Washington, April 25 (IANS/EFE) US President Barack Obama and his family attended the Easter service Sunday in Washington's Shiloh Baptist Church, which was founded in 1863 by a group of freed slaves.

The Obamas were received with resounding applause upon their arrival at the church and they seated themselves in the second row of pews.

The Shiloh Baptist Church, located about 3 km north of the White House, is one of the oldest African American congregations in the US capital.

Rev. Wallace Charles Smith welcomed the president, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha, joking that apart from the first family there was also another "special guest" in the church: his four-week-old grandson who was visiting the church for the first time.

Amid the prayers, one of the members of the congregation said they were praying for the first family, adding that the president and his loved ones would need divine help "during the next six years", implying that Obama will win his re-election bid in 2012.

Obama said Tuesday during the second Easter prayer breakfast celebrated in the White House that his faith had deepened during the two years that he has been president.