In yet another prominent and public affirmation of faith, a group of roughly 350 Christians marched through the streets of Soldotna earlier this month to bear witness to their belief in Jesus Christ.
The interdenominational event included songs, flags and signage, along with sermons, musical performances, food and prayer. Marching from Soldotna Creek Park to the Kenai River Bridge, and back, the aim of the June 4 procession was to connect fellow believers and celebrate a common faith in Christ.
“The March and Day in the Park was a fresh beginning for Christian believers to come together, celebrate and share their faith, and give testimony of Jesus to our community,” participant Rebecca Hinsberger wrote in an email. “We believe it is propelling believers toward revival and boldness to share Jesus, to love one another with purpose, and to reach out to friends and neighbors in need. We will gather again soon, so stay tuned!”
Vehicles that passed by the march were overwhelmingly affirming, Hinsberger recalled.
“No negativity shown there,” she noted. “We gave witness to the love and salvation found in Jesus Christ in our town!”
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Following the march, people gathered for a barbecue picnic with a variety of ministry, art and food booths on hand. Vendors included Gideons Bibles, Kim Bates’ Curriculum Watch, Homeschooling Books, a family Bible and Messianic ministry, Kelly Bates Band music, Wayne and Patty Floyd’s peonies and flowers, Freedom House ministry, Cizek’s ice cream, Ammo Can coffee, Cathy Sturmans Kettle Corn, Barry Solie’s Alaska wood carvings, a mining experience for kids, North Road Bible and Tract ministry, cotton candy, and several others.
Activities included public prayers, worship songs, public testimonies, preaching and some theatrical skits.
“People connected or reconnected with friends and fellow believers from the larger community,” Hinsberger explained. “Many expressed a desire to do this again in the fall. Several pastors were excited to organize another Park worship event.”
The Soldotna event is one of several public faith-based marches which have occurred throughout Alaska this month. A few days after the Soldotna march, Catholics from parishes across Alaska walked along busy highways and main streets to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi. Large caravans in the Kenai, Mat-Su, Eagle River, Anchorage and elsewhere processed with incense, candles, canopies and banners as hundreds of parishioners followed priests who held aloft the Eucharist, which Catholics affirm is the Body of Christ.
