This is a reprint from the July 1, 2026 article by SA Beacon. All Credits belong to SA Beacon.
One year later, God is still healing and bringing hope to those affected by the 1,000-year flood that hit Kerrville. The Coming King Sculpture Prayer Garden launches major plans to honor those lost and those who served.
On July 4, 2025, the Texas Hill Country experienced one of the deadliest natural disasters in state history. The Guadalupe River, normally a source of recreation and beauty, became a torrent of destruction as water levels rose with terrifying speed. When the floodwaters finally receded, 139 lives had been lost, and thousands of families, along with homes, businesses, and camps, had been destroyed or severely damaged. It was a 1,000-year flood that shook an entire region and nation to its core.
But amid unimaginable tragedy, something remarkable happened. Thousands of first responders, volunteers, churches, nonprofit organizations, and relief workers descended on the Hill Country. They came to rescue, recover, rebuild, and remind a grieving community that they were not alone. In the darkness of those grueling 18-hour days, many exhausted heroes found their way to a place overlooking Kerrville—a 77-foot-7-inch steel cross standing sentinel over the city, offering rest to weary souls and hope to broken hearts.
That place is The Coming King Sculpture Prayer Garden. Today it is becoming something even more profound: a permanent memorial to those who were lost, their families, those who served, and the God who comforts and heals.
A Vision Born from Prophecy
The Coming King Sculpture Prayer Garden didn’t begin with a business plan or a committee meeting. It began with a prophetic word from a stranger. In December 2001, Dr. Mahesh Chavda, a visiting pastor at a church in Austin, Texas, stopped mid-sermon to address Max and Sherry Greiner directly. God, he said, was calling them to “restore the Tabernacle of David.”
Eight months later, in August 2002, the Holy Spirit revealed a precise vision to artist and founder Max Greiner. He saw a 100-yard-long, cross-shaped garden filled with monumental Christian sculptures and Bible verses carved in stone. At the end of the path stood a towering empty cross—a symbol of resurrection, hope, and the risen Christ.
That vision became reality. The Coming King Foundation was established in 2004, and today the 24.5-acre free art park at 520 Benson Drive in Kerrville is one of the most visited attractions in the Texas Hill Country, welcoming 100,000 to 150,000 visitors each year from around the world. The Garden features monumental Christian sculptures, engraved Scripture, and The Empty Cross, all positioned at the same latitude as Israel.
The spiritual “art museum” is now led by a Board of Trustees, along with dedicated staff, volunteers, and chaplains who serve visitors through prayer, counsel, and the hope of the Gospel.
When Disaster Struck, The Cross Became a Refuge
When the devastating Hill Country flooding struck on July 4, 2025, The Coming King Foundation and its chaplains immediately stepped into action. As first responders worked around the clock, pulling victims from the water and searching for the missing, many found their way to The Empty Cross under the cover of darkness. There, they found spiritual and physical strength to continue the difficult recovery work they were called to bear.
TCKF Tour Guide Chaplains offered counsel, prayer, and support to families, community members, and first responders as they processed unimaginable trauma. The Empty Cross became more than a tourist attraction—it became a sanctuary, a place where heaven touched earth and the presence of God brought comfort no human words could offer.
Max and Sherry Greiner, who have called the Hill Country home since July 4, 1981, knew that something more was needed. The community needed a permanent place of peace, remembrance, reflection, healing, and hope—a memorial to honor those who were lost and to celebrate those who responded with courage and compassion.
A Memorial Like No Other
The Hill Country Flood Memorial is more than a wall of names. It is a sacred space designed to point people to the great healer, Christ Jesus. The memorial will feature several distinctive and powerful elements:
The Hill Country Flood Memorial Wall – A 176-foot-long, six-foot-tall undulating limestone wall featuring professionally cast bronze plaques honoring victims, first responders, law enforcement personnel, recovery workers, and the countless churches, groups, and organizations that responded to help the community. Churches and groups are invited to sponsor plaques with their own words of encouragement or Scripture.
