Hundreds gather at schools across Shelby County for See You at the Pole

Hundreds of students across Shelby County got to school early Wednesday to pray for their communities, the state and their schools. The students were participating in See You at the Pole, an event which is part of a movement that started in Burleson, Texas in 1990.

During See You at the Pole, students are encouraged 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.

"I learned from my pastor this is the biggest ministry outreach you can do," said Sam Pugh, a student pastor with THRIVE, a nondenominational Christian-based group at Oak Mountain High School.

This is the 26th year of See You at the Pole, according to First Priority, a Christian organization that promotes the events in Alabama. This year's theme was "We Cry Out: A Generation Seeking Him."

At OMHS, students stood to the side of the school's entrance singing worship songs and inviting others to join as they arrived at school. THRIVE's lead team organized the event, said group sponsor Carrie Clark, and they also led the songs and prayers. 

"We have been doing this for a couple of years, and we wanted to keep the tradition going," said Pugh, a sophomore at OMHS.

Close to 70 students and faculty members attended Oak Mountain High School's See You at the Pole event. The fact that students were willing to get to campus early to pray and spread the word of God was "beautiful," Pugh said, and shows their dedication to their faith.

Raleigh Sarazen, also a sophomore, led the group in a prayer which asked for blessings for those in attendance, their communities, the state and the nation. 

While Oak Mountain's See You at the Pole event included worship songs and a group prayer, some schools will break off into smaller, group prayers before rejoining at the end of the event.

As the event came to an end and students left to start the school day, student Sophia Ferguson said she was glad so many people attended.

"That was amazing," she said. 

Other See You at the Pole events attracted large groups, said Debi DeBoer, the Hoover and Shelby County area director for First Priority, including around 100 attendees at Chelsea High School, 175 at Chelsea Middle, 70 at Chelsea Park Elementary, 300 at Oak Mountain Middle School, 130 at Forest Oak Elementary, 300 at Berry Middle and 40 at Spain Park High School.