Christians of all denominations will unite later this week to pray for the well being of their country, state and local community.

ACTION ministries is hosting its second annual Prayer Breakfast in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Thursday at its headquarters, at 301 Main St., Dowagiac. Leaders with the local church coalition will join former pastors and others in the community to lead attendees in prayer that morning following a continental breakfast. 

The theme of this year’s National Day of Prayer is “For Your Great Name’s Sake! Hear Us… Forgive Us…Heal Us,” adapted from a verse in Daniel 9:19. Dowagiac will be one of many communities throughout the country commemorating the event, which has been celebrated since 1952 following a proclamation from Congress.

This is the second year that ACTION, a network of churches from around the greater Dowagiac area, has hosted the Prayer Breakfast.

“Even though prayer is often a personal thing, it can also be a great force to bring people together and watch God work,” said ACTION president Jeff Neumann.

The ministry network first celebrated the National Day of Prayer around five years ago. After experimenting with the format with different gatherings in front of city hall and at local churches, the organization believes it has found a winning formula with the breakfast, which had around 30 people attend last year, Neumann said.

“Whether it was the breakfast or the fact it took place early in the morning, everything seemed to click,” he said.

Following a light breakfast of donuts, muffins, coffee and juice from 7:30 to 8 a.m., organizers will lead attendees in both individual and group prayer. Attendees will be asked to pray for both their local neighbors as well as those serving the community, state and country, including for elected officials and military personnel, Neumann said.

Music will also be played during the event.

The National Day of Prayer is one way for ACTION to help advance its mission of bridging the gap between local churches, Neumann said.

“I’m a firm believer in Christians uniting outside their individual churches for the sake of the community and nation,” he said. “This is a good chance to act on that.”