WASHINGTON -- Houston pastors were anticipating great results from a prayer effort held over the weekend.

'Pray Around Houston" organizers said they wanted to give hope to their neighbors in what's been a tough year for many families.

Highway to Heaven

One roadway in Texas looked more like a highway to heaven, with about 30,000 people forming a line which circled the 610 Loop to "Pray Around Houston."

Some prayers were personal.

"I'm going to pray for me personally also my family," one person prayed. "And I'm praying for my closer walk with Jesus and to understand him a little bit more."

Some prayers were intended to lift up others.

"Our children are being prayed for, our finances, I mean our churches are being prayed for, our schools are being prayed for. Everything within the infrastructure of the entire city is being prayed for," another participant prayed.

Participants came from 4,000 different churches in the Houston area.  They prayed for at least an hour on Saturday morning.

Organizers hope the event leads to more unity between area churches and Christians in Houston.