File / DMN

Pastor Stephen Hill said he believes Interstate 35 and Bible passage Isaiah 35:8 are connected.

DALLAS - Cutting through the center of the nation, Interstate 35 extends as far north as Canada and as far south as Mexico.

That long stretch, in one local pastor's opinion, provides plenty of places along the I-35 corridor that need prayer.

The idea of a program called "Light the Highway" is prayer 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Christians at a Dallas church, Heartland World Ministry, said they believe I-35 actually has biblical meaning.

"There are lots of great highways in America, but let's start somewhere; and Highway 35, Isaiah 35:8, says that I will build a highway of holiness," said Pastor Stephen Hill. "And the Bible says without holiness, no man will see the Lord."

Pastor Hill said he is trying to clean up the streets by encouraging believers to go to 12 cities along the I-35 corridor.

"So, our young people pray and they put feet to their prayer," he said. "We believe that you need to do something more than sit inside a sanctuary and warm a pew."

In a highway revival, the evangelists have taken their church to the streets in hopes to reach drivers in cars and trucks.

"You get all kinds of different reactions," said Caleb Valdez, a student at Heartland Ministries. "I've had lovely old ladies at Wal-Mart, 'I see joy all over you;' and you see other people throw stuff at you, hurl insults."

Valdez said despite some criticism, the group will continue to reach out across I-35.

"We are tired of seeing the destruction of what sin has brought on the world," he said. "And so, we believe God has ordained this highway for us to go up and down ... to see lives transformed, to see people revolutionized for God [and] for the betterment of this place."

E-mail ddenmon@wfaa.com