AREA STUDENTS JOIN HANDS FOR BEFORE-SCHOOL PRAYER

SCOTT CITY -- About 80 Scott City students joined hands around the school's flagpole Wednesday morning to pray as part of a nationwide event dubbed "See-you-at-the-pole" day.

Despite the drizzle, sixth graders to high school seniors participated in the service, along with some parents and teachers.

Students gathered at the flagpole at 7 a.m. and offered prayers for their families, school, administrators, teachers and fellow students.

Near the end of the prayer service, members of the group wrote the names of people to pray for on a piece of paper. The pieces of paper were put into a hat and given to another group member, who said a prayer for the person whose name was on the paper.

Chad Bles, a 17-year-old senior, led the prayer service, which occurred in plain view of students arriving for school.

"They see you standing here," he said. "The only Jesus that some of the people that walk through these halls ever see is the Jesus in you."

See-you-at-the-pole day originated in 1990 at a school in Dallas. Bles said this was the third year the prayer service was a big event at Scott City.

"I challenge you to go out and give Christian CDs, books and magazines to your friends," Bles told the group. "Then follow up with them."

Other schools in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois particpated in the event, but at Scott City about 20 to 30 high school students meet before school Wednesday mornings for a Bible study.

Just before students began classes, they closed the prayer service by singing "Lean on me."