Religious groups are among the many causes and companies hoping to capitalize on the media spotlight soon to shine on Charlotte for the DNC. Muslims have planned a mass prayer. Evangelical Christians will call the nation to repentance in a Sunday revival. An interfaith prayer service will bring attention to the needs of children.
Friday night, thousands of Muslims will pray together in Marshall Park Uptown. Organizers with the Bureau of Indigenous Muslim Affairs claim no political agenda. They only hope cameras here to capture the convention will also catch a glimpse of Muslims as a "healthy and vibrant component of American society."
Sunday afternoon, members of more than 75 different faiths in Charlotte will meet to pray for the nation's children.
"We expect about 1500 who will come and lift up all of our nation's children to both political parties," says Mecklenburg Ministries director Maria Hanlin, one of the event organizers. "We want everyone who comes to go forth committed to do one more thing to help a child - especially a child in poverty."
Children's Defense Fund founder Marian Wright Edeleman will keynote the gathering at Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church.
And Sunday evening at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater evangelical pastor David Benham will host a family-friendly night of music and preaching.