LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – After a week of violence a local church is joining forces with several churches around Acadiana to promote a message of peace and prayer for our nation.

“With all the events that took place last week our community is really hurting they are heavy hearted,” said Pastor Todd Menard.

Tuesday night Family Life Church in Lafayette will open its doors to the community and welcome residents to pray for peace.

“We’re not going to be divided and we’re not going to stay in a place of hostility. We need people to come together, to be united across racial lines across church denominational lines,” said Menard.

Family Life Church Lead Pastor Todd Menard said it’s important for our community to be unified when so many obstacles are working to push us apart.

“We need to just come together as a community when everything is just trying to drive us apart. We need to be a part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

Menard said he hopes the prayer service encourages residents to make a change in themselves and be a positive example in the community.

“The heart of the problem of everything going on in our nation is really a problem of the heart and if we can get our hearts right with god then we can we really can make a difference, not only in our community, but really I think across our nation.”

The service will be held at the Family Life Church sanctuary and is set to begin at 7 p.m.