Ukraine - 2000

JESUS DAY REPORT FROM KHERSON IN SOUTH UKRAINE by Irina Drach

God has also done much in Kherson.

Since 1997, our church has been making the International Christian Festival devoted to the Day of Pentecost. Each year more and more guests come to take part in the festival, held in the city stadium.

This year we heard about "March for Jesus". We liked this idea very much! The situation in the city was difficult but in spite of this, we decided to take part in the international march.

We had been preparing for march till the last day. We planned to involve in it all our guests, including our friends-Christians from the Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Norway, Canada, USA and from Ukrainian churches. Regretfully, we couldn't walk through the central part of the city because of the possible danger of a teacher's strike. Instead, all columns of marchers went around the stadium.

Around 20,000 citizens came to see the festival. We praised the Lord and prayed for the country for 5 hours We gave out humanitarian aid and invitations for a special meeting next week where people can receive food (for about 10,000 people, due to the help of Ukrainian-Norway charity, "The open heart" - president Halward Hasseloy).

Ukraine - 1998

We had a prayer and praise celebration in the central park in Kiev, in a beautiful and strategic location called the "Ark". We had 700 people and kids from 45 different churches. The majority were Charismatic and Pentecostal, but there were also some from Orthodox, Baptist and other denominations. We had banners, colourful programs, T-shirts, and free soda. Also balloons and lolipops for all the kids. Our program included--worship, choreography, messianic dance, drama-prayer for Iran, children and youth performances. However in the middle of the program, we were made to stop. The whole situation was very difficult but the Lord gave us tremendous strength and peace.

A month ago we had received a word from some officials to have the celebration at this Ark. We were delighted, and began inviting churhes.... Then a week before the march, the problems began. At a time when we had hoped to focus on the program, all our energy and prayers were spent on dealing with the officials. This went on right till the morning of the march. Yet we continued with the preparations. We felt like we were in a real battle.

The final answer was neither a yes nor a no, and based on that we were advised by some officials to go ahead with the celebration. But half way through the program, right at the point when the pastors were praying for Ukraine, we were asked to stop. We had a few pastors including a Greek Catholic pastor praying. To many this was the highlight of the celebration--the presence of God was felt very strongly at this point. So even though in some ways it was sad not to be able to complete the program, yet we Praise God that we did have the opportunity to praise Him and pray in unity with our brothers and sisters from a wide range of churches and denominations in Kiev. We believe this was one more step forward to having a real march in Kiev by 2000. The Lord encouraged us with Joshua1:9.

Ruzanna Oganessian and Vera Fernandes

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United Kingdom - 2000

Cities place Jesus in the centre for Jesus Day

Big city marches will be the major focus of the United Kingdom's Jesus Day celebrations on 10 June 2000, the day set by March for Jesus for the largest street parade ever. Five cities (London, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast) have been targeted as the main venues for the event, which will make sure Jesus receives his due in his millennial year.

In each city, the Jesus Day event will either take in some key parts of the city, or actually go right through the centre. The Belfast event, which meets at the Botanic Gardens at 11am, will see the first march since the Northern Ireland assembly was formed. So it will truly be a celebration of reconciliation, as Christians from all communities rejoice in the experience of what human
reconciliation means and simultaneously proclaim how much more it means for God and man to be reconciled through Jesus, the Lord of the new millennium.

Reconciliation will also be at the heart of the march in Liverpool, as the route will reflect the unity of the city's churches and the work of reconciliation that has gone on between them. The march will start at 2.30pm from the Anglican Cathedral, with prayer from Bishop James Jones. It will then go past the Roman Catholic Cathedral, where Archbishop Patrick Kelly
will be praying for the city. It will march through the city centre, and finish at the Albert Dock for a celebration led by Dave Bilbrough and in which Free Church Moderator Rev Keith Hobbs will take part. About 5,000 marchers are expected.

The London march will gather at Greenwich at 1.30pm, come from the east and finish on Blackheath. "This will give the day a royal feel", commented Keith Marchant, organiser of the London event. "Greenwich has always been associated with royalty. Often, kings of England returned from battle or exile from the east, to the traditional welcome of the city on Blackheath. So what better way to welcome the King of kings, than by a march that takes in Greenwich and Blackheath?"
Furthermore, in this millennial year, London will also gain topical significance from being Jesus Day on the Line, for the march will cross the meridian line itself.

