Motorists headed into Atlanta late Thursday or before daybreak on Friday probably noticed a huge, bright beam of light reaching skyward from the west side of downtown.

The light, just outside the Georgia Dome, was illuminated Thursday night as part of the Passion 2013, a gathering of young Christians that concludes Friday.

Thursday night, the 60,000 attendees held a candlelight vigil to draw attention to slavery and sex trafficking around the globe.

The light beam shooting straight up from the vigil could be seen from as far away as northern Cobb and Rockdale counties.

Passion 2013, which began on Tuesday for young people ages 18-25, ends Friday afternoon.

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A migrant farmworker harvests Vidalia onions at a farm in Collins, in 2011. A coalition of farmworkers, including one based in Georgia, filed suit last month in federal court arguing that cuts to H-2A wages will trigger a cut in the pay and standard of living of U.S. agricultural workers. (Bita Honarvar/AJC)

Credit: Bita Honarvar