Myrtle Beach, SC : 21-year-old man carrying cross through SC involved in car crash near Myrtle Beach on Tuesday, 18th November 2014

A young man carrying a cross on his back through Georgia and across South Carolina was involved in a crash near Conway on Monday evening. 21-year-old John Bessis of Haralson County, Georgia, has been spotted all over South Carolina walking along the side of the road with a large cross on his back. He's stopped in many towns to talk with folks and many people have posed in photos with him during his trek – which was through the Upstate first and now to the coast. Some folks have written messages on the cross itself. Bessis was in Conway carrying the 50-pound cross earlier Monday when he took a ride in a car to Myrtle Beach to spend the night at his mom's house. Just after 6 pm, there was a large wreck, reportedly involving 4 cars, with injuries on US 501 southbound near Wild Wing Blvd. After the crash, Bessis was on the side of the road and dozens of folks on social media were wondering if he was hurt – or was perhaps hit while walking along the road. But, Bessis, who is a student at Georgia Highlands College, was not injured – and the crash happened during one the few moments during his journey he has actually been in a car. “The guy dressed as Jesus was in one of the cars in the accident. Just praise the Lord everyone is alive,” wrote his cousin Ashley McGaughey on Facebook. “The guy dressed as Jesus is … John Bessis, who is walking from GA to Myrtle Beach carrying the cross.” McGaughey said that Bessis would be taken back to Conway on Tuesday where he will resume his walk to Myrtle Beach – the final leg of his journey. He told the Orangeburg Times & Democrat newspaper that he was inspired to carry the cross at age 14 when he was with his mom and spotted a man doing the same thing on the side of a road. Bessis got his mom to stop and the teen asked the man why he was carrying a cross. The man said “Because Jesus calls us all to take up our crosses and follow Him,” Bessis told the newspaper as he crossed through Orangeburg on Nov. 7. Bessis started his trek on June 8 and his goal was to travel at least 10 miles per day. He crossed into South Carolina on Sept. 24. Last week, Bessis was in the Pee Dee region. “John has made it through Marion and Mullins SC the last couple days. I have got to see my son inspiring others as they stop to talk to him and bring him food and drink,” his mom, Amy Cain Baker, wrote on Facebook. “One woman today got out of her car walked up to him handed him some money and went away crying. John has always been a blessing to me and I am so happy to share him with the world. We are hoping to be to Myrtle Beach by next week with freezing weather coming in this weekend I just ask everyone to pray for him. Thank you.” Bessis started his walk in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Rome, Georgia and went through Atlanta. He is heading to Myrtle Beach because that's where his mother lives. “God called me to take up this cross and walk …. in the prayer and hope that when people see me, that they will see Jesus and be reminded of the love that he had for them when he took up his own cross and he walked to Golgotha hill to die for their sins. And that they, in their own turn, would be inspired and encouraged to take up their own crosses and follow after him,” Bessis told the Georgia Bulletin, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Source : Man carrying cross through SC involved in car crash near Myrtle Beach