FLORENCE — While a hard rain fell to Earth Saturday morning, a giant symbol of hope and faith was raised to the heavens.

As a crowd of about 200 people watched from under an overhang, construction crews used a crane to lift a 110-foot tall, 64-foot wide, 25-ton cross into position in front of Berry’s Seafood Restaurant in Florence.

“Victory in Jesus. Victory for Jesus. It’s a wonderful thing,” said Sara Abraham, the director of Crosses Across America, a Vicksburg-based nonprofit organization that coordinated the project. “It’s been a long time coming. I can’t tell you all the hurdles that have been overcome, but thank God he has let us get to this moment.”

The raising of the cross marked one of the last steps in the completion of a two-year project.

It was originally planned for Brandon, but shelved when that city’s leaders said it violated zoning laws. Carroll Berry, owner of Berry’s Seafood Restaurant, then stepped in. He offered Crosses Across America the use of his land along U.S. 49 South, as well as an $85,000 contribution — about half the cost — to fund its construction.

“The Lord just laid it on our heart. It’s been a long process,” Berry said. “When it didn’t go through with Brandon, I don’t know why, but the Lord didn’t want it there as far as I’m concerned. It just opened the door, and the Lord spoke to me and told me, ‘I want you to be a part of this.’”

The rest of the construction cost will come from donations, although Berry has said he’ll pay the entire bill if necessary.

Abraham said Riverside Construction of Vicksburg and other businesses have also donated time and equipment. Crosses Across America coordinated the project, and Riverside Construction built the cross. The crane used Saturday was from Glenn Crane and Rigging of Hattiesburg.

Riverside owner Lewis Miller said he’s lost count of the number of man-hours spent building the cross over the past month.

“We’re not really counting. Whatever it takes,” Miller said. “This is the most pleasurable thing anybody can do, is serve the Lord.”

Saturday’s raising was more construction project than worship service.

The construction crew prayed briefly with the crowd just before lifting the cross into position, but no formal service was held. The crowd quickly dispersed after the cross was raised, either into the restaurant for lunch or back to their cars to head home.

A formal dedication will be held on Good Friday, April 3, at 11 a.m.

Workers will spend the next two weeks erecting and aiming lights to illuminate the cross at night. Some landscaping work around the base also needs to be done.

None of that stopped a large crowd from turning out in a downpour to see the cross lifted into position. Some were merely curious to watch the spectacle. Others saw a deeper meaning in the project.

“I think it’s an excellent symbol of what we stand for,” Florence resident Karen Moore said. “It’s a huge symbol for our freedom. It’s going to have a big impact on people passing through, and hopefully it will change somebody’s life.”

The Rev. Matt Buckles, pastor of First Baptist Church of Vicksburg, agreed. He said the enduring sight of the cross standing high over the roadside will have a lasting impact.

“We’re excited about this, to raise up this large symbol of our faith, and hoping that many people will pass along Highway 49 and see the cross and ask questions about it,” Buckles said. “What it means and why it’s there. How can it make a difference in my life?”