By Malinda McGill
TAB Media
See You at the Pole took on a new significance for thousands of Alabama high school students Sept. 19, following the Sept. 11 attacks by terrorists on the United States.
“We had a huge amount of students last year,” said Greg Davis, director of First Priority of Alabama, “but this year there were even more. Youth pastors told me the kids took it a lot more seriously this year in light of the recent tragedies. There is more of a recognized need for prayer now.”
A nationwide organization of school clubs that facilitates students in meeting before school to pray and study God’s Word, First Priority estimates that more than 3 million students gathered for See You at the Pole across the United States and in 20 countries.
Students at Tarrant High School in Birmingham were among that number. At 7:15 a.m., about 50 students and several faculty members congregated in the newly designed courtyard of the school, ready to encircle a symbol of American unity flying at half-staff. The observance at Tarrant began with a prayer for the nation led by Tarrant Mayor Rayburn Philips. Sherri Hill, school sponsor for First Priority, also prayed.
‘Desperate for God’
The theme of the event, “Desperate for God,” was based on Psalm 84:2: “My heart and flesh cry out for the Living God.”
“There was some providence in that,” Davis said. “When they came up with the theme, they had no idea this tragedy would occur, and now our nation as a whole is desperate for God.
Although a yearly event, Davis said See You at the Pole attracted students this year who wanted to pray for the nation, for the victims of the recent terrorists attacks and for the terrorists. Some schools concluded their prayers with spontaneous patriotic songs.
At Tarrant High School, Sabatone, a local Christian band, played. “We are called by God to do this, and we accept every opportunity for ministering to people through music,” said Mark Ryan, lead singer and lead guitarist for Sabatone.
“Students are starting to look for life’s answers, and I hope that by coming to See You at the Pole, they see that this is the right place,” he said.
Students Mary Ann Glass, Alyssa Ryan and Mandy and Brandy Carter, all from Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Tarrant, performed interpretive sign language to Mercy Me’s “I Can Only Imagine” while many students sang the words themselves.
Students Joy Williams from Gardendale’s Mount Vernon United Methodist Church and Stephanie Barlow of Mount Calvary, along with Ryan, led the students in prayer.
Davis said Alabama had hundreds of thousands of students participate in See You at the Pole. He conservatively estimated between 25,000 and 30,000 students participated from the greater Birmingham area.
Davis said he believes every school in the state had at least some students at the flagpole, whether it was an organized event or not. He said more elementary schools also participated this year.
“We got a call from Meridianville near Huntsville that reported 634 students (participated), not to mention parents and teachers. I’ve never heard a number like that.”
Davis said the school also concluded all extracurricular activities by 4:30 p.m. that day to allow students who were interested to attend a community rally that night.
“This isn’t a time when people are challenging whether this is legal or not, although it is, because this is what we as a nation need right now,” said Davis. “We need to know that God is relevant for America. God doesn’t get into schools through a law anyway. He gets in there through the students.”
First Priority’s church networks had 14 rallies in Birmingham with a total of about 20,000 students. Six were held the night of See You at the Pole. Tarrant’s high school and middle school had one of these rallies, led by the Tim Bach band.
“Our students are always willing to step up and take advantage of the opportunities they have to witness to other students,” Hill said. “And See You at the Pole was a visible witness on so many campuses across the country.”
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