In Cardiff, proceedings will take place in the Civic Centre from midday, with a March with about 2,000 participants round the city centre at 2pm. The main focus is a fun day for all the family to celebrate Jesus' 2,000th birthday.

The Edinburgh march will take the same route as in previous years, starting at Waterloo Place at 1pm, marching along the main thoroughfare, Princes Street, and finishing at the Meadows.

"Jesus Day is all about putting Jesus centre stage, of bringing the focus back to him", said Roger Forster, one of the co-founders of March for Jesus. "What better way than to celebrate him in the centres of our main cities, the hub of our country, the places where our society and culture are formed, where people travel, shop, work, and carry out their daily routines and lives."

The big city marches will also give added impetus to March for Jesus' link with Tearfund's children at risk initiative. For it is to the cities that our children so often run away, but where they so often end up lonely, hurt, abused, and out in the cold. Each Jesus Day event will be asked to give these children a prominent place in the proceedings by using the Millennium Child prayer and holding a collection to give to children at risk.

The first March for Jesus took place in the city of London in 1987. The event has become a global event, regularly drawing ten million people from 130 nations onto the streets. Almost 55 million Christians in about 180 nations have taken part in Global March for Jesus, ranging from huge praise marches to secret prayer walks. Jesus Day (10 June 2000) will be the largest street celebration ever, and world-wide is expected to attract up to 15 million people in 150 countries.

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United Kingdom - 1999

As in 1995 and 1997, this year March for Jesus took the form of a local prayerwalking event called Operation A to Z. There were over 300 events across the nation, most taking place in England. Over 6,000 people prayerwalked and prayed for over half a million homes. Most of these received a leaflet offering prayer.

Prayerwalking is now a regular feature of church life in many UK churches. In
Leatherhead, Surrey, 20 people from two churches gathered to prayerwalk three routes from a high point to the north of the town to the memorial tree marking the site where John Wesley is reputed to have preached his last sermon. There they prayed that Britain would again be turned around by the gospel as it was by the effort of Wesley and his followers over 200 years ago.

In Farnham, Surrey, a team from two churches prayed for several local housing estates placing leaflets offering prayer.

United Kingdom - 1998

The UK reports resound with the same comments relating to the strong sense of unity on the streets and the drawing power of Graham Kendrick's No More Walls music was evident, with spectators lining the streets and in some cases joining in.

March for Jesus has always been a physical and visible expression of Christian unity. In additional to this, many Marchers reported that they experienced a vivid, powerful and emotional spiritual unity on the streets. It was as if they could sense God smiling on them.

Many March Organisers are already planning follow up events to cradle and nurture this precious and rediscovered gift of "togetherness".

A lady from Devon wrote a letter to share her experience of March for Jesus event in Lapford. A loyal supporter for years, she mentioned that she had previously marched in both Cardiff and London, but felt that this year's much smaller local march was the best she had experienced. Days later the Organiser of the Lapford march rang to inform the office that they were preparing a baptise a lady who had been converted through the l iterature distributed at the march event. Adding at the end, that the lady's husband had also enrolled in a local Alpha group.

The news from Sheffield is of a spectator joining the march and re-committing their life to Christ after almost a decade of drifting away. A newly arrived Muslim family were amazed to see a March for Jesus banner in their own language. Suddenly their sense of isolation in a strange land was broken down and the resulting conversations led to a shared evening meal with a local Christian family. The Sheffield March Organiser was thrilled to be able to get her neighbour to attend the event, and even more amazed, when she witnessed him crying during part of the Prayer Assembly.

The much planned and talked about telephone link between Belfast, Liverpool and Manchester, was not without a number a technical problems. Whilst Manchester could hear Liverpool, Liverpool could not hear Manchester. All three marchers seemed to have started at different times, but in God's timing, a highly poignant moment occurred, as Manchester eventually linked with Belfast,... at the exact location of the 1993 bomb explosion.

