Hundreds of people took to the streets of Winnipeg’s North End on Holy Saturday, April 4, as the annual Walk for Jesus brought together churches and individuals for a public expression of faith.
Participants gathered at Winnipeg Centre Vineyard Church on Main Street before heading out along a route through the neighbourhood, stopping along the way for prayer, worship, and outreach.
Organizer Todd Sperber opened the event by reflecting on the significance of the Easter weekend gathering.
“We are blessed to come together today to honour and remember the life of Jesus Christ, the death and the resurrection,” he said.
Throughout the afternoon, attendees sang, prayed, and shared messages of hope, with a focus on bringing faith beyond church walls and into the community.
“Walk for Jesus is this love and joy we’re all feeling inside of our church buildings,” Sperber said. “It’s time to bring this love and joy… to the streets.”
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A walk rooted in outreach
As the group moved through the North End, organizers emphasized reaching people who may be struggling or feeling alone.
“To anyone that may be feeling lost, broken, or alone… let’s love them and lead by the love of Jesus Christ,” Sperber told the crowd.
Pastor Paul Morin also encouraged participants to see the walk as an opportunity to share their faith with others.
“Jesus loves everyone… He loves the people out there,” Morin said during a time of prayer.
The event featured live worship, including a performance of the song “I Speak Jesus”, as well as moments of prayer for the city and those encountered along the route.
A story that inspired the walk
This year’s walk was shaped in part by the story of a Winnipeg woman whose faith left a lasting impact on those around her.
Sperber shared how a family reached out to him about their mother, Kathy, who had been diagnosed with cancer but remained deeply connected to the Walk for Jesus.
Despite her illness, she attended previous walks and continued serving others, including visiting homeless encampments to provide food and support.
Her daughter, Shannon Underwood, told the crowd the event meant far more than just a gathering.
“For my mom, it was never just a walk or an event… it became such a huge part of her life and her faith,” Underwood said.
Even in her final days, that connection remained strong.
“Even when she was in the hospital, this ministry continued to be a source of comfort and strength for her,” she said.
Underwood added that her mother’s love for the walk was so significant that she was cremated in a Walk for Jesus T-shirt.
“That shirt meant so much to her that she was cremated in it,” she said.
Sperber said the story became a defining reason to organize another walk this year.
“This was the fuel to the fire for me to do another Walk for Jesus,” he said.
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Continuing a message of hope
Organizers say the event continues to grow as more people look for ways to express their faith publicly and connect with others across the city.
As the walk concluded, the message remained centred on hope, unity, and the meaning of Easter.
Underwood reflected that her mother’s spirit continues to live on through the event and those who take part.
“Walk for Jesus was such an important part of her life because it reflected exactly who she was, loving, faithful, compassionate,” she said.
“She’s still walking with us today.”