THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 26, 1995 TAG: 9505260503
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LORI A. DENNEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
More than 5,000 people are expected to participate Saturday in a ``March for Jesus'' through downtown Norfolk.
Organizers say this is not a political or social protest but a celebration of faith.
In the past, churches in each Hampton Roads city organized their own marches for the annual event, celebrated in cities across the world. But this year, congregations in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk and Portsmouth have joined in a show of unity to hold one march that will begin at 10 a.m. at Ruffner Middle School and end at Norfolk City Hall.
Traditionally, the nondenominational march is held to ``see all churches united in public worship,'' said the Rev. Cleveland Brown, the residing pastor of Trinity Baptist Church and an organizer of the event for Norfolk.
The local march coincides with the ``National March for Jesus'' in which millions across the nation will gather in their home towns.
This year's theme is ``Together for the Gospel,'' according to the March for Jesus USA office in Austin, Texas.
Last year, more than 10 million people in 178 nations reportedly participated in the first annual March for Jesus.
Marchers from all denominations are invited to attend this year's event, which will include clowns and 20 trucks carrying loudspeakers and playing gospel hymns throughout the trek.
Marchers will meet at 8:30 a.m. at Ruffner Middle School, 489 Tidewater Drive, to pray and organize. They will leave Ruffner at 10 a.m. and travel down Tidewater Drive to Brambleton Avenue and onto St. Paul's Boulevard, where they will turn left and head to Norfolk City Hall.
Once marchers reach their destination, a public prayer will be held by several Hampton Roads pastors. Four area choirs will perform.
The City Hall rally will end at noon.
Parking is available at the Main and Union street garages, and a shuttle from the garages to Ruffner Middle School will operate 8:30 to 9:45 a.m.
For more information, call 855-4024. by CNB