Hundreds of balloons took to the air in Hereford. Attached to each balloon was a nation's flag and a corresponding prayer.

Brighton, Brilliant.

Wakefield, The best yet.

Worcester, The UCB link was excellent with Brother Andrew focusing our prayers.

Newport, IoW, A triumphant March.

Finsbury Park, north London, The smiles of the police, the harmony of Gods people and the visible benefit of the church in the open,... its all good news.

Devizes, One man cycled all the way from Bath [20 miles], to take part in the only March for Jesus in Wiltshire.

Ulverston, March for Jesus was real evidence of the growing unity amongst the various church denominations.

Aberystwyth, Healing took place between many individuals in the Body of Christ.

Consett, The ground has been prepared for future events.

Southend, Talk about the power of God. We had a guy from Northern Ireland, who gave a personal testimony about peace. This led spontaneously on to prayer for Ireland. The result of the day is that other united events are being planned fro prayer and outreach.

Thetford, Onlookers in the town centre joined in with the singing and dancing.

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Uruguay - 1999

30,000 people in 48 cities marched for Jesus in an unusually sunny and warm winter day. The joy and spirit of praise were more visible than in past years. Non-perishable food was collected for the poor (the poor make 15% of the population).

Uruguay - 1998

30,000 marchers; 25 cities
30,000 marchers joined, as in the past two years, to celebrate the joy of knowing Jesus. MFJ is the event that draws the most Christians in the Latin country with the smallest percentage of Christians. Just like in Buenos Aires, marchers in Montevideo were asked to bring non-perishable food items to help the flood victims of the coastal areas. A cable TV station that reaches the whole country gave an extended report on the March on June 2nd.

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March for Jesus launches Jesus Day June 10th event a great success.

In the United States there were marches in 450 cities. The Latin people are becoming more involved in the March. In South Park, Los Angeles a police officer in an interview with Nueva Vida Radio Network said: "We need the people here, the kids and teenagers instead of fighting in gang groups or being shot with gangs and addicted to drugs, need to get to know
Christ." Then during the March, this officer offered his service to the church closing the streets and helping to organize the march in that part of the District. After that food was given to 5 thousand people, a Literature Fair was organized, games and other things for the community. Then this officer got all of his coworkers to work on the march.

 

Acts of kindness and compassion filled communities across the nation on Saturday 10th June as participants in the first "Jesus Day" took up the challenge to "live the messge" of Jesus Christ.

Servanthood and Celebration were the rule of the day as Churches of all denominations joined together to feed the homeless, visit nursing homes, play with fatherless kids, touch people with AIDs, paint houses, and fill the streets with singing.

Organisers call it "a day on earth as it is in heaven" with four themes-No one goes hungary, no child is fatherless, no one suffers alone and the streets are filled with singing. Activities included food distribution, free car washes ,games for the children, medical services, prayer booths, sidewalk Sunday school, block parties, marches and more.

450 City Wide efforts were organised all over the nation fostering unprecedented unity adn cooperation among churches and Faith based Organisations. Churches and individuals also carried out thousands of individual efforts.

-Governors and Mayors issued statements proclaiming June 10th "Jesus Day"

-Stadiums were filled fo united worship and celebration with fireworks.

-A single mom whose house had been painted by Jesus Day participants carried the lead banner in the March for Jesus in her city.

-A local newspaper known for its anti Christian attitude gave Jesus Day front-coverage.

-Participants signed commitment cards to live "Jesus Day everyday"

Jesus Day organiser Tom Pelton says, "Jesus Day exceeded our expectations." On going collaborations will continue throughout the year including a "Jesus Day...Everyday" campaign and a Campaign to Overcome Poverty.

Jesus Day will contiue to be held on Pentecost weekend as "an annual celebration of a lifesyle of compassion." Plans are already underway for June 2, 2001.

450 Cities participated in Jesus Day. Here are a few reports:

Culman, AL
A picnic in the park was sponsored the local singles group. There were multiple bock parties around the area, each being sponsored by up to twelve churches each.

