DAWN Fridayfax 1996 #26

Special Report - Global March for Jesus

March for Jesus - DAWN Friday Fax special edition

11 million people march in 170 nations

"The angels have never seen a day like this: around 11 million people marched for Jesus in 170 nations," according to Gerald Coates, leader of England's Pioneer movement and member of the global March for Jesus committee. "They all prayed for a global pouring out of the Holy Spirit and an activation of God's people to make Christ attractive and understandable for the people around them."

From the million participants in the Philippines, between 2 and 4 million in Brazil and around a million in the USA to the mini-march in Macedonia with 100 people and at least one newly converted ex-KGB officer, another March for Jesus (MFJ) was added to the annals of church history. Some of the highlights:

Philippines

All police in the Philippines were ordered by the national Chief of Police to not only accompany the march but to officially take part. Most of the police followed the order- and were waving banners for Jesus. Up to now, the March for Jesus office has recorded 230,000 official participants in the Philippines: around 100,000 took part in the largest march in Metro Manila, but the reports from 68 provinces are still pendent. Insiders estimate that the total for the nation will be around 1 million.

Mozambique

A March for Jesus took place in 23 towns with a total of 15,000 people. Assemblies of God pastor Mugabe said "We should organise a march every 3 months!" Government representatives took part in most of the marches.

Cameroon

The first MFJ took place in Bemenda, starting with a prayer meeting attended by many churches. Resume: "There was great unity in the Body of Christ here."

Swaziland

The march in Manzini, Swaziland's capital, was accompanied by a High School band and another school's drum group. A pilot from the local flying club flew over the march and dropped Christian leaflets over the whole town.

Guyana

Around 10,000 took part in the march in Georgetown. Rev. John Smith, president of the Guyana Evangelical Fellowship, said "It was the best march we ever had!"

Czech Republic

The MFJ was without doubt the Czech evangelical Christians' biggest ever event. 4,500 took part in the Prague MFJ.

USA

1 million marched in 625 towns: 45,000 in Nashville, 23,000 in Jacksonville, 18,000 in Pittsburgh.

In Roanoke, Virginia, the 800 participants marched praying through the area with the highest crime rate. In Carrolton, Missouri, prison inmates could watch the march and joined the singing. In Panama City, Florida, 9,000 people marched in temperatures around 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius). In the city, known for the division amongst its Christians, one hundred local churches took part in the march. "The city's pastors and Christians decided to pray together and work for revival," according to march organiser Dennis Keller. 6,000 people from over 100 churches marched in Birmingham, Alabama. A young woman joined the march and gave her life to Jesus. She asked for prayer to get free of drugs and was immediately brought in touch with Christians working in a drug rehabilitation centre. The vice-mayor of Stockton, California, renewed his relationship to Christ during the MFJ and placed his town in Christ's care. The MFJ in Adrian, Michigan, was the county's largest ever parade. The mayor declared 25th May "March for Jesus day".

Namibia

Three Praise Marches from different directions joined to make a single March for Jesus with 7,400 members. The sky was cloudy during the prayer time and there were even a few drops of rain; the country is currently in the middle of a serious drought. As the "Welcome" was spoken in the prayer meeting, there was a loud clap of thunder overhead. "It was as though God wanted to emphasise his presence among us and demonstrate that he has not forgotten Namibia and that nothing is impossible," according to one report.

St. Vincent

1,000 people, including the Minister for Health, took part in the march in Kingston. The last two hours of the march, including the prayer time, were transmitted live on the radio.

Bolivia

There were marches in several towns. 40,000 took part in the finale in La Paz, the capital, alone.

Costa Rica

There was only one march, in the capital, San Jose. However, the 300,000 participants are 30 percent of the population.

Uruguay

Around 20,000 people took part in 20 Marches for Jesus. A group of 50 musicians travelled 500km to Montevideo to play in the finale.

Japan

7,000 people took part in 29 marches, including 1,000 in Tokyo. The prayer walkers were admitted to the grounds of the Emperor's palace for the first time.

New Zealand

85,000 marched in 80 towns, 20,000 in Auckland alone. Special about this march, according to the organisers, was the unprecedented unity between Protestants and Catholics marching together with the support of the Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops.

Italy

The MFJ in Milan was, according to many of the participating pastors, a great success. 2,500 people took part.

Canada

One report said "People no longer ask which church you belong to. They say 'You're a Christian, I'm a Christian, so let's stand together for Christ!'" Over 152,000 Christians marched in 120 centres. Many onlookers asked the marchers why they were so happy!

Russia

During the Moscow march with 5,000 participants, an ex-KGB officer saw the joyful marchers and decided to become a Christian.

How will it continue? Annual marches are planned in the USA, a global march is planned for the year 2000 and MFJ worship leader Graham Kendrick is already working on new songs for further "Praise Marches"

Source: Global March for Jesus, PO Box 39, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex, TW16 6PP, England, Tel: (+44) 1932 789681 Fax 789691 E-mail 100572.323@compuserve.com

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