The Selma Outreach Team Fellowship Prayer Ministry kicked off their 8th Annual Praise and Unity Celebration Monday night with corporate prayer and worship.

The Selma Outreach Team Fellowship Prayer Ministry is a group of believers from various churches and denomination who gather to pray, fellowship and perform acts of community service.

Annie Towns, who is with the ministry, said that people came together to pray for nearly two hours on Monday, praying for city leaders and others in the community.

On Tuesday night, the group continued to focus on the power of prayer by screening the movie, “War Room”, which highlights how important prayer is.

Eric Dawson, another member of the group, said that observing the community makes it clear how prayer is needed.

“Look at the crime in the community,” he said. “Look at the hopelessness. You have to offer people hope.”

Dawson and Towns said that the ministry often travels directly to neighborhoods were crime is apparent in order to provide communities with hope.

“We walk all through these neighborhoods, no matter where they are,” said Dawson. “You see lives change from having no hope to being full of hope.”

Dawson and Towns said several individuals have been healed and helped thanks to the prayer and support from the ministry.