Tuscaloosa, AL
Different outreach tables were set up for people to get involved with the programs going on in the city. A nine-foot long table was filled with canned goods so "no one goes hungry."

Ancorage, AK
The planned events for Jesus Day included kite making and a fire truck for the fatherless. A blood drive and bone marrow drive was conducted during the day, along with other services attempting to meet the needs of the community. Clothing and food filled the back of a U-haul and was later taken to a local shelter.

Hot Springs, AR
The marchers donated truckloads of food to be distributed to the needy. The leaders encouraged marchers to participate in outreach programs, such as children's homes, nursing homes, AIDS patients, rehabilitation centers, jails, drug rehabilitation programs, and more.

Lake Havasu City, AZ
Canned goods were collected for a food bank as an "expression of Jesus' love and concern." Following the March, food bags were handed out, along with Jesus videos, book of John, and tracts.

Huntington Beach, CA
The activities for Jesus Day included a free rummage sale, a prayer kiosk, a BBQ in poor area of town, and a kid's outreach. The outreach for the children was more or less like a amusement park with snow cones, face painting and games.

Lucerene Valley, CA
Food vouchers, clothes, and furniture was given away during the March. They will continue to support the community throughout the year by serving meals twice a week.

Manteca, Ca
Surrounding the prayer rally were 13 booths that served as a connector for Christians and area ministries. "All the booths were happy with people signing up to make Jesus Day-everyday!"

Redding, CA
The United Bikers of Northern California and a Christian rehabilitation center sponsored a local food drive. Local ministries joined together to present the gospel to the children after the prayer rally.

Salinas, CA
Keeping in touch with the theme of Jesus Day, recruiters collected volunteers for an AIDS organization. A soup kitchen got a lot of help that day. On top of all of that adoption processes went in the works, making June 10th a wonderful day for some kids.

San Bruno, CA
They had a canned food drive and gave the proceeds to the Catholic Workers House.

San Diego, CA
"Forty thousand pounds of food were brought in to San Diego, by truck, to be dispensed to local inner city churches and the poor neighborhoods."

Victorville, CA
"More than 5,000 grocery bags were stuffed with donated food and household items."

Grand Junction, CO
March organizers got an early start with some help from local churches. They overflowed the East End with door hanger invitations. The day of the March, they had a musical outreach at a local grocery store. "It was a wonderful day, full of special connections between all ages and races."

Bridgeport, CT
"As a result of Jesus Day, three new ministries have been birthed that will continue Jesus Day. People will spend time in AIDS facilities, food drives will take place four times a year, and local Christian men will mentor by partnering with children's shelters.

Fort Walton Beach, FL
The outreach to the hungry went so well that now organizers feel the need to do monthly or quarterly.

Albany, GA
Can goods were collected for the hungry.

Clayton, GA
Jesus Day joined hands with the county housing authority, the county hospital, the county jail, a retirement home, and made up their own ministry to minister to children. At the community home, they did their hair!

St. Marys, GA
They visited a hospital and a convalescent center, bringing hope to the hopeless.

Woodstock, GA
Offering boxes collected a small amount of food for a local HOPE Center.

Twin Falls, ID
The Canning Hunger project continued in this community. Twenty cases of canned food were donated to the Salvation Army. Also, the Catholic Church served one thousand free barbeque dinners in the City Park-and they loved every minute of it. The Gideons handed out free Bible while a clowning ministry brought joy to the mass of children.

Decatur, IL
Churches were invited to do outreaches in their own communities during the morning. One church held a free car wash, while another collected food and did a toy/clothing give-away. During the evening marchers gathered together and handed out Popsicles and invitations before the March. Because the March was in the evening, many neighborhood residents were outside and were able to participate more fully.

Fisher, IL
The city covered the theme "no child is fatherless" with the help of a kid's carnival and a few good men.

Litchfield, IL
Outreaches for Jesus Day were different and abundant. Litchfield visited a local nursing three different times to sing, rally and meet with them individually. Participants scouted for food, and there was a block party at a low-income housing project.

Quincy, IL
Some members worked with Habitat for Humanity, and others hosted sidewalk picnics. A newspaper quoted, "teams of volunteers will take to the streets doing community service-everything from yard work to performing acts of compassion."

