Teens demonstrate faith at See you at the Pole

By PAMELA GRANT
Cove Leader-Press 

Outside Copperas Cove High School, like-minded teens gathered around the flagpole to join together in prayer and song to share their faith on Wednesday morning. The gathering was part of an annual event called “See you at the Pole” started by a group of teenagers in 1990.
Each year, an estimated 1 million students participate in See you at the Pole. Students from more than 64 countries have participated. CCHS teens followed their example Wednesday morning as they gathered at the flagpole outside the high school at 8 a.m.
“It is a student led ministry to show their faith and pray for the community, the school, and for each other,” said Amal Baty, Director of Student Activities, about the event.
Jakob Estrada (17) helped lead the event kicking it off and then asking others to help with reading scripture and leading the group through the songs. He also invited anyone in attendance to pray if they wanted to.
“I think it’s just nice to be able to come out here as a group of people to freely and openly talk about the Lord,” said Estrada. “People should know how you feel…it’s about spreading it to other people.”
Estrada admitted that peer pressure does affect him, but he’s used to being in a leadership role. He said that he hopes that by being a role model and freely showing his faith he might be able to motivate or inspire some of the freshman that attended to be able to do the same.
Coach Bryant Lopez, advisor for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), brought his athletes out to the event. Several led the group through prayer and others read scripture. Lopez said that it means a lot that the school district allows the students to participate in See you at the Pole. He said that he’s also proud of the students that attended for showing pride in their faith saying that for some it might take them out of their comfort zone. Lopez was especially proud that the event was completely led by and run by the students. 
Several students at the event gladly took the opportunity to pray for the students’ continued safety, for the future of our country, for the community, for the school, and more. Students were encouraged to pray and continue to look to the Lord.
Lexy Hollingsworth, a senior, is a member of the Refuge Ministries worship team and attended the See you at the Pole event for her first time on Wednesday. She said it was really nice being able to have everyone come together and read scripture together.
“I’ve never been to See you at the Pole before, and it’s actually really relaxing and nice to be here and come together as one in the same faith,” said Hollingsworth. “It’s nice to come together as one, especially in this place that we see each other every day.”
More than just a single day of prayer, See you at the Pole challenges students to continue to pray throughout the Global Week of Student Prayer which ends September 28.