‘Cross Walk’ in Medina continued with modified route because of big fire

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Rev. Neil Samborski of the Glad Tidings Missionary Baptist Church is dressed as the Roman Centurion in leading a procession at about 12:45 p.m. today. The group is crossing Main Street while firefighters battle a blaze down the street at a carpet store next to the railroad tracks.

The Rev. Randy LeBaron, interim pastor of the First Baptist Church in Medina, carries the cross in front with Dale Cameron holding the other end.

The Rev. Randy LeBaron and the group prepare the leave the Canal Basin. The group made seven stops in the downtown and near the Canal Basin, sharing Scripture and singing hymns.

The annual Good Friday walk had a modified course. About an hour before the “Cross Walk” was scheduled to start the fire broke out at the carpet store.

The Cross Walk usually starts at City hall, but that was off limits due to the fire almost across the street. The group instead started at the Presbyterian Church. They also didn’t venture to three stops on West Avenue, instead staying on North Main Street.

The Rev. Randy LeBaron reads scripture from John 19: 23-30. The group then sang “The Old Rugged Cross.” They are shown in front of the Bent’s Opera House.

Pastor Dan Thurber of the Oak Orchard Assembly of God and Jarred Saj carry the cross to the last station in front of the Presbyterian Church.