At the Capitol, local religious leaders, including Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, will lead the group in praise and worship. Others scheduled to speak include Pastor Mark Johnson, Pastor Jerry Doss, Pastor Stacy Barnett, Sen. Sam McCann (R-Carlinville) and Bernie Lutchman. The Christian rock band Chosen Generations will provide entertainment.

"God Belongs in My City" began in October 2009 in New York City in reaction to a subway advertising campaign sponsored by an atheist group. A group of young people asked Christian youth ministers from around the city's five boroughs to organize a prayer walk. In November of that same year, over 1,500 people walked from north and south Manhattan to rally in Times Square and Grand Central Station.

Since the original event, "God Belongs in My City" has spread to dozens of cities in the United States, as well as locations in the Caribbean, Central America, Europe and Africa.

PJ Staab, a member of Cathedral Parish in Springfield and one of the event sponsors, said he hopes pastors and people from Springfield area Catholic parishes take part in the walk.

"It would be awesome if we had at least 500 Catholics turn out for this event," he said. "Personally, I believe God belongs in Springfield, and this is an excellent forum to share that message with the community."

T-shirts with the "God Belongs in My City" logo will be available at cost. Also, for persons who wish to park near the State Capitol, buses will be available to deliver people to the starting point.

For more information about the event, visit GodBelongsInMyCity.com/Springfield.