Winnebago, IL
They plan on canning hunger all summer long.

South Bend, IN
Following the Prayer Rally, free groceries were given. A prayer fair was started offering intercessors to stand with people in the areas of family, finances, jobs, freedom, and marriage.

Vincennes, IN
This year instead of sitting at home or watching the parades from the sidelines, marchers will be participating throughout the year. This means Jesus will get lifted up in the streets of Vincennes more than just once a year by a large amount of people.

Fairfield, IA
Outreaches to help Habitat for Humanity and The Nest were among many things that happened. Groups, such as Men of Integrity and Women Aglow, set up booths in Central Park to show Christians what is available.

Pella, IA
Each church did their own outreach, but they were combined together to make Jesus Day. Activities included window washing, kid's day in the park, visiting nursing homes. Some partnered with the Crisis Pregnancy Center to throw the mothers a big baby shower.

Campbellsville, KY
Attendees visited the local hospital, nursing homes, and a senior citizens apartment building to pass out helium balloons and small gifts. Two thousand sack lunches were given away, and canned items that have been collecting since May were given away as well.

Owensboro, KY
The city was divided into 22 zones as people were sent out to do random acts of kindness. They also set up a marketplace under a tent. Later they served a free fish dinner.

Natchitoches, LA
Boxes of food for collection were placed in churches and several banks for weeks before the event and were given to Love and Care Mission-a local food, clothing and furnishings bank.

Fall River, MA
Each participating church was encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to the Jesus Day. These were collected and displayed at the prayer rally and it was announced that anyone who needed good should go to the food table where volunteers assisted them.

Evart, MI
A community youth group, composed of March for Jesus and See You at the Pole youth, did a teen motivational activity.

Grand Haven, MI
Volunteers put in 205 man-hours of community service for local houses in need of assistance.

Brainerd, MN
In the area, there is a summer camp for HIV patients. Personal hygiene items and clothing were collected for distribution.

Mankato, MN
Forty-two participants fed the homeless and the hungry lunch.

St. Cloud, MN
One of the main attractions to Jesus Day was that the CLAY project (Caring and Loving Adults with Youth) was widely advertised. Adults and youth meet weekly, and both are given a free membership to the YMCA.

Saint Paul, MN
Caning Hunger and children's ministry topped the list at this year's celebration.

Helena, MT
It just so happened that on the same day there was a gay pride march. Some people were able to show Jesus love to them by distributing flowers and gifts to groups of gay ride marchers. Other Jesus Day events included window washing, live bands performing in different areas of the community, "gift" truck giveaways, and a free yard sale.

Kalispell, MT
Jesus Day participants sent teens out to a local juvenile detention center to do outreach, while others competed in a Nintendo tournament.

Alliance, NE
This town won people over with love and food! They cleaned rain gutters, washed windows, gave away free cookies and made sure that every pastor and community leader received a pie or baked goods.

Columbus, NE
They collected food for the local food pantry.

Nebraska City, NE
Using donated paint, a group of people painted the home of an unemployed couple. In the afternoon some marchers took homemade cookies to the nursing home and sang songs to them.

Omaha, NE
After prayerwalking the neighborhoods that morning 300 people participated in cleaning up an old part of town. They fed to homeless in their city and in Council Bluffs, IA and visited 15 rest homes throughout the metro area.

Reno, NV
Reno poured love all over their city by ministering to the hungry and the imprisoned. Booths were opened for abused women (named Victorious in His Sight), rest homes were visited, and there was an AIDS awareness booth as well.

Las Lunas, NM
Marchers went door-to-door passing out chocolate hugs. One group went to a senior citizens home.

Taos, NM
Like many other cities, Taos decided to split Jesus Day amongst the churches. One church did free oil changes for single mothers, another went to the neighboring town and helped out with a project, while another volunteered to clean the town or do whatever the town thought they needed.

Elmira, NY
After a concert, participants of March for Jesus grabbed bags of food that had been collected through Canning Hunger and distributed them to those in housing projects throughout the city. While going door-to-door 8 people were born into the kingdom.