The Guadalupe Savior Bronze Sculpture – Created by renowned artist Max Greiner, this 105% life-size bronze sculpture depicts Jesus walking on the turbulent waters of the Guadalupe River, holding the hands of two smiling little girls. It is an image of hope, protection, and the promise that even in a storm, we are not alone.
The River of Angels Cross – A stunning piece by Texas artist David Broussard adds another layer of beauty and meaning to the memorial. The Corten steel 16’ tall triangular (Trinity) cross features 119 stainless steel angels, the number of souls lost in the Guadalupe River.
Monumental Bronze Bald Eagle – A larger-than-life sculpture of a bald eagle rising from round Guadalupe River rocks, inspired by Isaiah 40:31: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.”
Historic Photography Display Wall – Inside the future TCKF Visitor Center, a special graphic display will share the history of Kerrville and the Fourth of July flood, helping ensure that future generations remember and learn from this tragedy.
Max Greiner is donating his professional time and skills to create these meaningful flood memorials for Kerrville—a gift of love to the community he has called home for more than four decades. Other local Christian-owned companies donated to build the massive limestone wall in record time.
The Hill Country Flood Memorial will be a place of real peace, healing, hope, and life. It will comfort all who come to see it in person and all who see it online. It is an incredible way for people to “send a message” to all who visit—a message that even in our darkest valleys, God is present, God is good, and God is faithful.
You can partner with this amazing vision and memorial. See the Be a Light section at the end of this article for details.
The promises of God are good. The nature of God is good. The Coming King Foundation wants to point everyone to Christ Jesus, the great healer who offers lasting comfort and healing.
A Day to Remember and Heal
On July 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., The Coming King Foundation, in partnership with United Rescue Alliance, will dedicate the Hill Country Flood Memorial at The Empty Cross in Kerrville. All are welcome to attend this important ceremony—a time to remember, grieve, give thanks, and find hope in the God who promises to heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds.
To learn more, visit thecomingkingfoundation.org/ or thecomingkingsculptureprayergarden.org/features/hill-country-flood-memorials/.
In a world that often focuses on bad news, The Beacon exists to report the Good News that reflects the love of Jesus. This memorial is a testament to both—a story of tragedy transformed by hope, of loss redeemed by love, and of a community that chose to build something beautiful from the ashes of heartbreak. See the good. Be the change. Be a Light.
The Coming King Foundation does not have wealthy benefactors who regularly support it. They continue to pay the light and water bills with small donations from regular people who feel the Lord’s call to help. The free spiritual garden has so many needs. They wait on the Lord and pray for the resources they need to do what they need to do. TCKF does not go into debt. Here’s how you can participate in this sacred work:
How to Give: Make a tax-deductible donation by clicking HERE. Donors may designate their gift to the “Flood Memorial.”
Sponsor a Bronze Memorial Plaque: Churches, organizations, families, and individuals can sponsor bronze plaques in multiple sizes. For more information, contact The Coming King Foundation office at (830) 928-7774 or office@thecomingkingfoundation.org.
Volunteers and Prayer Partners: They are always seeking volunteers, gardeners, chaplains, and supporters to help keep the Garden free and welcoming to all visitors.
Attend the Memorial Dedication: Join the community on July 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at The Empty Cross of Kerrville, 520 Benson Dr., Kerrville, TX 78028.
Permanent Restrooms ($300,000): TCKF has had to provide portable restrooms for guests because building functional facilities is costly. Help them provide this essential service for the thousands of visitors who come each year.
Complete all Garden Projects ($750,000+): The Garden is not finished. They need supporters and regular donors to partner with them on this unique evangelistic effort that honors and elevates Christ Jesus. This includes completing the “Wall of Nations” and “Names of God Wall,” road improvements, erosion repairs, amphitheater development, and the Hill Country Flood Memorial. They also need sponsors for the bronze plaques and the three flood-related monumental sculptures.
Visitor Center ($7 Million): The Coming King Sculpture Prayer Garden is among the top 10% of tourist attractions in the world, according to TripAdvisor. With over a million visitors since the Cross was raised in 2010, they have ambitious plans to create a world-class attraction that presents the Gospel of Christ to all who come to visit. They need partners who will help provide the resources they need to be more effective in reaching people for Christ Jesus.
