It was a prayer meeting that reflected the diversity Corvallis strives to promote.

Businessmen in suits and ties, mothers with toddlers in tow and auto repair workers in crisp, striped shirts stood shoulder to shoulder Thursday with senior citizens and college students clad in Beaver gear to pray for Corvallis, the state and the nation. The crowd of more than 100 people included whites, blacks and Hispanics.

But participants in this year's National Day of Prayer outside the Benton County Courthouse were united in their efforts to bring the needs of local government, business leaders and the community at large before God.

Mayor Charlie Tomlinson asked people to pray for the town's homeless and for people without health insurance. He encouraged them to pray for the town's sustainability efforts and that people might be willing to collaborate to "strengthen the fabric we call Corvallis."

Phil Doud, co-owner of John and Phil's Toyota dealership in Corvallis, stressed the need to pray for the local business community in light of rumors about more Hewlett-Packard layoffs and the real estate crisis.

Chad Weaver, a campus minister at Oregon State University, asked the crowd to pray for Christian leaders and for students without faith to see their need for God. "Faith brings stability in unstable times," Weaver said.

State Rep. Sara Gelser of Corvallis encouraged people to pray for those who are especially vulnerable - children suffering from abuse, veterans returning from war who need extra support, the unemployed and people dealing with drug addiction. Rep. Andy Olson of Albany asked people to pray that government leaders in Salem and around the state would have wisdom, insight and a "watchdog" ability to know when to speak and when to listen.

Lupe Luvinao attended the local prayer rally for the first time, in part to set a good example for her 5-year-old son, Caleb, who came with her. "I really liked it, coming and being with people with different religious backgrounds," Luvinao said.

Jordan Boutilier, a chemist with AVI BioPharma, said he saw the National Day of Prayer as an opportunity to unite with other Christians to pray, regardless of what churches they attend. "It's an honor to pray in public with brothers and sisters of different ethnicities and church backgrounds," he said.

The National Day of Prayer was established by President Harry Truman and Congress in 1952 and is always held the first Thursday in May. The Corvallis rally was one of about 35,000 taking place around the country.