Middletown, NY
After the March, marchers went out to nursing homes and shopping centers to spread the message handing out light bulbs and books. The proclaimed, "Jesus is the light of the world."

Pulaski, NY
The unity present in the city was definitely visible from the long human chain that was made to transport food from the park to the food pantry. "The day was fairly loosely structured to allow more and more people to get involved."

Tri-Cities, NY
The marchers were able to cover the whole city by the organization of teams that took on the responsibility of individual neighborhoods. Jesus activities ranged from cookie distribution and block parties, to visiting "shut-ins" and creating a care group for the single mothers and the fatherless.

Jacksonville, NC
Churches individually did Jesus Day outreaches. One church did Sidewalk Sunday school and passed out 60 free Bibles, and another went into a rest home to minister.

Marshall, NC
Food was collected to be distributed through Beacon of Hope Food Ministries.

New Bern, NC
People made a commitment to support ministries in the area after having "Family Day in the Park" and helping out with the Soup Kitchen and the Crisis Pregnancy Center.

Reaford, NC
Canning Hunger and Sidewalk Sunday school was a major success.

Winston/Salem, NC
The March participated with Cutting Edge Ministries, Throw Out the Lifeline Ministries, and Samaritan Ministries to bring hope to the hopeless.

Wilson, NC
In the morning Wilson had 10 community outreaches in progress. The activities ranged from Sidewalk Sunday school and puppets to block parties and a Spanish ministry.

Conneaut, OH
Canned goods that have been collected over the months (starting in January) were taken to the Community Center.

Fostoria, OH
The attendees of the March came together at a local K-mart and passed out free hotdogs. Individuals did miscellaneous activities.

Lawton, OK
The citizens of Lawton, came together to minister to one of God's favorite people, widows. They called it "Widow Patrol." It involved fixing up houses, moving, and cleaning. They also "canned hunger."

Tahlequah, OK
Jesus Day participants visited all the nursing homes and jails in the surrounding area. They also donated to fund Green County's AIDS Coalition.

Tulsa, OK
With help from the Convoy of Hope to instruct the group, 1200 volunteers served over 5500 meals on June 10th. As a result, 1380 people accepted the Lord. One local pizza company provided pizza for all the guests. There were free haircuts, medical screenings, dental checkups, and pony rides for the children.

Baker City, OR
After marching through downtown they passed out evangelism tracts to bystanders and "Truth for Youth" Bibles.

Canton, PA
The citizens of Canton went to a local park and gave out free food and drink. Face painting and games for kids also happened there at the park.

Harrisburg, PA
Jesus Day was split into two main locations. At one of the locations 15 agencies participated in a health fair including AIDS Community Alliance, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Lung Association, American Red Cross, Arthritis Foundation, Capital Area Pregnancy Center, PA Dept. of health, PA Safe Kids, Zion Christian Health Center, Kidney Foundation of Central PA, Morning Star Pregnancy Center, Christian Churches United, Central PA Coalition to Fight Cancer, and Health South. There was also free pizza (provided by Pizza Hut) and Italian Ices (provided by Rita's).

Meyersdale, PA
A fair of gigantic proportion was put on after the March so that one child could have a wonderful day, but it was all worth it.

Pittsburgh, PA
Massive amounts of food were collected for he food bank. Although other activities did not happen, the hope of volunteers surrendering their time to ministries that made contact that day.

Terre Hill, PA
A collection of nonperishable food was collected for the local food bank, while their gave out a free lunch after the March.

Warminster, PA
They had sports for the middle and high school students, while the younger kids had games and crafts. The Girl Scouts and the local "Latino Alliance" had tables of information and camp signups.

York, PA
Great ministries that were already doing "Jesus stuff" realized that they needed the churches to come alongside and help. Churches throughout the community joined with them and participated with Cornerstone Maternity, York Rescue Mission, Garden of Angels Community Garden, Salvation Army, the local nursing home and more. Everything was done in the name of Jesus.

Providence, RI
They fed the homeless, while passing out tracts and offering prayer.

Georgetown, SC
Days before the March a few walked the route and went to each business along the way asking if they had any prayer requests they would like to put in the prayer box.

