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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Across the nation thousands of students gathered around flagpoles to pray for such things as their schools, their families and the government Sept. 24, marking the annual observance of See You at the Pole, a student-initiated prayer movement.
At Downey High School in Modesto, Calif., about 50 students met in front of the building for small group prayer and then formed a large circle to sing songs and intercede collectively.
"I do it because I love Jesus with all my heart," Colin Horne, a senior, told The Modesto Bee newspaper. "We want people to see that God loves them."
The reporter asked what he would say to people who object to religion on campus, and Horne replied, "God's in our lives all the time. We can separate Him from our curriculum, but He's still in our hearts."
Meaghan Jones, a sophomore, told The Bee she took her spot at the flagpole because she wanted to change the way people at her school think about Jesus, and Jonathan Beckman, another student in Modesto, said, "I believe God wants to change our school, and I wanted to be part of it."
See You at the Pole -- which typically takes place at 7 a.m. local time -- started with a group of youth in Burleson, Texas, in 1990. This year's theme was "Connect" -- as in connecting with God -- and was based on the story of 1 Samuel 3. Samuel, organizers noted, began his relationship with the Lord as a young person.
"1 Samuel 3:10 ('Speak, for your servant is listening') is the theme of See You at the Pole," Jonathan Falwell wrote Sept. 19 in the Falwell Confidential electronic newsletter. "I believe it is a fitting verse for young Christians seeking to hear from God while they exist in a culture that increasingly promotes immorality, sexual ambivalence and situational ethics.
"I'm sure there are young people who think, I'd like to participate at my school's See You at the Pole meeting, but some kids in my classes will make fun of me," Falwell added. "So what! Seriously, there is no greater privilege than being hassled or made fun of because of your relationship with Jesus Christ. Plus, See You at the Pole is a great way to get to know other Christian kids and become united with them."
Last year more than 2 million American teenagers in all 50 states participated ...
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