Elizabethton High School students gathered around the flagpole before classes Wednesday morning for student-led prayer and fellowship during the annual “See You at the Pole” event.
About 50 students and a few members of the EHS faculty met at the school’s flagpole at 7 a.m. to sing worship songs and hold prayer before starting their day of classes. The event was organized and sponsored by the EHS Fellowship of Christian Athletes club.
The gathering started with FCA President Abbi Carey leading the group singing “10,000 Reasons” and “How We Love.” After the songs, students prayed – some aloud and some silently – for their concerns or to give thanks.
Students prayed for guidance and protection for the student body and the faculty throughout the school day. They also asked for guidance for the community while making decisions during the upcoming election. The group expressed their thankfulness at having the freedom to gather and pray before school and for having a supportive school family.
Some students asked for the strength to be bolder in their faith and to be more aware of opportunities to share it with others. The group also asked for encouragement, strength and peace for their day. After the prayer, they dismissed to go to classes.
“Every day we see hardships that everyone is going through,” Carey said. “This is a time of encouragement and to be with friends. This is not a time of judgment. This is a time to get everyone involved and to come together.”
Aviation science teacher Dan Mills is adviser for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He said the club had been planning the event for a while.
“I think it is great that the students have taken it upon themselves to organize this,” Mills said.
The FCA meets each Friday in Mills’ classroom before pre-game activities. He said the club was not limited to athletes and was open to any student who wanted to participate and support the student athletes.
“See You at the Pole” has been an annual event for schools and universities since it started in 1990. The student-led and organized event began in Texas and spread worldwide. The event is held the fourth Wednesday of September and usually includes prayer, scripture reading and singing.