2012 Jesus in the City Parade Bloor St. Toronto

3am Saturday morning - the rain kept pouring down. The forecast called for 100% rain all day with overcast skies. It wasn't the first time it rained the morning of the parade, but this time it was cold and the rain was heavy. Although the Lord had told me earlier in the week that it won't rain on the parade I was a still a bit worried, and by 10 am as the rain kept pouring down I started to doubt...but then reflected...for the past 12 years it has never rained on the parade; showers before or showers after...but never on the parade. So my faith had been built up knowing the authority we have over the weather and that we would continue to see that favour. Calls started coming in from churches and groups asking if the parade was still on.  I confidently told them yes rain or shine. While our volunteers worked tirelessly decorating floats and setting up tents under heavy rains, we had a conference call with board members and team leaders to pray and decide our course of action. We all agreed that we would move forward and that it was easier to cancel the weather than it was to cancel the parade. By 11:30am the rains began to subside and the rally commenced at 12:30pm under overcast skies. Worship, prayers and declarations for our city began going up.

2012 Jesus in the City Parade Bloor St. Toronto

By 2pm the floats and paraders were all in position and ready to go. As the parade proceededed along Queen's Park Circle, the sun began to peek through the dark clouds. Voices began to sing, praises began to rise. A gust of wind swept through the parade and by the time we got to Bloor & Yonge Street the clouds rolled away and we were looking up at clear blue skies. It was like night and day.

Many faithful showed up ready to dance in the rain, like the other local parades and festivals fearlessly do, but the Lord graciously decided not to rain on His own Parade.

As we move forward establishing the Jesus in the City Parade in the City of Toronto and in cities around the world, it's important for the Body of Christ in Toronto to recognize the importance of the Feast and Gathering of the Saints as not just a parade or an event but as a public sacrifice of praise unto the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; a sweet smelling fragrance in the nostrils of our Maker. He is well pleased.

The next parade lands at the end of Rosh Hashanah Saturday, September 7, 2013 and the Messianic Jewish Community has asked us to send greetings to all the Orthodox and Traditional Jewish communities as we celebrate and lift up the name of Jesus in the City!

2012 Jesus in the City Parade - Yonge St. Toronto (Photo by Anthea Mondesire)

Please make the Jesus in the City Parade a part of your church's calendar of events. Pastors: appoint a leader to mobilize your congregation throughout the year, invest financially, and let's make the parade an excellent display of our love for God and love for people through music, the arts and culture.

 

Ayanna Solomon

President - Festival of Praise Int'l / Jesus in the City

2012 Jesus in the City Parade - College St. Toronto (Photo by Courtney Williams)

 





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