SALISBURY — It’s been nearly two years since the first group gathered on the steps of the Rowan County Courthouse to do one thing — pray. Out of that, Pray Rowan was formed and have since met in various places across Rowan County to continue praying for the community.

On Saturday, Pray Rowan will gather from 10 to 11 a.m. on the steps of the county courthouse, 232 N. Main St., to pray for — as organizer Tonya Skelly put it — strong marriages and families, revival, first responders, elected officials, churches, schools and students, the unsaved and the unborn, and to pray against violence, drugs and racism.

Paraticipants will pray in honor of National Day of Prayer, which was widely recognized Thursday. At the heart of the gathering is to not focus on a specific denomination or church but to be a place to collectively pray for the community.

Skelly partnered with Father Lucas Rossi, who at the time was a minister at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, to start Pray Rowan.

Skelly said more youths are participating. On Saturday a local youth group will sing, and the Lord’s Prayer will be led by a 7-year-old child. There will also be representation by Livingstone College and scripture readings by a teenager.

“We could’ve never imagined what God has done,” Skelly said. “We are seeing the world get darker, but we are called to be light. If you get a group of people called to be light that’s a spotlight.”

Pray Rowan member Jessica Cloward said similar gatherings have developed in other communities, including Cabarrus County.

The organization also started Prayer Ecclesia, which is a registered nonprofit group that is the umbrella under which other communities like Pray Rowan and Pray Cabarrus will operate.

For more information, visit https://www.prayecclesia.com/