Lake City, SC
Churches went to visit the sick in hospitals, and one area church took all the kids from the local children's home to an amusement park for a fun day.

Bacliff, TX
For the kiddies, balloons and rides on a fire truck were offered.

Brazoria, TX
Leaders recommended individual churches follow God's leading as to which they would reach out to. The effect was marvelous.

Katy, TX
Being close to the border provided Katy citizens to reach out to more than just one people group. They offered a Crisis Counseling seminar, and they gave food not only to the shut-ins but to the day laborers as well.

Killeen, TX
They did a massive feeding the projects downtown while marching from North to South. Families in Crisis, Women's Shelter, and the Rainbow Room participated, and nursing homes and hospitals were visited throughout the day

Kirbyville, TX
The Brookshire Brothers supermarket and Taylor Food Ministries donated the food and supplies needed to minister to people's stomachs. The attendees visited all the residents in an area nursing home.

Lockhart, TX
The March coincided with the annual "Chisholm Trail Parade and Rodeo." This year they decided to become part of the parade-and ended up winning second place for best float. In the afternoon, a group of folks went to the nursing homes to visit with residents. "That was a big hit with the residents, as well as the staff."

Winters, TX
The March route was changed this year to pass by two nursing homes. In advance, residents were given MFJ posters and streamers, and they felt like a part of the March as they waited outside for the marchers to come by. Also, can donations were given to three different food pantries in the area.

Fairfax, VA
They came together to do a day's event by using the venue of Convoy of Hope International. Others worked with the local churches to help in the needy area and a few visited nursing homes.

Newport News, VA
On Saturday, Newport News distributed 1130 free bags of food and 2500 pounds of clothing residents of low cost housing units where over 85% of the children are being raised without a registered resident father.

Burlington, VT
Father's Day Eve went to local children. Mature Christian males partnered with fatherless children for a cookout and a baseball game at a nearby park. Other services were offered after the worship rally involving children's ministries, street ministries, visitations, servant evangelism and more.

St. Johnsbury, VT
After the March, they were invited by the city to participate in a community event day.

Seattle, WA
This year, the local youth groups adopted canning hunger. Ten teams of pastors took the initiative and sent out on the streets of Seattle and personally met the homeless.

Yakima, WA
Went to nursing home and passed out March for Jesus balloons and told them Jesus loves them.

Eau Claire, WI
Witnessing teams went out into the city and performed services-such as puppet shows, food give-aways, and nursing home visitation.

Green Bay, WI
Helpers participating in the March provided transportation to an AIDS testing center.

Stanley, WI
A free car wash was set up at the fire station, and lemonade was give at a busy 4-way stop.

Gillette, WY
The marchers ministered to their city by joining in with outreaches that have already been set up. While at a soup kitchen one young man asked a volunteer to continue sitting with him because he felt lonely when he eats there. The volunteer at with him and also introduced him to another man that frequently eats there

 

PENNINGTON GAP, VA
Children from local Children's home were treated to a bowling trip, cookout, free t-shirts and the March for Jesus. This small town had 1000 participants from 45 churches involved in Jesus Day.

HAYWARD, CA
Hayward churches adopted four inner city blocks. Seven tons of food was taken to the adopted blocks adn food pantries of 4 churches in the community were filled with food. The March for Jesus was lead by Pastors and Church Mothers followed by the young people. A community chior performed made up of people from five different churches.

BIRMINGHAM, AL
Outreaches included a "Dad for a Day" program with activites such as gym events, field events, puppets, live bands, career talks adn computer labs. Food baskets were delivered to residents at an AIDS hospice. The March ended with a praise rally featuring a community choir performing songs from "The Millenium Chorus". Many commited to living "the Jesus lifestyle."

RICHMOND, VA
50 service projects were held in locations all over the city including food distribution, free car washes, delivering care packages to assisted living facility, and more. The day ended with a March for Jesus of 3500 people filling the streets with singing.

