200 STEP OUT FOR JESUS IN CAPE MARCH

Some 200 Christians stepped out on faith during an interdenominational March for Jesus through Cape Girardeau Saturday.

The event was one of many marches planned in 525 cities across the United States and in 100 nations around the globe.

"I'm doing this for the Lord," said Lauren Robison, 13, as she readied a float for the parade through town. "It's important to show the other people we're out. We also have to congregate with other churches."

Some participants walked during the sixth annual event, but others hitched rides in strollers, wagons or on the backs of vehicles. Many sang Christian music broadcast from KUGT/1170 AM radio station, read from Bibles or occasionally shouted words of praise as they marched from May Greene Elementary School to the Common Pleas Courthouse Park, where a community prayer service was held.

Most wore T-shirts bearing Christian messages.

"I'm here because He marched for me, so I'm going to march for Him," said Beth Buttrey. "I kind of feel like all the other groups are always out in the streets, so we need to be out there, too. Theirs is to protest, whereas ours is proclamation and praise."

Participants called the event "a celebration of Christianity." Organizer and pastor Fred Poston agreed, saying the march was an opportunity for Christians from different denominations to show unity in their common beliefs.

"It's a public proclamation to demonstrate unity," said Poston. "It's not just a fun time -- there's some real spiritual significance along with it."

Poston said participation levels have varied each year, with a maximum of about 600 marchers several years ago and bottoming out at only about 160 participants last year.

Marchers have no reason to join the event except to celebrate and spread the message they are Christians, he said.

"We don't have an agenda. This is just something for the community-at-large, a time of churches coming together to praise the Lord," Poston said.

Bill and Imogene Tinsley, attending the event for the third year, were unsure if they would be able to complete the march. Even so, they said they needed to be there.

"We've always walked before, but as age creeps up and arthritis sets in, we don't know if we can make it," said Imogene Tinsley. "We're just going to go as far as we can."

The March for Jesus began in Austin, Texas, about eight years ago. It started in Cape Girardeau in 1993 after a woman learned about it from her daughter who was living in Texas.

Although it originated in the United States, other countries also participate so that the event takes on a global dimension.

A special Jesus Day is also being planned in June as an emphasis for Christians to help feed the hungry and orphaned and offer help to people with AIDS.

For information about Jesus Day, contact Tom Pelton at (512) 416-0066.