Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 11, 1995                   TAG: 9506120073
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SHEBA WHEELER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CHRISTIANS MARCH TO PRAISE GOD, SHOW UNITY

Business owners stared out their windows and shoppers clapped and waved as more than 2,000 Christians gave praise to God as they paraded in downtown Roanoke Saturday.

Representatives of more than 60 area churches participated in Roanoke's 1995 March for Jesus, part of an international movement that calls for Christians of all denominations to unite and publicly exalt their savior.

Last June, organizers said, more than 800 people participated in the Roanoke march. Coordinators expected a larger crowd to attend the event this year, and said more than 2,000 signed the registration book Saturday.

In other cities, the march took place on May 27, but Roanoke coordinators rescheduled the event for Saturday so it would not conflict with Festival in the Park.

The march consists of praise, prayer, proclamation and denominational and racial reconciliation among its members, said Roanoke organizer Skip Whitcomb.

"Our only purpose here is to give praises to the Lord," Whitcomb said. "The laws of division and segregation [among Christian denominations] started to be broken down. There was a strong move to bring unity to the body of Christians here in Roanoke today. The spirit of love and joy poured out among people as they marched down the streets proclaiming Jesus."

Christians of all ages and ethnic backgrounds congregated in the parking lot of First Baptist Church on Third Street Southwest. They marched north on Fifth Street from Marshall Avenue, east on Campbell, south on Jefferson and on to Elmwood Park, where local pastors led them in prayer.

Church members hope that worshiping God in public will make the church more visible and accessible to citizens, said Sarah Gilpin, 45, of Roanoke.

"The March for Jesus is important because it lets others see our love of Christ," Gilpin said. "I'm here to be a witness to the others in the city."

Lora Olichwier, 9, was one of the many children who participated with their parents. She said she wanted to march because "Jesus died on the cross for us, so we should be celebrating."

"If people are borderline and aren't quite sure if they want to accept Jesus in their lives, seeing this could be good for them," Butch Dodd, 40, said. "I know I'm here because I love the Lord, and this is my testimony for him."

Fred Hargett, 37, said he marched because he wanted to save lost souls and get them off the streets of Roanoke.

The March for Jesus began in 1987 when Christian musician Graham Kendrick marched down the streets of London singing praises to the Lord. Three years later, March for Jesus reached the United States when Tom Pelton led a group down the streets of Austin, Texas. The march has continued to grow as people from all over the nation coordinate them in their own cities. The event is scheduled to continue until June 10, 2000.

The First Global March for Jesus last June brought together 9 million believers in 178 nations, organizers say. In the United States, 1.5 million Christians marched on the same day in 550 cities. Next year, the worldwide march is scheduled for May 25, but Roanoke organizers may again reschedule the event so it won't conflict with Festival in the Park.