WITH EVERY heavy step down the road, Pastor David Ashley’s rugged hands grip the weight of a wooden cross — a symbol of strength and sacrifice — carried not for himself but for the countless victims of domestic violence across Tennessee whose suffering he refuses to ignore.
At first glance, Ashley’s life seems like a blend of two worlds: physical strength and spiritual guidance. A former personal trainer turned pastor, he now works as a strength and conditioning coach at Mt. Juliet Christian Academy. But there’s a deeper mission that drives him — one that goes beyond the weight room and into the lives of those across Tennessee who have been affected by domestic violence.
For the past five years, Ashley has organized the Cross Strength Ministries’ annual Cross Walk, an event designed to honor and remember those who have been affected by domestic violence. But for him, this is more than just an event to raise awareness — it’s a personal calling.
“My wife was a past victim of domestic violence, of a lot of horrible acts — childhood molestation, rape — but I never really had to go through that,” Ashley said, his voice heavy with emotion. “She had the background and the knowledge from her experiences, and I wanted to say, ‘Lord, what can I do? How can I help?’”
Ashley’s answer came in the form of a cross. Inspired by his love for strength and power, he created an event where he would physically bear the weight of a cross, symbolizing the burdens of those who have suffered from domestic violence.
“God created me to lift heavy things,” he said. “So why don’t you bear some burdens of those people who are in pain, the people who are in guilt and shame from the evil of domestic violence?”
As he carries the large cross down North Mount Juliet Road each year, it’s not just physical labor. Each cross is adorned with ribbons — purple for females affected by domestic violence, blue for males affected, and black for those lost to domestic homicides.
“Those ribbons, they represent real people. There’s a name attached to each one of those ribbons, and knowing that as I carry the cross … it tears at my soul,” Ashley said softly. “It just breaks my heart that God would even allow me to pick up this cross and bear these burdens.”
For Ashley, the act of carrying the cross is not only about honoring those who have suffered but also about giving them a voice.
“I’m speaking for those who can’t speak for themselves. Usually, when women stand up, the violence becomes greater. But I’m here to say ‘no more.’ We need men with backbones to stand up against this evil.”
His message is clear: the fight against domestic violence is one that demands courage, particularly from men.
“Women have been leading the charge for way too long,” Ashley declared. “Men were created to protect and defend women and children, and we’re not doing our job. We need to be stronger — to man up and stand up against this evil.”
For Ashley, the cross isn’t just a burden — it’s a call to action.
“We’ve torn down the natural role of men. We were created with aggression, power, and strength — not for our own benefit but to protect others. And now I’m challenging men to pick up their cross, to take a stand, and say ‘no more.’”
His powerful words are backed by equally powerful actions. In the first year of the Cross Walk, Ashley walked 50 miles from Mt. Juliet to Lebanon and back, carrying the cross every step of the way. Five years later, despite a need for a total knee replacement, he continues the tradition, walking as far as he physically can, reminding others that the fight against domestic violence must go on.
This year, the Cross Walk will conclude at Charlie Daniels Park, where survivors, supporters, and families of victims will gather for a time of reflection.
“We’ll have speakers; some of the victims may want to share their stories,” Ashley explained. “But I understand if they don’t. It’s hard to speak about the horror of it all. And that’s why we need to step up and be their voice.”
For many, the Cross Walk offers a sense of healing.
“Last year, I had ladies come up to me, just wanting to give me a hug, thanking me for bearing their burdens,” Ashley recalled. “I tell them, ‘The only hope comes from the cross. That’s where all the guilt, shame, and pain can be left behind.’ That’s why the cross is so powerful.”
As Ashley reflects on his journey, it’s clear that his mission goes beyond one event.
“This evil — it’s in our communities, it’s in our churches. And too often, we’re passive. We look the other way,” he said, his voice firm. “Edmund Burke said, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ Right now, too many of us are doing nothing, and that has to change.”
Through his words and actions, Ashley is challenging men and the broader community to rise up against domestic violence. “I don’t want people to think, ‘Oh, what a good guy he is.’ No,” he insisted. “I have a good God. Without Him, I’m nothing. But with Him, I can pick up that cross, and together we can fight this evil.”
As he prepares for this year’s walk, Ashley’s message to the world is simple yet profound: “We must do better. We must stop this evil. It’s time for men to stand up.” GN
