The Capitol Rotunda was filled with people Saturday as politicians and leaders of local churches, ministry partners and organizations gave speeches and led prayers.
The second Missouri Prayerfest began with a prayer walk through the legislative halls, where participants prayed for legislators and left them cards with prayers written on them. Then, attendees gathered in the Capitol Rotunda for the main prayer event.
Between speeches and prayers, the audience clapped, swayed and sang along to songs from musical guest Alec Davis.
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft led a prayer for government leaders and spoke about the importance of the Bible.
"It's not just a good book; it's not just good teachings; it's not just the Bible; it is the word of God," he said.
Ashcroft prayed for government leaders and other leaders to have integrity.
"The Bible talks about how God has placed authority to award those that do good and punish those that do wrong - and we need to pray for authority that they will know the difference between right and wrong," he said.
Don Hinkle, editor of The Pathway, a Baptist online newspaper, led a prayer on religious freedom.
"Without religious freedom, people exist only as political or economic entities, not free human beings," he said. "Religious liberty is the first of all human rights."
Jerry and Kate Angelo, founders of Vanguard Marriage and Family Advocates, hosted the event. They led prayers on marriage and family and foster/adoption, praying relationships will be strengthened through prayer and forgiveness and that people will become involved with foster care and adoption.
Vanguard Marriage and Family Advocates is "a faith-based non-profit organization that partners with local community leaders and ministry partners to build strong marriage and family relationships," according to a news release from Jerry and Kate Angelo.
Other areas of prayer included law enforcement, sexual exploitation, business and farming, racial tensions, right to life and education.
Other speakers and guests included Jesse Leon Rodgers, City Elders president; Kathy Forck, 40 Days for Life pro-life activist; Rachel Blackmore, Churches for Life Outreach and Development director; Carol Fouse, Churches for Life Outreach and Development executive director; Sen. Rick Brattin, R-District 31; state Rep. Brian Seitz, R-District 156; state Rep. Mitch Boggs, R-District 157; Bev Ehlen, Concerned Women for America state director; Russ Tuttle, Stop Trafficking Project president and founder; Howard Boyd, Family Research Council of Missouri representative; Pat Frazier of Freedom for Life; Calvin Morrow, Christians United for Political Action executive director; and Mike McGee, Capital Prayer Tour missionary.