Walking 2000 Miles with a Cross: The Power of a Walking Memorial - Acie Burleson

I remember the heat of the Texas sun back in 2014. We were at Jesus Jam, and the air was thick with the kind of humidity that makes you feel like you’re breathing through a wet towel. In the middle of that crowd, I saw a man who looked like he had been through the fire and come out refined. His name was Acie Burleson. He wasn't just there to listen to music or socialize; he was there with a cross.

At the time, I didn't fully realize the depth of the calling on this man’s life. We’ve all seen people carrying crosses on the side of the road, and sometimes our carnal minds want to dismiss it as a gimmick or just "something nice" to do. But when the Holy Spirit is moving, nothing is just a gimmick. Everything has a purpose in God's divine geography.

Have you ever felt like your walk with Jesus was missing that spark of supernatural adventure? Maybe you’re tired of the "business as usual" church routine and you’re hungry for a relationship with the biblical Jesus that actually changes the atmosphere when you walk into a room. The problem many of us face is that we operate on "good ideas" instead of "God ideas." We stay within our comfort zones, wondering why we don't see the power of God. The solution isn't in working harder; it’s in hearing the call and becoming a walking memorial to the King of Kings.

Introduction: The Difficulty of the Call

Getting this interview with Acie was a spiritual battle in itself. I’ve been doing the Coffee with Conrad podcast for a long time, and usually, things go smoothly. But with Acie? First, the audio failed on a long phone call. Then, we tried Facebook Live, and his signal kept dropping out like a bad radio station in the mountains. Finally, I had to call him on my phone and put it on speaker next to my computer just to get the words recorded.

As soon as we finally connected, Acie realized he was locked out of his hotel room in Corinth, Mississippi! There he was, standing in the hallway, trying to talk about the deep things of the Spirit while dealing with the mundane frustrations of the road. It struck me right then—that is exactly what the Christian life is. It’s the intersection of the high, prophetic calling of God and the gritty, sometimes loud, and often inconvenient reality of this world.

Acie is currently walking 2,000 miles from South Carolina to the Grand Canyon. Think about that for a second. Two thousand miles. Walking. Every. Single. Bit. of the way. He isn't doing this because he has nothing better to do. He’s doing it because he had a divine encounter that changed his trajectory.

Main Message: Calling vs. Good Ideas

The first thing you have to understand about a walk like this is that you cannot do it on human willpower. If you try to carry a literal cross for 2,000 miles just because you think it’s a "good idea," you’ll quit before you hit the state line. I’ve carried a cross before—just for about 200 yards or so during street ministry—and let me tell you, they are heavy. They dig into your shoulder. They chafe. They make your back ache.

The "Ask, Seek, Knock" Encounter

Acie shared how this journey started with a specific word from the Lord. He was on vacation with his wife, and they were seeking God's direction. He was using the principle found in the Word: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7 KJV).

He described a scene where he literally knocked on a door three times, seeking a sign. On that third knock, the atmosphere changed. The music died down. The noise of the world faded into the background. A woman there, moved by the Spirit, began to speak in tongues, and then gave the interpretation. The word was that he was to be a "walking memorial" before God.

In that moment, Acie and his wife didn't just "think" it was a good idea. They knew. There is a profound difference between a mental agreement with a religious concept and a spiritual revelation that burns in your bones. When God gives you a mandate, He also gives you the grace to carry the weight.

Geography and Time

One of my favorite themes to discuss is "Geography and Time." It’s the idea that God places us in specific locations at specific moments to meet a specific need. We see this with Jesus and the woman at the well in John chapter 4. Jesus "must needs" go through Samaria. Why? Because there was a woman there at a specific hour who needed a drink of living water.

Acie told me about a lady in Copperas Cove, Texas. She was sitting in her car, contemplating suicide. She felt abandoned, invisible, and hopeless. At that exact moment, she looked up and saw a man walking down the street with a giant wooden cross on his shoulder.

That cross was a sign. It was a beacon. It told her, without a single word being spoken, that Jesus saw her. It was a physical manifestation of God’s love entering her field of vision when she was at her lowest point. That is what it means to be a walking memorial. You become a living testimony that points others to the cross of Calvary.

Supernatural Provision

One of the biggest questions people ask when they hear about someone walking across the country is, "How do they survive? How do they pay the bills?"

