The seventh annual 40 Days of Prayer in El Dorado kicked off Friday with a community prayer meeting at City Hall.
Faith leaders, city and county officials and local residents gathered in the lobby at City Hall to pray on a host of topics, including everything from children, first responders and service members to peace in the community, country and world and good health.
Many also gave thanks to God, and several people became emotional as the prayer went on.
Kent Jobe, minister at College Avenue Church of Christ, led the meeting. As those in attendance gathered in a circle, Jobe prayed and then opened the floor for any others present who wished to also pray aloud or to themselves.
Some who offered prayers were Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer, El Dorado City Council members Willie McGhee, Judy Ward -- who was instrumental in launching the annual event -- and Paul Choate, Union County Justice of the Peace Greg Harrison and other members of the community including Becky Parnell and Dr. Steve Ward, among others.
Before the prayers began, one man walked into the circle to place a Bible in the center.
"This is what we're here (for)," he said. "We're praying, so that's our main focus."
Forty Days of Prayer was launched in 2015 following the death of 11 year-old Comesico Pumphrey, who was killed by a stray bullet as he helped to mow his grandmother's yard in preparation for a neighborhood block party in the area of East Cook and Louisiana.
The event initially focused on decreasing violence and promoting peace in the community; it has since grown to cover a wide range of prayer topics.
A daily prayer, with an accompanying verse and observation, is published in the News-Times through the duration of 40 Days of Prayer, and the full prayer guide is available at eldorado40.com. Jobe said hard copies of the prayer guide are available at CACOC and other local churches.
Forty Days coordinators represent a cross-section of the community, including laypersons and civic, community and faith leaders from various churches, who select prayer topics, observations and supporting biblical texts.
This year's event will close on Nov. 3 with the annual Prayer Walk.
The Prayer Walk will start at El Dorado Police headquarters, move south to City Hall, then east to the El Dorado School District central office and end at the Union County Courthouse where attendees can fellowship.
"Prayer warriors" will lead prayers at each stop.
Tia Lyons contributed reporting to this story.