A History Of The Praise March

Witnessing to Christ's love through public marches and demonstrations has a long and important history. This history teaches us how effective this public proclamation can be for both advancing important societal goals and for bringing people to Christ. There is nothing new under the sun, as the world-weary writer of Ecclesiastes commented (Eccles. 1:9). Worship in the open air is not an exception; it has all been done before. The interesting thing is that where it has been done before it has very often been connected with religious revival. The earliest record in England of Christian songs being used outdoors is in a. d. 675. Alfred the Great's handbook records show Aldhelm, the Abbott of Malmesbury, decided that if the people wouldn't come to the message then the message would have to come to them. Aldhelm had studied music in Rome. When he returned to Wessex, the people obviously liked his music, but had taken to leaving church before the sermon started. As they came out, Aldhelm…