Photo shared by First Priority of Greater Birmingham
See You at the Pole Oak Mtn Middle 9-23-15 (2)
More than 300 students gathered to pray at the See You at the Pole prayer event at Oak Mountain Middle School on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015.
Hundreds of students in the U.S. 280 corridor in north Shelby County are expected to gather outside their schools for special times of prayer Wednesday morning before school.
The 2016 See You at the Pole event is part of an international nondenominational movement that began in Burleson, Texas, in 1990. Students are encouraged to gather at their school’s flagpole — or other designated area — before school to pray for their schools, leaders and families, asking God to bring a moral and spiritual awakening to their campuses and countries.
The gatherings typically are initiated and led by students, but outside groups run by adults sometimes promote the events as well and encourage participation.
Here are some approximate times for the gatherings at various schools, according to First Priority, a Christian organization that promotes the events in Alabama, and other sources connected to schools:
- Chelsea High — 7 a.m.
- Oak Mountain High — 7 a.m.
- Chelsea Park Elementary — 7:05 a.m.
- Forest Park Elementary — 7:05 a.m.
- Mt Laurel Elementary — 7:05 a.m.
- Chelsea Middle School — 7:15 a.m.
- Oak Mountain Elementary — 7:15 a.m.
- Oak Mountain Middle — 7:15 a.m. on the football field
- Berry Middle — 7:30 a.m.
- Spain Park High — 8 a.m.
- Briarwood Christian School-North Campus — 8:05 a.m. (for parents)
Briarwood Christian High School is holding its See You at the Pole event on Thursday at 8:15 a.m. on the school’s track.
See You at the Pole gatherings also may be held at other schools in the U.S. 280 corridor, but First Priority was not aware of times for other schools.
A See You at the Pole rally for youth also is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at Southeastern Bible College at 2545 Valleydale Road. For more information, contact Debi DeBoer, the Hoover and Shelby County area director for First Priority, at debi@firstpriorityal.com.
First Priority estimates 20,000 to 30,000 students from across the Birmingham-Hoover metro area will gather at more than 150 schools for prayer Wednesday morning.