Pupils head to flagpoles to pray for United States
Sophomore Joseph DeLoach pulled on a special T-shirt for Wednesday morning's See You at the Pole event at Augusta Christian Schools. The black shirt read: "Satan is a Poo Poo Head."
A light rain didn't stop Augusta Christian students from gathering for the 13th annual See You at the Pole prayer session.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
"This is really good for me," he said of the event. "Everyone is here to praise God. We all make an effort to get here early and it feels good that we all did that."
The event's theme this year was from the Bible verse: Matthew 7:7-8:
"Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you;
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
Morning showers did not deter more than 170 students, faculty and parents from attending the 13th annual event, a student-initiated and student-lead movement where participants gather around their school's flagpoles to pray for America, its leaders and its youth.
"It's a time to come and glorify God, where everyone can come together and for the public schools also that they can glorify the Lord," seventh grader Daniel Hobbs said .
And, there was a lot to pray about this year. Huddled under umbrellas big enough to shelter six at a time, those attending sent up prayers for state representatives Ben Harbin and Joey Brush. And in the aftermath of Sept. 11 and in the midst of a war, President Bush was on the minds and in the hearts of many there.
"I know that the Lord will bless you for coming out early in the morning to praise him," said student council sponsor Marcheta Sherer in her closing prayer. "Pray for the president who will be making decisions in the next couple of weeks and months that will impact all of our lives."
See You at the Pole originated with a single youth group in the Ft. Worth suburb of Burleston, Texas, meeting at night at several schools throughout their area.
But by last year, when See You at the Pole took place barely a week after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, more than 3 million young people from all 50 state's participated. The event has spread to 21 other countries, and to the Y Clubs of Georgia, which is now a cooperating ministry for See You at the Pole.
For more information on See You at the Pole events, visit www.syatp.com.