On Wednesday, Sept. 23 approximately 15 students gathered at the flagpole in the front of Leesville Road High School. They formed a circle and prayed for their school, faculty and students.
See You at the Pole is an annual event which gives Christian students the chance to take a stand for what they believe in and lift up their school in prayer. Schools all over the country, elementary, middle and high, participate in this event.
“See You at the Pole is a way to show my faith… I love Jesus, and He’s important to me,” said Allison Bass, a junior who helped lead this year’s event.
It started in 1990 in Burleson, Texas by a small group of teenagers. The group was meeting for a weekend in which they would learn more about God. On Saturday night, they all felt the sudden calling to go to their schools and pray. Not knowing where else to stand, they stood around the flagpoles at their three different schools and prayed. A few months later, this calling was also felt by youth leaders across Texas. They in turn shared it with 20,000 students and See You at the Pole became a reality.
The first See You at the Pole took place on Sept. 12, 1990 at 7:00 a.m. About 45,000 teenagers in four different states participated. On Sept. 11 of the following year, one million students across the country took up their place around the flagpoles of their schools and prayed.
Now, See You at the Pole is not just country-wide, but worldwide. The count of participants has reached over three million students in the United States alone, not to mention those who are not in the US.
Students who take a stand during See You at the Pole face persecution, and not just the ones in other countries. Students in the U.S. face discrimination, insults and the loss of friends from those who do not participate.
Last year at Leesville Road High School, insults were hurled loudly from bystanders but the students continued to pray. As the group dispersed, many were laughed at and made fun of, but they kept their heads held high and ignored the jeering.
Many students feel very strongly about their religion and feel that See You at the Pole is a good way to express it. “I think that everyone needs to hear about [Jesus] and what He’s done in my life. I want others to experience that change too,” said Bass
Doughnuts were given out by Chris Leader, Cross Culture Church’s youth minister, as a treat to those bold enough in their faith to take a stand. They were not meant to be a reward because simply being able to pray was reward enough for the students.
“[Being able to pray is] always enough reward. Praying is one of the times I feel closest to God. It doesn’t matter when or how long you do it,” said Nolan Coffey, a junior who participated this year.
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