Kingstree resident Patrick Campbell, his wife, Joy, and three of their seven children were guests on EWTN, a global Catholic Network based in Irondale, Alabama. The family travels the country on mission trips, where they present their testimony.
Photo courtesy EWTN.
In January 2016, Patrick Campbell and his family were living in Kingstree, when they received a call from the Vatican. Campbell was commissioned by Oreste Pesare, director of the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Service based in Rome, Italy to construct the ‘Cross of the Renewal’ for the organization’s 50th anniversary celebration at the Ark and Dove Retreat Center near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He transformed 12 feet of raw mahogany beams into a breathtaking cross and in a symbolic gesture of Jesus’ journey to his crucifixion, carried it from his workshop to his home for delivery to Pennsylvania. The story of his journey made its way to EWTN, a global Catholic Network based in Irondale, Alabama and in August, the family was featured on At Home with Jim and Joy.
Patrick Campbell creates breathtaking crosses, hearts, and sacramental pieces. His crowning achievement was a 12-foot cross, commissioned by the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Service based in Rome, Italy. Photo courtesy EWTN.
What would seem to be a happy ending to a spiritual journey began years earlier under a cloud of turbulence and confusion. Campbell and his family of nine began to struggle when he lost his corporate job. Life was spiraling out of control but they continued to make breathtaking crosses, hearts, and sacramental pieces and sell them as a way to support the family but it didn’t seem to be enough. “I couldn’t understand why God was closing all those doors for me.” On the eve of his wife’s birthday, Campbell, having nothing for a present, asked his kids to help him make a cross. “We spent all night designing and making the cross,” said Campbell who is an architectural wood worker. “The next morning we gave it to Joy dripping with stain and she cried. I realized then that God had answered my prayers but not in the way I wanted Him to.”
One day while he was worshiping the phone rang. “I almost didn’t answer it,” said Campbell. The call was from Vatican City requesting the commission of the cross. As the family discussed, where to build the cross, someone hacked into their online account and emptied their bank account.
Not knowing what to do, the family’s ministry partner, Lee John Bruno of United For Life Foundation, stepped in and set-up a fundraising page and notified The News in Kingstree. His journey was followed by local citizens and captured by The News in articles, photo gallery, and video.
Bruno would later present the Campbell’s ministry to EWTN. “We waited about a year before we heard the news,” said Campbell of the invitation to be on the show. “When they wrote us about it, we were thrilled that the cross will be presented to the world.” After the hour-long interview, the Campbells received feedback through phone messages, emails and social media on how their testimony moved listeners.
Campbell and Joy are the founders of the Cross of St. Benedict Society. He and his family are currently on a mission trip across the U.S. and Western Canada speaking about their mission to present the cross and testify to the world about the topic “The Secrets of Joy Amidst Spiritual Warfare.”
Campbell will soon be back to work in Kingstree. A religious community near Amarillo, Texas has commissioned him to make a cross called Disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. The cross will be ready in November.
As for his family’s moment on international television, “We believe that this is the right timing considering the world turmoil like threats from North Korea and much division in our country today,” said Campbell.
Watch the video at http://www.ewtn.com/TV/LIVE/athomewithjimandjoy.
For more information about his crosses and spiritual weapons, visit the Campbells’ website at www.crossofstbenedict.com.
