the breadth of it

“Arise, walk through the land in the LENGTH of it and in the BREADTH of it; for I will give it unto thee” (Genesis 13:17).

By God’s grace, I completed my 2024 News Years resolution to read through the entire Bible TWICE by the end of the year. In fact, I finished early and decided to get a jumpstart on a fresh resolution to read it through THRICE in 2025. By January 1, I had already read Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, Matthew, and Luke—quite the jumpstart. On December 12th, I found myself in the 13th chapter of Genesis remembering how the Holy Spirit illuminated verse 17 four years ago, reminding me of an old commitment made to the Lord and prompting me to pick up the cross and walk across America. I did walk across America, in the LENGTH of it, and had a lot of help doing so. On December 12th, however, it was the word BREADTH that especially drew my attention, and it has tolled in my mind since.

Nearly four years ago, at the beginning of #TheLongWalkUSA, America was in big trouble with the LORD. She remains that way today, and we must continue to warn them, both Jew and Gentile, in the spirit of watchmen upon a wall (Ezekiel 3:17), walking the BREADTH of this land and crying out to God to bring Holy Ghost revival to America’s churches and spiritual awakening to her streets.

Last Friday, accompanied by my brother Matthew, I walked the first “breadth” or SPUR off #TheLongWalkUSA main route, carrying the cross and a U.S. flag in distress.  While several from our local church joined up with other brethren to lift up voices outside the Planned Parenthood in Asheville, North Carolina, we walked from that death mill through Asheville to the junction with the Blue Ridge Parkway off US 25, a 6-mile spur.

It was a frigid morning in Asheville to start a spur walk from Planned Parenthood down to where the main route intersected US 25 back in July of 2021.

We navigated some extensive Helene damage up close, gave out pairs fresh socks to the poor, prayed with a couple of folks, and even gave a Bible to Janet on her front porch. She slept through Helene and woke up to see the water right up to her front porch. It never came into the house. A recently elected county commissioner from Polk County saw us walking and turned back to speak with us. We prayed with her concerning her husband who was undergoing a surgical procedure in a nearby hospital. She feared God and loved Jesus. Leon, working the Goodwill drop-off site needed prayer as well. He took a Gospel tract.

Hurricane Helen Damage near Biltmore Village in Buncombe County, NC

Praying with Leon

Interestingly, as in Madison County, Montana, we beheld the power of a simple wooden cross to draw out hatred and contempt. London Road seemed mostly abandoned, lined with flood-damaged and boarded-up buildings. While peacefully and quietly walking down the sidewalk and minding our own business, a gym rat stuck his head out the door of his damaged gym and cursed us, hollering: “You’re not welcome here. Take your ‘judging’ somewhere else.” I replied, “Take care friend. We have as much right to walk down this road as you business owners do to fix up your damaged businesses. The flood came and washed over your gym. Repent, or next time it may just wash you away. Judgment is coming.” He stepped outside a second time but thought better and with a tad more sense than Brad Terrell of Cameron, Montana. This one turned around and went back inside, closing and locking the door behind him. I marvel at the power of a simple wooden cross to provoke such a reaction. Sheer profundity.  A few hundred meters down the road, it provoked the opposite reaction, and Ms. Janet certainly didn’t mind as I stepped up onto her front porch to converse and pray with her for a few minutes. Pray for the salvation of both Janet and the angry gym rat … and yes, Brad Terrell too.

Bearing Gospel Witness to Janet on her Front Porch

At the end of this spur walk, we intersected with a spot on the main route from JULY 1, 2021. That day, we logged 17 miles and enjoyed 12 Gospel encounters. One of those was a young boy, Grayson, who was riding his bicycle. I spoke with him about Jesus and gave him a tract. Some miles later and on a completely different road, a truck pulled up. It was Grayson’s mother. He was sitting in the passenger seat. She handed me a $20 bill and said it was Grayson’s money. He wanted me to have it to help toward our walk across America. I was so blessed by that act of kindness from a humble child.

Intersecting with #TheLongWalkUSA main route from 7/1/2021 on the Blue Ridge Parkway

This was one of 12 Gospel encounters from July 1, 2021 as we walked the LENGTH of the land.

I may go out and do another spur or two this week. I’m thinking to continue from a spot where I intersected Cat Square Rd near our house and head south into Gaston County. Not sure at this point where this is all going to go. It seems walking with a cross is about the only thing I know how to do well anymore :) The will of the LORD be done.

We are also contemplating taking the cross up to the Inauguration on January 20th in Washington, DC to preach Christ and repeat the warning of a former president uttered during his inaugural address:

"There is no safer reliance than upon the God of our fathers [not Donald Trump or Republicans] … who will not forsake us as long as we obey His commandments and walk humbly in His footsteps" (William McKinley)."

Your prayers are much appreciated as we seek the LORD concerning the work of the ministry for this coming year! SOLI DEO GLORIA.

¡Maranatha!

Jesse Boyd, Full Proof Gospel Ministries