6-story cross and water wall going up at major Houston highway intersection

First Baptist Church say the new cross and water wall will be a sign of declaration.

First Baptist Church say the new cross and water wall will be a sign of declaration. Photo: First Baptist Church/Facebook Photo: First Baptist Church/Facebook Image 1 of / 57 Caption Close 6-story cross and water wall going up at major Houston highway intersection 1 / 57 Back to Gallery

A giant cross is going up at a major Houston intersection as First Baptist church takes advantage of their prime position to pitch to drivers passing by.

The church says hundreds of thousands of people pass by their Loop Campus at 610 and the Katy Freeway every day and the new landmark will identify the church and declare why they are there.

Renderings show a huge concrete base standing three stories high with water flowing down two sides.

On top of that will be a steel cross weighing over 3 tons and reaching a further 30 feet up making the whole structure a commanding six stories high.

The cross and water wall was designed by Houston architects Ken R. Harry Associates, who also designed the First Baptist Academy, the private school which sits within the church's grounds.

According to the church, the project was funded by donations from members along with cash from a capital raising campaign and from the church's regular accounts.

First Baptist said the sign is not meant to be a huge ad for them but rather an ad for faith. It will have text from John 7:38 on the back.

"This is a sign of declaration, not information," said Pastor Gregg Matte on the church's website. "Our prayer is this new landmark will do far more than let people know where our church is located. We want it to help people find Him, not us."

John 7:38 reads: "The one who believes in me, as the scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him."

The new cross replaces an old tower which was demolished last year. The project is due to be finished later this month.