GULF SHORES, Ala. — As hot summer days stretch on, most become accustomed to the sweltering sun, humid afternoons, sticky salt water and relentless sand. Cars filled with tourists and locals send their exhaust into the atmosphere as they scurry up and down Beach Boulevard while souvenier shops, restaurants and bars swing their doors to the tune of August foot traffic — a typical day at the beach. But, for the past few months, beach-goers have experienced an unusual sight amidst the summer buzz — a man carrying a large, wooden cross.

Barry Jones, who recently moved here from Prattville, Ala. with his wife and five children, said he was called by God to carry the burden on his back as a visual reminder of Jesus for people on the Gulf Coast.

“He told me to drop everything we had, sell everything we had, and follow Him,” Barry said. “The people here needed to see a man carrying a cross — to see a normal guy who’s done things and gotten forgiveness for it.”

Barry sets out every morning with no plan or route, he said. God tells him which direction to go in order to cross the path of the ones who need him most.

“I do it because one person out here needs to know that Jesus loves them,” he said.

He said people have many different struggles in their personal lives and that each one may need to see his display for a different reason.

“It may change someone’s mind if they’re on the way to commit suicide, commit adultry on their wife, or going to get drugged up,” he said. “Everyone that drives by looks at me — they have a few different reactions.

“One guy was at the end of his rope and thought I was trying to tell him something; he’d flipped his car and was living day by day and I was able to encourage him.”

But Barry admitted that following God wasn’t easy. In the past he was married three times, was addicted to pornography and had problems with anger, he said.

“When you don’t live the right way, you make a lot of messes,” he said. “I created a lot of debt.”

He tried to work multiple jobs to pay it off while supporting his family, but God had other plans, he said.

“I lost two jobs; I had an allergic reation to rugs (while working for a rug company) and had some major medical problems,” he said. “I was trying to get out of debt so I could go into the ministry, but God told me to stop working the other jobs and go into the ministry.”

At that point, he listened to God, he said.

“I fasted and prayed; I asked family and friends for help to get started,” he said.

Barry moved to the Gulf Coast and lived in a tent in Gulf State Park with his wife and five children, boys ages 1- to 10-years old, until the Rev. Philip Anthony at Christian Life Church in Orange Beach helped them find an affordable condo.

The church also helps provide them with food every month in addition to the donations that strangers give him on the street, Barry said. They are not part of a missionary board and live soley on donations.

“I will work if I need to, but our number one mission is to carry the cross,” he said.

Anthony said he admires the family’s dedication.

“We saw what his heart wants to do,” he said. “He came down here without reserve, without abandon and without a lot of resources … They didn’t wait till everything was in place — they just set out.”

Of course, financial hardships and life concerns still worry the Jones’, even after the initial leap of faith, Barry and his wife Rachel agreed.

“I am so thankful that we are following God’s call on our lives,” Rachel said in an e-mail. “While at times it is scary because of a lack of money and not knowing what is going to happen in our lives, but I have a peace that far outweighs the scary times because I know I am being held in the palm of God’s hand.”

Barry recently experienced some similar doubt, he said.

“Sunday morning I was really worried about money — I was very discouraged and a guy came up to me and said he was here on vacation because God had led him here,” Barry said. “He said God told him to give me $100.

“Then at the end of the walk that day, a little girl named Faith gave me $20 — I got the message.”

Barry sees such miracles almost daily.

“We do have to hit our knees a lot,” he said. “When I don’t have the money for the next week, I give more.”

He is particularly encouraged by other’s actions during these hard economic times, he said.

“You know, everybody’s struggling right now and they’ve gone out of the way to help with food and everything like that,” he said. “We trust God daily for the food, the bread and the money.”

Anthony said Barry’s sacrifice affects many kinds of people; people who’ve once had a relationship with God that isn’t as strong as it once was, people who’ve never known God and people of faith who are encouraged by Barry’s actions, he said.

“It’s a graphic depiction of the cross where He died and won our salvation,” he said.

Rachel is encouraged by her husband’s actions, also.

“I am so thankful for my husband’s willing heart to serve our Jesus and to share the hope that only He can bring,” she said. “I am amazed at his strength and willing heart to always say ‘yes’ to God — I am thankful for the amazing man of God he is.”

Barry is convinced that he’s doing God’s will, he said.

“Regardless of what happens, we are going to walk the cross here until God tells us not to,” he said. “I always knew God had called me to speak in front of thousands of people — now I consider the road my pulpit.”

Barry has big plans for the future of his ministry including writing a book. He will also carry the cross down U.S. Highway 98 to Fairhope on Aug. 26 for a Christian concert — the “Glory Revealed Tour” with artists such as Mac Powell from Third Day, Mark Hall from Casting Crowns and Amy Grant.

Ironically, Barry formerly worked as a carpenter; he plans to build a children’s theme bed to raffle for donations as a fundraiser in conjunction with the walk, he said.

He also plans to walk to Mobile in the coming weeks. For neither trips has he made eating or sleeping arrangements; he’ll just trust God to provide for him, he said.

Cross Bearing Ministries is currently being formed so that donations can be tax deductable; donations can be mailed to 1517 Regency Road, No. 66, Gulf Shores 36542 or call 334-590-1043. For more, visit walkthecross.blogspot.com or crossbearingministries.com.