An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 Christians filled the streets of Belfast on Saturday (Aug. 23), waving flags, singing and praying in unity during a March for Jesus that organizers described as peaceful and celebratory.
Rev. John Ahern, chief organizer of the event, told Christian Daily International that the turnout included “many families and children” and created “a wonderful sense of peace and unity.” He added that the Police Service of Northern Ireland reported no problems during the march.
The Belfast gathering was one of 16 March for Jesus events taking place across Europe this summer. Crowds set off from Ormeau Park at 2 p.m. and walked through the city before concluding at City Hall with worship, prayer, and testimonies led by musician Brian Houston from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
“The March brought a sense of celebration and joy to the city,” said Ahern. “At the stage at City hall many prominent pastors and leaders prayed.”
Those leading prayers included Bishop David McClay of the Church of Ireland, Rev. Jim Rae, former president of the Methodist Church of Ireland, and Rev. John Ashe of Journey Church.
“They prayed for family, government, the unborn, the addicted and broken, along with revival and awakening for the island,” added Ahern.
Ahern said the day concluded with a short gospel message and an invitation to follow Christ, to which several people responded. He described the event as uplifting and emphasized that its central purpose was to exalt Christ publicly before a city and nation in need of hope.
Many attendees expressed an intention to support another March for Jesus planned in Dublin on Sept. 27, beginning at the Garden of Remembrance and ending at Merrion Square. 12,000 attended a similar event in Dublin last year, 2024.
Ahern recently commented to Christian Daily International that issues such as addiction, brokenness, isolation, fear, and prejudice in Belfast and Dublin can only be addressed by a change of heart through the gospel — a central purpose of the March for Jesus.
“It's by taking Christ public, taking him into those public places and lifting him up and and telling the world you know, there's a different way,” added Ahern.
Ahern acknowledged that the deep-seated divisions within churches and the wider culture in Ireland and Northern Ireland will not be solved by a single march, but he believes public witness to Jesus Christ can have a powerful impact for the gospel.
“Unity doesn’t mean uniformity. The differences in the body of Christ exist. They’re real. We’re not saying they’re unimportant but Jesus said, ‘By this all men will know you’re my disciples, by your love for each other.’ And so it’s important that we put aside our various differences and distinctions. We’re not saying they’re unimportant but there is a significance, I believe, to the people of God coming together in unity to pray and to worship Christ.”
Ahern added that the March for Jesus initiatives were open to everybody, Christian and non-Christian alike, to come and “taste and see” God’s love.
“We have empty churches in so many places and praise God for the revival that’s starting but it’s only the beginning. And the reality is there is a whole generation that needs to be reached for Christ.”
