For many Christians, the cross is the symbol of their faith. It represents the sacrifice and suffering of Christ and gives hope to many others.

For Doug Lapp, of Coopersburg, the cross represents how he shares his faith with others through his talents.

Lapp makes wooden crosses and gives them away.

He was born and raised in the Nazarene church with three uncles and a cousin holding the position of minister.

In 1976, he married Tammy and the two began attending Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church in Allentown.

They now attend Horizon Church on Ott Street in Allentown.

He describes himself as a "nondenominational person who loves and respects all religions."

He began his love of woodworking in 1972 while at Lehigh County Technical Institute enrolled in a cabinetmaking class. Realizing he could not throw out the scraps of wood, with the blessing of his instructor Bob Young, he began to make birdhouses, cutting boards and crosses. One of the most memorable pieces he carved was a plaque made out of a 100-year-old church pew with a peace sign, a cross and the family name, Lapp. The piece hangs in his home as a symbol of his early connection with the cross.

In 1993 he began making crosses for family members to celebrate birthdays, weddings, confirmations and other special occasions.

In 1998, he decided to sell his crosses at craft shows, and although he received many compliments on his detailed work, not many sold. Any money he did earn he gave to the church.

"I went home empty, but full of God's grace," Lapp said.

"Maybe I'm not supposed to sell them; maybe I'm supposed to give them away," Lapp remembers saying to Tammy.

He began giving the crosses away to coworkers and those who asked for them. Often it was for a friend going through a tough situation.

"If they shared a situation they were going through, I would make them a cross," Lapp said.

Lapp's crosses are made in all sizes. Full size crosses have been made to adorn church altars for weddings and some are small enough to hold in the palm of your hand.

He uses a router, band saw, drill, belt sander, stain, laminate and sandpaper to create his masterpieces.

In 2009, Lapp told Tammy he would really like to have a church pew as a Christmas gift to make the crosses out of that wood.

Their son Randy and his girlfriend Kara located a church pew for sale at the Overflowing Life Christian Center at 635 Turner St. in Allentown.

In "A Tour of a Catholic Church" by Thomas Richstatter, he suggests fixed pews in churches reinforced the image of the congregation as "listeners."

With Lapp requesting and receiving a pew for Christmas to make his crosses, it seemed to strengthen his resolve to listen, continue and expand his mission.

He listened to those who were in need or knew of someone who needed a cross.

He built a relationship with Bishop Dr. Jim McIver Sr. of OLCC, who now supplies Lapp with pews whenever he needs them. One pew can generate 75 crosses.

He has provided crosses for children in an orphanage in Haiti supported by McIver and his congregation.

He provides crosses to missionaries who take them on their important journeys of service.

Through word of mouth, he has also been provided pews from Saint Isidore Roman Catholic Church in Quakertown.

Celebrities, religious leaders and soldiers also hold crosses; he makes sure the people who have touched his life know of his appreciation.

"The crosses bring tears to people's eyes as they open the special gift," Lapp said. "They provide inspiration and hope when needed."

"He has given so many people hope," Tammy said. "He makes people feel better when going through difficulities."

Lapp said he never knows where the crosses will end up. He has a map in the garage with pushpins to note where the crosses are. He estimates he has crosses in 85 cities in the United States, Cambodia, Greece, Germany, Jamaica, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ireland, Thailand, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Lapp pays for all of the postage to ship the crosses where they are needed.

Lapp has a shoebox full of inspirational stories from those who have received crosses saying the gift helped them find peace and comfort.

He made a cross for a friend who replied, "How did you know I needed it that day?"

Another woman who received a cross said it gave her comfort after Hurricane Sandy.

"I can't believe how the Lord is using you to promote the cross," McIver once told Lapp. "What you are doing is keeping up the God work."

McIver said Lapp's work encourages a lot of people.

Lapp was asked how he wants to be remembered.

"He made his mark in life. He woke up and enjoyed each hour of the day, as a blessing and good Samaritan to anyone he would meet and gave hope to help those in need. He touched people's lives with his crosses," Lapp said.

As Christians celebrate the season of Lent and Easter, the song "The Old Rugged Cross" by Rev. George Bennard will be heard in many churches. The last line in the chorus seems to sum up the purpose driven life of Doug Lapp.

"So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it one day for a crown."