STUDENTS GATHER `AT THE POLE' TO PRAY

SCOTT CITY -- About 50 students and parents braved pouring rain Wednesday morning to pray for Scott City High School.

People huddled under umbrellas around the flag pole to ask God for direction for school leaders, the city, the country and the world.

Similar "See You At the Pole" events were held at schools across the country, including Jackson High school, where a group of about 50 gathered, and Cape Girardeau Central High School, where a small group assembled. A group met at noon at Southeast Missouri State University to pray.

"It may look like we are just standing out here getting drenched," said Nathan Morse, a Scott City sophomore. "We are just humbling ourselves before God and praying for our school. We pray that this will not end as we leave the pole; we pray that we carry this with us," he said.

"We pray that you will give us the words to speak. We pray that you will give us the strength to claim our school in the name of Jesus."

By standing in front of school as students arrive, they are displaying their faith.

"People are watching us," Morse said. "We are the light of the world. We should let our light shine."

Chrissy Ledermann, a senior, said: "Our principal and our teachers, everyone needs prayer. Somebody's got to back them up. God's there, but they need our prayers, too."

Robert Cook, a senior, said the school, students, staff, the city and nation need prayers. "Satan is everywhere you look," he said. "We are taking a bold step to proclaim Jesus."

After the prayer, students stepped inside the school to squeeze water out of their shoes and talk about the gathering.

About 20 students are members of a club called Impact to promote Bible study. The Impact group sponsored the gathering.

Dave Truncone, youth pastor at First Assembly of God Church in Scott City, also attended.

"To think that 50 people would stand in the rain to lift up their prayers for the school, the administration, the world -- I am truly blessed," he said.

Truncone said young people often don't get credit for the good things they do. "People are hungry for change in our nation," he said. "But instead of looking for change with protests, they are coming together in prayer. I think we are headed in a good direction."