'He really needs our prayers': Evan McPherson speaks at prayer service for Damar Hamlin

Community members came together Tuesday in a prayer service for Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin.

The service, hosted by Crossroads Uptown, was open to the public. Bengals kicker Evan McPherson spoke in a recorded message at the beginning of it, encouraging fans to pray for Hamlin, who collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest during the first quarter of the Bills' game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on Monday night.

"I just want to take a second and realize that Damar is more than a football player," McPherson said. "He's a son, a teammate, a friend and last but not least, he's a brother in Christ. He really needs our prayers right now."

Founding and senior pastor Brian Tome said the service, which was also livestreamed on the church's social media platforms, came together in only a few hours after it was initially suggested Tuesday morning.

"Sports is great, right," Tome said. "It's an internal conflict that takes place on a field. That's like our life. Our life has a finite beginning and a finite ending, and there's conflict that happens in the midst of our life. And I think why we want to pray for this and come together is we recognize we're all in this thing called life together. Curveballs are thrown our way all the time, pain points are thrown our way all the time, and I think in our heart we all want to be in that same game together. And maybe that's one positive thing that came out of this."

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Dan Deering, a Wyoming football coach, attended the prayer service.

"Football isn't about winning, it's a family," Deering said. "I see Damar in my kids. We've gone through loss and I had to be here."

Hamlin's heartbeat was eventually restored on the field, according to a tweet from the Bills. He was transferred to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he was sedated and remains in critical condition. His family released a statement Tuesday, thanking fans for their support. They asked fans to keep the 24-year-old in their prayers and said they would release updates as they receive them.

Dedicated Bengals and Bills fans went to the hospital Monday night to support Hamlin. They stood shoulder to shoulder in blue and orange jerseys. Many left bars or their homes to hold a vigil outside.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Evan McPherson makes opening remarks at Damar Hamlin prayer service