About 250 people gathered in Tacoma to hear pastors, business people and others pray for a host of concerns on the National Day of Prayer.

The prayers, mixed with music from a praise band, marked the second straight year Inspiration Bible Church in Tacoma has organized the hourlong event.

“We lift up the leadership of our military to you right now,” prayed Air Force 1st Sgt. Ted Stanley of Destiny Christian Center in Puyallup. He asked for the safety of the armed forces, that “no weapons formed against them shall prosper.”

The Rev. Ivory Crittendon rallied the crowd in the baseball stadium’s parking lot to clap and cheer for revival in America.

“We pray in the name of Jesus, revive us,” said Crittendon, pastor of Brotherhood Church of God in Tacoma. “We pray, Heavenly Father, that this day will change somebody’s heart.”

Tacoma police chaplain Russ Guppy spoke up for law enforcement.

“We pray, Lord, that you would give them victory over violence and evil at work in our city,” Guppy said.

Tacoma Rainiers infielder Tug Hulett and 2007 Miss Pierce County Shannon Tuohy were among more than a dozen people who offered prayers.

Tacoma hasn’t had a regular event for the National Day of Prayer in recent years. The Rev. Greg and Starlene Martin, pastors of Inspiration Bible Church, started their gathering to change that. About 200 people met for last year’s initial observance in Wright Park.

Greg Martin said he was pleased that turnout for the event, which involved about a dozen churches this year, is growing. He hopes the observance “will be a catalyst to warm the spiritual climate in Tacoma.”

Congress established the annual National Day of Prayer in 1952. In 1988 the law was amended and signed by Pres- ident Ronald Reagan, designating the first Thursday in May as the official National Day of Prayer.

This morning, at least 1,500 people are expected to meet for the annual Pierce County Prayer Breakfast at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall.

The prayer breakfast, which is held the first Friday in May, is one of the largest in the nation. But it’s timing close to the National Day of Prayer is purely coincidental.

Outside Cheney Stadium, Marjean Goheen said she was a little disappointed more people didn’t attend. But she was excited about the scene.

“I love the music, and I love the fact that we’re meeting together as a community,” said Goheen, 50, of Tacoma.

As a result of the prayers for people, she believes God will “forgive their sins and heal their land.”

Bob Shaffer, 80, of Tacoma hopes the prayers will result in more people turning out at churches.

“If you believe in prayer and more of us did it, things might change,” Shaffer said. “It’s going to take some time.”

Steve Maynard: 253-597-8647