Chelsea Middle School students gather for See You at the Pole

A crowd of students got to Chelsea Middle School early today, prepared to start their day with worship.

The students gathered at the Chelsea Middle School football field starting around 7 a.m. for See You at the Pole, an event that encourages students to gather around their school's flagpole, or in another designated area, to worship and pray for those around them. The prayers and worship songs are oftentimes student-led at See You at the Pole events and are a way of outreach for some students.

At Chelsea Middle School, student leaders offered up prayers for the three grade levels at their school, and teacher James Marshall prayed for school faculty. Matt Britt, a youth and worship pastor from New Life Church and the contact person from First Priority of Alabama, helped lead the students throughout the morning.

See You at the Pole is an important event for students, Britt said, because it encourages them to be bold and outright in their faith. If other students ask why there was a large group gathered by the football field, Britt told students to be direct in their answers.

"I feel like it's important for them to take a stand in front of their friends," Britt said, adding that they should talk about how they have Jesus as their lord and savior, and to welcome other students to come to one of the school's Bible studies or First Priority groups. 

"You'd also be surprised. These kids can also relate to their friends a lot more than they can relate to us [adults]," Britt said.

By having students lead prayers during See You at the Pole, it makes the conversations about religion more accessible, Britt said, and it shows students that they do not have to be perfect to join in the conversation or seek to be more actively involved in the school's Christian organizations.

See You at the Pole brings around many students who are not actively involved, Britt said, and he is glad that it helps students see the relationship others have with their faith and to connect with a few faces around school, if they have any questions.

"It gives them a face of Christianity to connect with," he said. "... It gives them an opportunity to see that relationship."