Moment of silence
Pole event lets students pray
They gathered in the dark and chilly morning, watching while the rising sun backlit the American and Georgia flags flying at half-staff in honor of the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
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Greenbrier High School students gathered for Prayer at the Flagpole on Wednesday before school. About 350 students participated; many said they were there to pray for the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
''It's a time to come and pray for our country and reflect on what's happening,'' said Adrienn Harris, 14, a ninth-grader.
She was one of about 350 Greenbrier High School students gathered around the flagpole Wednesday morning and one of thousands of others clustering around their schools' flagpoles across the nation for the annual See You at the Pole prayer rally.
''I just want to come here to learn more about God and to be with my fellow Christians,'' said Tanner Hayden, 14, a ninth-grader.
It was the first time Wesley Clark, a 10th-grader, had ever participated in the event. He said he was called to worship to pray for the victims in the Sept. 11 attacks.
''I've heard a lot of people ask, 'Where was God got when the first tower fell? Where was God when the second tower fell?' God was there,'' said Chase Reynolds, a senior who played the guitar and led the singing for the event.
Danny Harrell, a senior, said the event is one way student Christians can spread the word of God to others.
''I think this is a great way to witness to all our friends and to show them, our community and our country how we can make (God) a part of our lives. Hopefully, it won't stop here,'' Danny said.
Many students said the Prayer at the Pole event was a chance to tell their peers about God.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
See You at the Pole grew rapidly from its start in Burleson, Texas, in early 1990, when small groups of students prayed at three schools.
Some 20,000 students responded a few months later to the first fall rally, timed for the beginning of the 1990-91 school year. According to organizers, more than 3 million students in 20 countries participated in the student-led nondenominational rallies.
Tim Price, a senior, issued a challenge to his fellow Christians.
''Our schools are a mission field. If we claim to love Christ, we can't stand by. If some here were to die, they would go to hell. We have to save these people. What's the point of coming here if we are not saving souls?''