CAPE GIRARDEAU CHRISTIANS MARCH THOUGH CITY

Boom boxes blared with contemporary Christian calypso music and floats, trucks, cars, vans and people on foot stretched for three city blocks Saturday morning in the 1997 March for Jesus.

Participants from 25 denominations in Cape Girardeau began the march at May Greene School and then continued from North Sprigg Street to East Good Hope and on to the Common Pleas Courthouse on Lorimier Street.

Rally organizer Fred Poston, pastor of the New Plymouth Community Church, said the March for Jesus is an international event with more than 10 million people in 2,000 cites participating. He said more than 650 U.S. cities and 170 nations gather on the same day each year to bring together Christians of every tradition, age, and color to march in the streets.

An estimated 360 people participated locally.

"The tradition of Christians marching in the streets began years ago in London with the Salvation Army," said Poston. "This is not a protest, nothing negative. It is just Christians getting together regardless of denomination or ethnic group."

Poston said the goal of the march was to make a public proclamation of the goodness of God. "We want to thank God for giving us new life and showing us that the gospel is relevant in today's society," he said.

Margaret Heddle of Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church said she hopes the march will touch someone's heart. "I hope the march today will spread the love and joy of Jesus. I hope it touches someone's heart and brings them closer to God and maybe they will even go to church."

Heddle said she first attended a March for Jesus in Montreal, Canada, her former home.

Attending the march with her four children, ages 7 through 14, Sandra Smoot, member of the Second Baptist Missionary Church, said the march was great for all ages. "This walk is great for the community. It draws all ages together as one in Christ. Jesus loves us all."