Members of area churches met at the Grundy County Courthouse lawn Tuesday afternoon to both look back on Sept. 11, 2001, and pray for the future of the country.

The gathering was the Cry Out America prayer event, which was one of hundreds held across the country. Pastor Rick Barnard of My Father's House of Prayer headed the local event, and opened telling participants about its purpose.

"We believe as we synergize our prayers with many others across the nation, a tremendous awakening and hunger for spiritual renewal will be kindled and have an impact far beyond the brief time we spend together today, for many years to come," he said. "Our gathering will not be a time of celebration — certainly there is a place for that, but our purpose today is to give honest and solemn reflection on the deep spiritual needs of our nation."