Thousands of Christians began gathering in Washington, D.C., at sunrise, Saturday, to lift up a collective "may day" call of distress for the nation's soul.

Well-known evangelicals from Focus on the Family founder James Dobson to prayer warrior Dutch Sheets are attending "May Day 2010." 

The prayer event began at 6:10 a.m. at the Lincoln Memorial and will end at 2 p.m.  Churches across the U.S. have also opened their doors for prayer meetings during that time.

Watch the live "May Day" webcast from the Lincoln Memorial here.

"This event is not to impress the media or those in Washington, but to reach the heart of God," a statement on the event Web site read. "Publicly repenting and crying out to God for His mercy instead of the judgment our many sins deserve."

May Day attendees are praying for a spiritual revival in the U.S.-- a country they say is on the brink of falling apart.

"Our nation faces what is perhaps the most serious moral crisis since the Civil War, as we've turned our backs on God and have clearly displeased Him," Dobson wrote in the May Day committee flyer.

"May Day 2010 is a time to come together, and proclaim what God has done in the past, to pray for forgiveness, and to plead for God's mercy on all of us," he continued.

Mathew Staver, founder and chairman of the Liberty Counsel, is among the weekend gathering of Christian leaders.  Click play for his comments to CBN News on the purpose of May Day 2010.