited private access to the cross from Mesa Vista Lane, keeping the main entrance to the Garden on IH-10. In addition, TCKF will also pay the Mesa Vista neighbors $25,000 over the next several months as part of the settlement. Each side is responsible for paying its own attorney's fees and legal expenses.

When asked whether he had won the case because the cross will go up, David Brock, co-counsel for TCKF said, "Everybody won. This agreement is respectful of everyone's property rights and is better than a trial victory for either side." TCKF board member and Vice President, Jim McKnight, added, "A peaceful resolution has been our desire and prayer since the lawsuit was filed. This is a great day for our community and now we can move forward."

TCKF plans to raise the cross and complete the Garden as soon as sufficient funds are available. "Although we have incurred significant expense in our legal defense," said TCKF board member and President Max Greiner Jr., "we are confident that God pays for what He ordains, and we invite our community, neighbors, friends and the greater Christian community to unite in support around this God-given vision and Sculpture Prayer Garden."

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About The Coming King Foundation (TCKF):
To learn more about TCKF or the Garden and giant cross, visit their website at http://www.TheComingKingFoundation.org or call 830-367-7874.

Contact :
Max Greiner Jr.
The Coming King Foundation
P.O. Box 290555
Kerrville, TX 78029-0555
(830) 367-7874
pressreleaser@bestonlineresults.com
http://www.TheComingKingFoundation.org

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm