OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Christian Life Missionary Baptist Church is reflecting back on what they did 25 years ago to help the community cope with the tragedy of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.

“The night before the bombing, I was downtown, and I had the strangest feeling that something was going to happen,” Pastor Dr. Jayel Jacobs Jr. said.

In the aftermath of tragedy, Jacobs says he wanted to do something encouraging.

He and about three dozen church members of all ages were at the site, singing and praying for about eight hours a day, rain or shine.

“We were outside the gate, for 12 days, singing and praying and one day their morale got very low so they allowed us to come in the compound, and we came in and we sang and we prayed,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs says he knew they were making a difference when they were allowed onto the site.

“I want people to know that we were concerned, we were involved, we weren’t just standing back looking, we were praying, doing what we could do, and hopefully it made a difference,” he said.

He says they were out there for all 12 days through the rescue work.

A quarter of a century later, he wants to make sure no one’s part is forgotten.

“It was a terrible thing, and we just want everybody to know that some African Americans were out there trying to do something to enhance the situation,” Jacobs said.