Seven years after the nation's most devastating terrorist attack brought America to it's knees, hundreds of Americans fell to their knees again - in prayer.

At noon today Christians of all denominations gathered across the nation for two hours of intercessory prayer at an event called Cry Out America, sponsored by the Awakening America Alliance.

"Every county in every state across the nation will be meeting at the very same time. A call is being issued by a broad coalition of denominations and fellowships under the Awakening America Alliance," Jo Anderson, Southeast Kansas Area president of Aglow International told The Morning Sun.

At one prayer gathering, Christian leaders took turns preaching and leading prayer.

"2008 is a spiritually critical year for our nation," the Christian Post quoted Billy Wilson, chairman of the Awakening America Alliance, which organized a sacred gathering in New York on the eve of Sept. 11.

"The current condition of America demands united and decisive action. We need more than one positive election, more than one court decision, more than one good series of sermons - we must experience a new national awakening in our generation," he said.

Even presidential contenders Barack Obama and John McCain recognized the solemn occasion, temporally suspending campaign activities to come together in a show of solidarity - "as Americans."

"We need prayer to turn our nation around," Anderson said. "We wonder why our civilization is the way it is, and it's because we've taken God out of it. We need to bring Christian values back to our nation."

Sources: The Christian Post, The Morning Sun, The Associated Press