‘Run for Jesus’ draws hundreds to streets

“The belief of all Christians is dependent on the Resurrection. If there was no Resurrection, there would be no Christianity,” said Raja Hebel of Raja Faith Ministries, Hyderabad, on Sunday.

The message and the purpose of the Resurrection of Jesus (Easter), the actorturnedpastor said quoting from the New Testament of the Bible, is to believe fully what Jesus said: “I am the Resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”

Mr. Raja’s sermon as the guest pastor was not unique to the Church of South India (CSI) at Mettuguda, but common to all churches and Christians on Sunday.

Churchgoers, dressed up for ‘the most important day in the Christian calendar’, thronged houses of worship in the city, starting 5 a.m. Amid songs of rejoice, meditating in prayers and the Easter message, the predawn services at several churches were houseful with families in full attendance.

For churches under the CSI, such as Holy Trinity Church, Bollarum, CSI

On the occasion of Good Friday and Easter, hundreds of Christians made their presence felt on the streets of Hyderabad on Saturday.

‘Run for Jesus’, the annual rally organised by the Federation of Telugu Churches, Telangana State Federation of Churches, Telangana Council of Churches and Twin Cities Pastors’ Fellowship, dis

Wesley Church, Clock Tower and St. Thomas SPG Telugu Pastorate, Secunderabad, the sunrise services began around 4.30 a.m. At the CSI Garrison Wesley Church, Bishop Emeritus Rev. P. Surya Prakash delivered the Resurrection message.

According to Navin Solomon, a lead pastor at Methodist Church in Shankerpally mandal, about 150200 members of the church went around the place of worship around 5.15 a.m. singing songs of played visuals of the message that “Christ is risen”.

Cardinal Poola Anthony, archbishop of the diocese of Hyderabad, flagged off the rally at St. Mary’s Basilica, Secunderabad; it concluded on St. George’s High School ground.

Began in 2011, the annual rally to reaffirm the spirit of faith, was conducted in more than 500 locations in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra this year, the organisers said.

praise. A special guest was invited to share the day’s message.

Several churches conducted the second round of Easter service, which started around 9.30 a.m. Celebrations were also visual, such as through special skits, song and dance, and clothing, as well as gastronomical such as indulging in elaborate breakfasts dominated by eggs and bread, and feasts shared among church members, families and local communities.