Hundreds of Christians filled the streets of central Prague on Aug. 2 for the third annual “March for Jesus” (Jesus Pochod), publicly proclaiming the gospel despite rainy weather that drenched participants several times along the route.
The evangelistic march, organized by the Czech associations Salvation Crew and Reach the World, drew believers from across the country for a time of worship, public preaching and prayer in some of the capital’s most iconic squares.
“Although the weather was not very good this year and the participants got wet several times on the way to the square, the atmosphere was joyful and I think that no one regretted the participation,” wrote Rev. Lubomír Ondráček, senior pastor of Christian Fellowship Prague and executive secretary of the Christian Missionary Society, in the Czech Christian monthly Život víry (Life of Faith).
Christians began the march at 4 p.m. from Hradčanský Square. Organizers chose Aug. 2 to align with March for Jesus events held the same day in other countries, according to Život víry. Similar gatherings took place in Venezuela, Colombia and several other Latin American nations.
In Prague, Czech worship leader Jan Krištof led joint worship in Hradčanský Square, according to Ondráček.
Rev. Peter Kuba, pastor of the Open Church in Prague, then spoke about the gospel’s message and the importance of churches being united in faith.
The subject of unity in diversity was also a focus for Rev. Jan Votočka, pastor of Open church in Tábor, speaking publicly to the crowd at Old Town Square.
Attendees then walked to Klárov in the Malá Strana (Lesser Town) district, known as a transport hub. “WeWorship” played worship music and Rev. Ojo Olyainko from the English-speaking community RCCG Prague reminded people about the truths of the gospel.
The event concluded at the Old Town Square at 6.30pm with a worship performance by band, “The Altar Echo.”
An estimated 500 people joined the march, but as many as 1,000 — including tourists and passersby — heard at least part of the program in Old Town Square, according to Ondráček. The crowd was addressed by British evangelist Daniel Chand, founder of Walking Like Jesus Ministries and lead pastor of Pragma Church in Milton Keynes, England, alongside his wife, Tanya. Chand, who has led evangelistic campaigns in 32 nations since graduating from the late Reinhard Bonnke’s School of Evangelism in 2013, recently preached to a reported 70,000 people in London’s Trafalgar Square.
In Prague, he shared the gospel message “briefly and clearly,” Ondráček wrote, recounting his own conversion story before praying for the sick and inviting listeners to follow Christ. The event concluded with local pastors praying for the Czech Republic, followed by extended worship that continued into the evening.
