MT. JULIET, Tenn. -
A Wilson County mayor wants to erect a large cross to act as a beacon for his community alongside Interstate 40.
Mt. Juliet Mayor Ed Hagerty says the cross would not only be about faith, but about boosting business.
"Interstate visibility is the No. 1 factor in church growth," Hagerty explained, adding, "If we are able to recruit a mega church to our community, if they would put up a huge cross, then everyone driving through Mt. Juliet on the interstate would know that we stand first and foremost for God and country."
An added benefit, according to Hagerty, is the big business a mega church would bring.
He continued, "Have the folks from Nashville come to Mt. Juliet and spend the day and what a boom that would be to our retailers to have 3,000 or more people exit church at Noon and get lunch at Providence [Marketplace] or shopping at Providence."
Hagerty's inspiration, he says, is an American flag flying atop a cell phone tower visible from I-40.
The cell tower is located on the property of Life Assembly Church which has no plans to build a cross.
Pastor Andrew Wharton said, "I wouldn't be opposed to it going up, I think it could be a great thing, but it's not our effort or agenda to do it."
Some wonder if a building a large cross should be the mayor's effort.
Hagerty, however, says no taxpayer dollars would be used.
"It's a private enterprise, its not public money, not the city doing that but the city can help recruit that," he said.
Hagerty said a lot Mt. Juliet residents attend church in Nashville, and he believes a new mega church would reverse that and keep tax dollars closer to home on Sundays.
