Brief History 

 

March for Jesus 
 

In England in the 1980s, some local churches decided to take what they experienced  in their churches out into the streets.  Songwriter Graham  Kendrick participated in some of these early attempts and wrote a series of songs, for the outdoor expression of the church.  Then in May of 1987, Ichthus

Fellowship in London joined with Youth With A Mission and Pioneer Team to organize a prayer and praise march through the streets of London.  To their surprise, more than 15,000 people turned out, in spite of pouring rain.  Awed by God's blessing, they planned another March  for the beginning of 1988.  This time they drew a crowd of 55,000 participants.  In 1989, March for Jesus, as it came to be called, continued with marches in 45 cities across Great Britain.  From there, the movement came to the United States and   continued to spread around the world.  Gathering together each year on the Saturday before Pentecost in more than 130 nations and with millions participating.
 

The purity of the vision of March for Jesus, which was to gather the church in prayer and worship under the banner of Jesus Christ, continues to be a powerful tool for   cities across the globe.  It has also become an integral part of Jesus Day and is often coordinated with service events throughout the day

 

Jesus Day is launched 

The concept of Jesus Day occurred upon sensing the need for a broader expression of Jesus.  The marches gathered us around our love for Jesus, which has     compelled us to find ways to share that love with others.  The first Jesus Day was held on June 10, 2000 in over 450 cities across the United States.  By combining our worship and prayers with acts of kindness, Jesus Day has become an open expression of our faith in action, which brings honor to Jesus’ name.  The idea of “a day on earth as it is in heaven” developed with the  realization that within the church lies the resources to feed every hungry person, care for every fatherless child, touch every suffering person, and fill the streets with singing.