Residents of and visitors to Leicester were told to "come just as you are" on Saturday as the Jesus Loves Leicestershire (JLL) team hosted its fourth annual "Fire And Glory" event in the Leicester city centre.
Local singer, Hannah Johnson, backed by The Oaks of Leicester gospel choir
And come they did, as thousands of shoppers and onlookers flocked to the huge stage at Humberstone Gate, one of the main shopping streets in Leicester, to witness one of the city's biggest annual Christian outreach events.
As various secular groups battled against the Pope's visit to the UK, there was no such controversy in Leicester.
Led by Resonance and The Lighthouse Choir, praise groups, singers, rappers and evangelists took to the stage for a successful day of worship, praise and thanksgiving.
The weather bucked the UK's current trend for rain and drizzle, and visitors basked in glorious sunshine as they were entertained, encouraged and motivated.
Backed by The Oaks of Leicester gospel choir, talented local singer Hannah Johnson's Christian rendition of "Hallelujah", made famous by Alexandra Burke, brought the city to a standstill. "I'm reclaiming the song for Jesus!" she shouted to a wealth of enthusiastic cheers.
Local resident Maria Moseley, 62, from Leicester Christian Fellowship, spoke of how she had been healed of osteoarthritis after spending 28 years in a wheelchair, in excruciating pain.
She joined Leicester Christian Fellowship in January 2007 and was baptised two months later, at which point she gave her life to Jesus. She was still on crutches at that time. By August 2007 she was totally healed.
"I was robbed of 28 years of my life," she said, "But after constant prayers for healing, I can now walk, jump and dance. I feel half my age. The Lord has given so much more back than what has been taken."
And another local resident spoke passionately of how she had been completely healed of cancer. Mindy Patel, 50, had level 5 breast cancer, and doctors said that she would not survive.
