Last week, three million Christians filled the streets of São Paulo to share the word of God and “cry out for Brazil, for the families, for the end of corruption, for the afflicted hearts.”

The March for Jesus has been celebrated in São Paulo for 27 years, and is the largest Christian march that takes place in Latin America.

Estevam Hernandes, the President of the March for Jesus in Brazil, gave the opening prayer at one of the main metro stations in São Paulo.

“We cry out for Brazil, for the families, for the end of corruption, for the afflicted hearts, our country belongs to Jesus Christ,” Hernandes said. “To Him all honor, glory, power and majesty. As it says in Psalms 33: Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord.”

The march included more than 10 hours of praise and worship, with almost 30 gospel singers and bands from around Brazil leading it.

Dozens of evangelical pastors and church leaders were in attendance, along with over four thousand caravans from all over Brazil.

There was a stage set up at the end of the march, at the Heroes of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force Square, where performers were arranged in the format of a concert marathon.

According to the Evangelical Focus, each year the ‘March for Jesus’ declares a theme over their parades. This year, the theme “the rescuer” came from 1 Timothy 2:6, which reads “who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.”

“Every year, we have a theme. These themes are a reference of what Christ represents for us. He rescued us from the empire of darkness and carried us into His mighty light. It is for Him that we march,” the organizers stated.

The President’s involvement

Not only did millions of Brazilians gather in São Paulo, but the President of Brazil did as well.

It wasn’t President Jair Bolsonaro’s first time at the march, as he had participated in 2018 when he was a Presidential candidate. Keeping his promise to return, even if elected President, he gave a speech that encouraged the attendees to pursue their faith.

“You were decisive in helping change the destiny of Brazil. It is very good to be among friends. And even better when they are friends with God in their hearts” Bolsonaro said.

Brazil “is secular but its current leader is Christian,” Bolsonaro pointed out, adding that he hopes to overcome the “ethical and moral” problems in Brazil with the help of Christians.

Joao Doria, the Governor of São Paulo, and Bruno Covas, the Mayor of São Paulo, both members of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party, were also in attendance.

“This is the March for Jesus, but it is also the march of harmony and understanding between those who love Sao Paulo and Brazil,” Doria said, according to the Evangelical Focus.