Several churches and organizations plan to pray for the United States along with state and national leaders at an event Saturday in Jefferson City.
Missouri Prayerfest will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the state Capitol.
Springfield-based Vanguard Marriage and Family Advocates is the main sponsor for the event. The group is a faith-based nonprofit organization that partners with community leaders and ministry partners to "build strong marriage and family relationships."
Other groups sponsoring the event include Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America of Missouri and the Capitol Commission of Missouri, according to a news release announcing the event.
Organizers said they plan to cover 10 "key areas of prayer" in Missouri: marriage and family; religious liberty; right to life; education; foster care and adoption; law enforcement; sexual exploitation; government leaders; racial tensions; and business and farming.
They will focus on the biblical text of 2 Chronicles 7:14 as it relates to praying for local communities, state and national leadership. That verse, in the King James version of the Bible, says: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Special guests and prayer leaders scheduled to attend include Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and state Reps. Mike Moon, R-Lawrence, and Tim Remole, R-Excello.
Guests are asked to arrive early due to parking limitations because of the ongoing construction around the Capitol and security checks to enter the facility.
There will be a prayer walk through the building starting at 10 a.m., and the main prayer event will start at 11 a.m in the Capitol Rotunda.
Guests may register for free and get more information at moprays.org.