A 12-hour prayer vigil will be open to the community Thursday for the National Day of Prayer.
The men's fellowship ministry at Second Baptist Church, 501 Monroe St., will host the two-hour prayer sessions.
"All of the people of God should be praying," said the Rev. Cornell Sudduth. "We hope individuals from all faith walks will feel free to come in."
The timing for the church to resume its former tradition is good, as the annual Mayor and Presiding Commissioner's Prayer Breakfast will not be held this year.
Pastor Doug Crader, coordinator for the Jefferson City National Day of Prayer Task Force, said the new city and county leadership were not ready for such an event. He hopes it will return in 2016.
Students at Thomas Jefferson and Lewis and Clark middle schools, Simonsen 9th Grade Center and Jefferson City High School will gather at their campus flag poles before classes.
And at noon, pastors from the California Ministerial Alliance will lead praises and prayers for the community, county and country at the Moniteau County Courthouse.
Other Mid-Missouri events will be at noon at the Lake West Christian Academy in Sunrise Beach, noon at the Versailles town square and 12:15 p.m. at the Camden County Courthouse.
The United States has a worldwide influence, Sudduth said. And prayer is universal.
"Corporate prayer is so important," he said. "It's good for us to just stop as a united people and pray to the God we believe in."