Acie’s wife, Anastasia, joined the conversation and shared how God has been supplying all their needs. This isn't a prosperity gospel thing; it's a "Jehovah-Jireh" thing. Just the other day, Acie was feeling exhausted and felt he needed a day off to rest and get things settled. He prayed, "Lord, I need to take tomorrow off."

Within a short time, the funds were provided for that day of rest. And get this—the day he took off was the day it poured rain. If he had been walking, he would have been drenched and miserable. God provided the rest and the timing. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1 KJV).

When we step out in faith to obey a spiritual calling, we move from the world's economy to God's economy. When you align yourself with the authority of Jesus, the resources of Heaven become available to you.

Personal Reflections: The Weight I Couldn't Carry

Listening to Acie made me reflect on my own experiences with the physical cross. I remember carrying Monty Simpson’s cross for just a short distance, and then I thought, "Man, this is tough!" and that was just for 200 yards or so over a bridge.

It made me realize how often I try to carry my "spiritual" crosses in my own strength. We try to fix our lives, fix our ministries, and fix our families through carnal effort. But the cross wasn't meant to be carried by the flesh; it's carried through the Spirit.

Jesus said, For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:30 KJV). If the burden feels too heavy, maybe it's because we've added our own expectations and worldly pressures to it. Acie is walking 14 miles a day, sometimes more, with a literal piece of timber on his back, yet he’s gaining weight and feeling stronger. Why? Because he’s walking in the easy yoke of obedience.

I’ve had times in my ministry, like when we were street preaching in Biloxi or doing sidewalk chalk in Long Beach, where I felt completely drained. Usually, that happened when I started focusing on "promotion" or "numbers" instead of just seeking the face of God. Jesus doesn't need a marketing department; He needs witnesses.

Biblical References: The Heritage of Servants

As I prayed for Acie during our interview, a specific scripture came to mind that I want to share with you. When you are doing the work of God, the enemy will always try to throw rocks at you. People will judge you, call you crazy, or question your motives. But look at what the Word says:

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD (Isaiah 54:17 KJV).

Acie isn't just walking for himself. He is claiming territory. He is a light shining in a dark land. Every step he takes is a declaration that Jesus Christ is Lord over this nation.

We also discussed how the "last miles" of the day are often the most fruitful. My friend Lance Rowe, who also carries the cross, once told me that he found his best ministry opportunities usually happened in those final miles of the day when he was the most tired. It’s in our weakness that His strength is made perfect. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV).

Key Takeaways

• Obedience over Sacrifice: Carrying the cross isn't about proving how tough you are; it's about obeying a specific call from God.
• Divine Appointments: God uses "Geography and Time" to place His memorials exactly where they need to be to save a life.
• Faithful Provision: When you are on God’s errand, you are on God's payroll. He meets the needs of the family left behind and the worker on the road.
• Strength in Weakness: The physical burden of the cross is lightened by the spiritual grace of the calling.
• A Living Sign: Sometimes the most powerful sermon you can preach is simply being visible with the message of the Gospel.

Conclusion and Call to Action

Acie Burleson is a reminder to all of us that the supernatural life isn't found in a textbook or a comfortable pew. it’s found on the road of obedience. Whether you are called to walk 2,000 miles with a wooden cross or simply called to cross the street and speak to a neighbor, the principle is the same: Listen for the knock, seek the sign, and be willing to be a memorial for Jesus.

If you’re hungry to see the scales fall from your eyes and begin your own supernatural journey, I highly encourage you to pick up my book OPEN YOUR EYES. It’s full of testimonies of how God can move in your life when you start walking after the Spirit.

Are you ready to carry your cross today? It might not be made of wood, but it requires the same heart of surrender.

Action Items

1. Ask, Seek, Knock: Spend 30 minutes in quiet prayer today, specifically asking God for a "God idea" rather than just a "good idea" for your life.
2. Be a Sign: Commit to doing one act of "visible" ministry this week—whether it’s wearing a shirt that shares your faith, putting up a scripture in your workspace, or praying for someone in public.
3. Study the Word: Read John chapter 4 and ask the Holy Spirit to show you your own "Samaria"—the place you "must needs" go to meet someone God has prepared.
4. Support the Frontlines: Visit Acie's YouTube channel (Walking Memorial) and leave a comment of encouragement or support his ministry as the Lord leads.

 Links:
PayPal email is babyboy_1125@yahoo.com
https://www.facebook.com/Jesusfreak6
http://bit.ly/WalkingMemorialYT
Earlier Interview https://youtu.be/bzdIX9RPe4E