THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 30, 1996 TAG: 9604300349
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: FROM WIRE REPORTS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
Thousands of young people - many singing hymns and wearing T-shirts with religious slogans - gathered at the Capitol Monday to declare their faith in Jesus and ``revive our nation's consciousness.''
Organizers had predicted up to 250,000 people for the two-day ``Washington for Jesus'' rally, but far fewer were on hand by late Monday afternoon. The National Park Police said no crowd estimate would be available until after today's events.
Chartered buses from as far as California and Texas rimmed the Capitol grounds. Many of the young people set up tents or unrolled sleeping bags in preparation for speeches and music scheduled to go on all night.
Some participants wore T-shirts identifying youth or religious clubs or with such slogans as ``On Fire for Jesus.'' Others sang hymns and carried signs quoting the Bible.
The Rev. John Gimenez, 64, pastor of Rock Church in Virginia Beach, organizer of the rally, explained, ``Our purpose is to pray and to address the real problems in our nation spiritually as opposed to politically.''
His wife, the Rev. Anne Gimenez, also a pastor of Rock Church, said: ``We're praying for our land to be healed. We're not preaching against anything.'' But she left little doubt about her views on one issue. Pointing out the youth of the crowd, she said, ``most are survivors of the abortion laws.''
Among the 20 or so reggae, gospel, grunge and rock bands entertaining the crowd Monday was Spin Cycle, a Florida-based alternative rock group. While they played, a ``mosh pit'' formed to the side of the stage with listeners dancing and jumping up and down.
Actress Kim Norris, 29, who has appeared on TV's ``Seinfeld'' and ``Northern Exposure,'' told the young people that Christianity was not ``some stodgy right-wing religion.''
``It's a fun-packed, wild and crazy adventure,'' she said.
Jeff Fenholt, former lead singer of the rock group Black Sabbath who played the lead role in the Broadway musical ``Jesus Christ Superstar,'' was emcee for the youth rally. Fenholt, a former drug addict, said the gathering would help give young Christians a voice.
``This generation is being told they are worthless,'' he said. ``Teenagers are wondering if they have a place in this nation. God is answering the cries of the desperate.''
Others told how their faith had kept them from drugs, alcohol and premarital sex.
Scheduled speakers today included Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and Norma McCorvey, the plaintiff in the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision who has become an outspoken abortion opponent. MEMO: This story was compiled from reports by The Associated Press and the New
York Times.
ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chartered buses carried thousands of young people to Washington for
the first day, Monday, of a two-day rally for Jesus. The rally was
set up by One Nation Under God Inc. of Virginia Beach.
by CNB