Prayer group to make Naperville 'A City United in Love'

The power of people, of unity and of prayer is soon to be put to work for Naperville.

The organizers of Pray! Naperville: A City United in Love are inviting residents to come together in praising and petitioning Christ during their second annual citywide prayer gathering from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24.

The gathering at the Riverwalk Grand Pavilion, 912 Honorary Sindt Memorial Drive, will include prayers led by at least six pastors, ministers or chaplains, worship through song, and time for small group prayer for solutions to Naperville's problems, organizers say.

Susan Brown, a Grace Pointe Church member who started Pray! Naperville after attending a similar gathering in Chicago early last year, said the event allows Christians to unite around their belief in the gospel to pray for positive change.

"We'll pray for the government, our country, the city and the suburbs so they can continue to flourish," Brown said. "We want to pray for good things, that evil be far away or removed."

Last year's inaugural citywide prayer event drew about 350 participants from 42 churches and Brown predicts this year's could be just as large.

The idea, she says, is to strike back at social problems facing people in Naperville - such as heroin addiction, prostitution, domestic abuse, mental health issues and dysfunctional families - by coming together to lift them up in prayer and then take action.

This year's event will focus on youth, young adults and first responders.

"We need to honor our Lord and give praise and glory, and then turn around and serve," she said. "We're here for a reason, and it's to serve."

In its first year, Pray! Naperville built a steering committee of about 15 volunteers, all lay people involved with churches including Grace Pointe and Good Shepherd Lutheran. The group comes together to take requests from community groups and pray for those intentions.

Members also have connected with similar prayer organizations in Chicago, the Fox Valley and South Holland, all aiming to find ways to bring good into their communities.

"We know God's on the move," Brown said. "And he's on the move to do only good things."

If you go

What: Pray! Naperville: "A City United in Love"

When: 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24

Where: Riverwalk Grand Pavilion, 912 Honorary Sindt Memorial Drive, along the Naperville Riverwalk west of Mill Street

Who: Hosted by Pray! Naperville

Cost: Free

Info: https://www.facebook.com/PrayNaperville/ or praynaperville@gmail.com