DOWAGIAC — Sunday morning, a group of nine individuals stood — hands laced together — in a circle in Farr Park. Though humidity was heavy in the air and cars were whizzing by in the background, the group would not be deterred as they remained for nearly half an hour, praying peace over the city of Dowagiac.

“It was amazing. I feel like I can’t wait to see what happens,” said Tracy Siler Saylor, 48, of Dowagiac. “As we started pray, a breeze came through, and it was so peaceful. It was powerful, yet peaceful at the same time.”

Sunday was the first time the group — organized by Saylor — met. The group is a prayer group that will meet at 8 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays throughout the month of July in Farr Park to pray over the city of Dowagiac. The group is open to the public.

“This wasn’t my idea. It was God’s,” Saylor said. “We pray for peace over the city. We pray for shalom. … People tend to associate shalom with Judaism, but it’s just a God thing. It means peace, nothing broken.”

The prayer group got rolling last week, when Saylor put out an open call on Facebook asking Dowagiac residents to meet her in Farr Park to pray, after feeling a call from God to do so.

“He gave me the date, the time, the location,” she said. “He told me to get people to come. Invite anyone I could to come, so that’s what I’ve been doing.”

The goal of the prayer group — which as of publication intends to only run through July 31 — is to pray for city leaders, the city’s youth and health and prosperity of Dowagiac.

Citing her faith, Saylor said she is confident that the prayers will result in change and positivity.

“The Bible says to ask God and expect God to do [what you asked for]. … That’s part of keeping faith,” she said. “It is so important that we ask God to guide our leaders and guide our city. … I’m expecting crime to drop and for our children to be happier and for godly change to happen.”

Saylor can recall — almost down to the second — that she felt the calling to host the prayer group. She was out on her morning run when she recalled a previous challenge she had set for herself to get up every morning at 6 a.m. to read the bible. Once that challenge ended, she began to wonder what was next for her.

“I was thinking, while out running, that I really missed doing that. I thought, ‘What can I do now?’” Saylor said. “As soon as I thought that, God told me to do this.”

Hoping that Farr Park will be completely full of residents praying by the end of the month, Saylor is inviting everyone she can to take part in the group and is encouraging others to do the same.

“All throughout the Bible, God uses one person to enact major change,” Saylor said. “And Sunday, we had nine people. Imagine what God can do with nine people. Imagine what he could do with even more people.”

After the month of July ends, Saylor said she does not know what will happen to the prayer group or what will come next, saying she is leaving it up to God.

“I’m very excited to see what comes of this,” she said. “None of this came from me. This all came from Jesus.”

Citing her faith, Saylor said she is confident that the prayers will result in change and positivity.

“The Bible says to ask God and expect God to do [what you asked for]. … That’s part of keeping faith,” she said. “It is so important that we ask God to guide our leaders and guide our city. … I’m expecting crime to drop and for our children to be happier and for godly change to happen.”

Saylor can recall — almost down to the second — that she felt the calling to host the prayer group. She was out on her morning run when she recalled a previous challenge she had set for herself to get up every morning at 6 a.m. to read the bible. Once that challenge ended, she began to wonder what was next for her.

“I was thinking, while out running, that I really missed doing that. I thought, ‘What can I do now?’” Saylor said. “As soon as I thought that, God told me to do this.”

Hoping that Farr Park will be completely full of residents praying by the end of the month, Saylor is inviting everyone she can to take part in the group and is encouraging others to do the same.

“All throughout the Bible, God uses one person to enact major change,” Saylor said. “And Sunday, we had nine people. Imagine what God can do with nine people. Imagine what he could do with even more people.”

After the month of July ends, Saylor said she does not know what will happen to the prayer group or what will come next, saying she is leaving it up to God.

“I’m very excited to see what comes of this,” she said. “None of this came from me. This all came from Jesus.”