The organisers of the proposed March for Jesus in Belfast have said that they hope to reschedule the event after it was cancelled when in excess of ten thousand people were expected to show up.
The gathering was the second march of its kind organised by All Nations Church Dublin under the leadership of Pastor John Ahern, and it is billed as a non-political, family celebration of the Christian Faith.
“The day brings various churches and traditions together and includes a march along with worship, testimony and prayer,” Pastor Ahern told Gript today, explaining that the core issue around the cancellation, which has met with considerable disappointment online, “was a lack of adequate understanding of the regulations and permits that apply in Northern Ireland”.
As the European coordinator of March For Jesus, the pastor has been working with 14 other European countries holding marches this summer. Hundreds of churches both North and South were expected to attend the gathering in Belfast, and many churches had booked buses.
“A very large crowd was anticipated, as with Dublin last year, where over 10,000 marched. The core issue was a lack of adequate understanding of the regulations and permits that apply in Northern Ireland,” Pastor Ahern explained.
“While we had approval from the Parades Commission, unfortunately we were not aware of some of the regulations that parades are subject to. Understandably, the PSNI expressed concern over the safety of the crowds making the cancellation of this event necessary,” he said.
“We are however looking at the possibility of rescheduling the event in the near future now that we have the necessary guidelines and information,” he added, saying he wanted to apologise for any frustration or disappointment caused.
Last October, thousands of people participated in the March for Jesus in Dublin, with up to 12,000 people joining the family-friendly event, according to organisers, who described the march as “a historic walk of faith.”
Ahead of the event, organisers encouraged individuals, families and community groups to attend and “make a public stance for faith,” promising a “day filled with worship, joy and celebration,” describing the event as “a great opportunity to meet new people, worship together, and experience the joy of walking with Jesus.”
The October march in Dublin started at the Garden of Remembrance and ended at Dáil Éireann, with organisers saying the march showed the “incredible scale of believers united in faith and purpose, filling the streets with praise and hope for our nation.”
Pastor Ahern says he believes the event in Belfast can be rescheduled – as many expressed disappointment at the cancellation online.
Asked by the Irish News if the marches were a reaction to an increasingly secular society, Pastor Ahern said: “Personally I think we’ve reached peak secularity.
“Our church is in the heart of Dublin and we’re seeing hundreds of people joining, particularly young men.”
He added: “I know the term march is a very loaded word in Belfast and quite contentious for some people. But it’s more a parade than a march in that sense. People just walk and at the end we have a stage for prayers.”