DANBURY, CT

As a result of Jesus Day three new ministries have developed to continue to accomplish the goals of
1 No one goes hungary-4-5 food drives throughout the year.
2 No child is fatherless-Mens mentoring program will partner with women's and children's shelters
3 No one suffers alone-spending time with AIDS patients

DENVER, CT
On Saturday, over 2000 participated in service projects throughout the community including food distribution, free hair cuts, free car washes and more. On Sunday, 1000 participants of various churches braved threatening whether for an evening celebration in the park with free concert celebrating Pentecost "the birthday of the church."

ST.AUGUSTINE, FL
Two tons of food was donated. A mobile medical unit and a medical team provided people in need with medical care at no cost. Youth presented drama and music. Police officers donated their time to help with the March. A Country Comissioner who participated wants to help out next year.

 

News report from Virginia:

"DAMN RIGHT, I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE"

Newport News Virginia
Jesus Day targeted Riddle Circle in Newport News. There were 8 murders between January and April. During one of our preparation rallies in the area 68 children responded to an invitation to accept Christ. One young man left the meeting to make a drug deal and was murdered just 100 yards from the meeting.

Pastors began prayer walks in the area and there has not been another shooting since.

Over 3,500 participated in the Jesus Day in the area. Participants distrubuted 1,130 bags of free groceries, 1000 hotdogs, 2,500 pounds of free clothing. During the March, many from surrounding homes joined in.
No one went hungry, no child was fatherless, no one suffered alone, and the streets were filled with singing.

All of this is in an area where officials say 85% of the children are being raised wihtout a father. Special attention was given to outreach to children with puppet shows, clowns, prayer for children, and forming mentoring relationships.

A team of local ministries slept in the center of the housing project to keep an eye on tenss food, and sound equipment stagedd for the Saturday
morning event. Overnight, there was nosirens, no fighting, no drug trade.
At sunrise, when the organizer commented to a man coming out of a crack house about how peaceful the area had been. The man responded "Damn right, I have never seen it like this in my life" Organizers praise God for answering their prayers "peace be to these streets"

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USA - 1999

Marches were held in over 550 Cities across the United States involving hundreds of thousands of Christians of all denominations.The March included a campaign to collect food for the hungry in each community called "Canning Hunger". Thousands of pounds of food were collected in each community for distribution to families in need.

A few highlights:
Baton Rouge, Alabama - The march was held in a needy area. Boxes of food (300) were placed on the doorstep of every home along the March route overnight before the march was held.
Grand Junction, Colorado - Organisers worked with "Build a Generation" and "Americas Promise" in a Canning Hunger food drive. Grocery stores throughout the county had collection boxes. About 700 people from 50 different churches participated in the March.
San Angelo, Texas - Prayer rally was led by a Church of Christ Minister, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese, A Charismatic Pastor, and a Baptist. Participants numbered 2000 from 30 different churches.
Lee's Summit, Mo.- A Jewish group led the march carrying the Tora and called the city to worship with the sounding of the Shoffar. State Representative, Pat Kelly greeted the crowd.
St. Louis Mo.- The March concluded with a prayer rally under the Gateway Arch. An offering was received and given to the city for areas of need. Approximately 3500 from 200 churches participated.
Birmingham Alabama - The March was a "children's march" made up of nine inner city children's ministries throughout Birmingham. The March was held in on of the cities public housing communities. Organisers report the March has led to a strong bond between leadership of the inner city ministries. Food was served to 2000 people at the ending rally.
La Palma, CA. - The Organisers reported participation of Philippinos, Britons, Canadians, Samoans, Hispanics, African, and Korean as a demonstration of unity across ethnic and national barriers.

We have a report from a city that had 100 percent participation in the March for Jesus. Every resident in the entire community was present and accounted for in the March. It was held in Gold King Alaska. N.B. Gold King has a population of seven.

USA - 1998

An estimated 700,000 Christians of all denominations took to the streets in 625 cities across the United States in a demonstration of Christian unity.

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US Virgin Islands - 1998

This year's march far superseded the previous years participation! The March began at the normal start time of 2 pm from Mandela Circle. Althought the starting group numbered approximately 500 people, by th time the marchers were 30minutes into the march the numbers increased to about 1500. The march route lasted approximately 1 hour and 45 mins. The final marchers count was about 3500.