Photo via charismamag.com

Christians will hold a March for Jesus in cities of France

In France, a country known for its secularization and growing Islamic population, tens of thousands of Christians will take to the streets Saturday for a March for Jesus that is being held at the same time as the nation's annual gay pride parade, reports Charisma News Online.

An estimated 30,000 Christians will parade through the streets of Bordeaux, Lille, Nantes and Paris, France, distributing 100,000 Bibles and 20,000 gospel tracts. Representing at least 70 different churches, marchers will carry signs proclaiming Jesus as Lord as they sing worship songs.

Participants also hope to be able to share their faith with the estimated 800,000 people who will gather for the nation's annual gay pride parade, the routes of which will intersect with the March for Jesus. Christian marchers have been prepped to pray and witness to the homosexuals without fear.

"It would be such a great privilege to be praying for all of the thousands of homosexuals that will be marching on the streets," said Christine Thabot, an event organizer and co-pastor of Temple de Paris with her husband, David. "We're not afraid. They need love, and we are there to bring them the love of Christ."

The march comes at a time when organizers say French opposition to Christianity has been worsening. They say it is nothing short of miraculous that they were granted permission to have a parade, much less distribute Bibles and preach the gospel publicly.

Thabot called the march "an anomaly," noting that march organizers lobbied for the last year to get permission to hold the event.

"We are not allowed in France to just go about and talk about Jesus or evangelize openly unless you have permission," she told Charisma. "We can't sing or play our music or give away Bibles or tracks. You've got to have permission. This is the only day in which we are allowed to give out leaflets."

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TAGS: France March for Jesus gay pride parade preach the gospel

[06/30/2009]

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