Millions in Brazil March for Jesus
SAO PAULO - The main commercial center Sao Paulo, Brazil came to a standstill on Thursday, becoming the site of the biggest annual Christian movement in the nation, the March for Jesus, where over two million people took part.
SAO PAULO - Brazil's main commercial center, Sao Paulo, came to a standstill on Thursday, when it became the site of the biggest annual Christian movement in the nation. The May 26th March for Jesus brought together over two million people, who marched along a pre-planned, one-mile route beginning at 10 a.m.
They started near the University of Sao Paulo's school of Medicine and walked to the modern, skyscraper-lined Avenida Paulista, stopping where the crowd would gather for the closing program.
"The purpose of this march, and of all the other ones we have organized over the years, is to conquer Brazil for Jesus Christ," said Camila Nascimento, a spokeswoman for the evangelical Reborn in Christ Church, the main organizer of the event.
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One stage was set up for speeches and musical presentations that would close the event. Some brief speeches emphasized the reason for the event: The love of God and His plan of salvation in Christ were transmitted to the multitudes. In addition, 31 Christian artists of various musical styles performed for the worshipers.
The march was held under sunny skies, following two days of very heavy rains.
The event, which was trasmitted live to portuguese speaking nations of Africa, was also seen by the population of Sao Paulo through broadcaster TV Aberta (Open TV), cable television, satellite and radio stations.
Event coverage was carried to the entire nation live by TV Aberta on Rede Gospel Television. A team of reporters spread out along the march route, and backstage providing interviews with participants who testified about the transformation they had experienced through the gospel of Christ.
Although the closing show was scheduled to start by late afternoon, when the march began at 10 a.m., a great number of people were already near the end of the march route, anxiously waiting, praying, and encouraging the team workers that were finishing up the last bits and pieces for the stage presentations.
The Rebirth Foundation (Funda
