Around 5,000 people took the streets of Belfast, the capital of Norhern Ireland, to take part in the annual March for Jesus, on Saturday August 23.

The march, which was cancelled just days before it was set to take place in June, due to security reasons, started at one of the main parks of Belfast and concluded with a public worship service at the City Hall.

The service featured speakers from various churches, while Christian musician Brian Houston led the worship.

Police had warned about traffic delays in the city centre on Saturday afternoon, but the march went ahead without incident, amidst a festive atmosphere of fellowship and music.

According to the organisers, the March for Jesus “is a family-friendly, non-political event to lift up the name of Jesus in Belfast city”.

“We need God in our cities”

In an interview with news website Christian Daily International, John Ahern, chief organizer of the March for Jesus in Belfast and senior pastor of All Nations church, in Dublin, Ireland, stressed that “we need God in our cities, in our homes, in our hearts, and certainly in our nations”.

According to Ahern this kind of events are necessary because, “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”.