The Power of Faith

When thinking of the world’s largest statue of Jesus Christ, images quickly come to mind of Rio De Janeiro’s Christ The Redeemer poised majestically over the city. However, the largest statue of the son of God is actually situated on the outskirts of Świebodzin, Poland. It is in a field across from the local Tesco. The Statue, entitled Christ the King, was completed last winter and was the dream of a local priest. Many Poles actually have expressed dislike for it complaining that it is tacky. There is still some argument as to which statue is actually bigger, as Brazil’s statue would still be larger if one doesn’t include the Man-made mound on which Christ the King sits. While in Poznań, I made the trip to this small town in western Poland to decide for myself.
Despite its size, the statue's out of the way location makes it hard to find. It seems an incongruous image to see such a large statue in a dusty agricultural field. The statue is never going to get many points for majesty of setting, or for quality of artwork and craftsmanship. It is clearly what could be built where it could be built. On the other hand, the fact that one town parish could build the largest statue of Jesus in the world, or even the mound it sits on, with nothing more than personal donations, makes quite a strong statement about the faith of the people who made this dream a reality. This statue stands, not only as a memorial to Christ’s life, but also as a testament to the power of belief in the present day. It reminds us that faith, no matter what god you belive in, is still important and powerful, even when not placed above our heads for all to see. While the debate about which statue is physically larger will most likely continue to rage, I can say with certainty that Christ the King, makes a powerful statement, not only through its size, but also through its story.