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A famous evangelist who carried a 12-foot cross on all seven continents has died at the age of 84.
Arthur Blessitt who earned the Guinness World Record for longest pilgrimage passed away on January 14, 2025 according to a statement on his Facebook page. The post was written in the first person and shared just before 1:30 p.m.
Blessitt is survived by his wife Denise, seven children, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
"Thank you to all who have loved and helped me and this ministry take the message of Jesus and the cross to the world," The post read. "Thanks to all of you that I met along the way of my life and crosswalk."
He continued to say that everyone along his journey were a vital part in his life. "Great thanks to you who have supported us with your gifts of finances. You have been a vital part of my life and this mission as you covered us with prayer and support."
While he requested there to be no funeral or memorial service, he did have one final request. "The greatest thing you could do would be to go out and lead one more soul to be saved."
Others reacted to the news of his passing, including Matt and Laurie Crouch of Trinity Broadcasting Network which produced a film about Blessitt carrying a cross around the world. "His legacy is not in the estimated 86 million footsteps he took but in the countless hearts he changed, the lives he touched, and the love he tirelessly spread. How do you live a life of purpose and destiny? Arthur would answer, 'One step at a time!' This seems even more appropriate as he has taken his final step into the arms of Jesus!"
Blessitt made the decision to follow Jesus when he was seven years old which led to preaching his first sermon at 15 before becoming an ordained minister at 20.
Most notably, he is known for carrying a 12-foot cross throughout the world while preaching the Gospel. He reportedly took the cross throughout virtually every sovereign nation on earth.
He was recognized in April 2013 by Guinness as having "the greatest distance claimed for a 'round the world' pilgrimage," with over 40,000 miles starting on Christmas 1969.