THE POWER OF PRAYER

Students conclude each Truth meeting with a prayer.

Prayer can be a powerful tool for Christian believers, but it has to be used to accomplish a good.

"I call it work," said Mendy Burgess, a junior at Southeast Missouri State University who heads the prayer committee at the Baptist Student Center.

"It's not like something that just happens. To really understand how it works, you have to practice at it all the time."

Around Southeast Missouri, students gather weekly for prayer meetings and support from other Christians. During the last few years, prayer groups at local schools have grown both in numbers and strength.

Burgess meets regularly with her prayer partner, Laura Sheets, a sophomore at the university. The two began meeting as a way to support each other during difficult times.

"You can't go through this world trying to do things on your own strength," Sheets said. "We have gone through individual situations with the same struggle. It's been a blessing to have someone who understands."

Several other Christian groups meet on area campuses to offer strength and encouragement.

At Cape Central High School, Christian students have formed several groups, which meet both on and off campus. At Scott City, a prayer group meets each Wednesday before classes begin.

Each week at Central, about 10 students gather in Martha Stephens' classroom for their weekly club meeting. But Truth isn't a club focused on a particular subject or activity. It's purpose is to give Christian students a chance to talk about their faith and offer prayer support to other members.

For many years, prayer in school was a sensitive issue. Yet, it is not unconstitutional for students to pray during the school day. It just cannot be part of a school-sanctioned activity.

All Christian activities must be initiated by students, not teachers. At Central, teacher sponsors are not allowed to participate in the Bible studies or discussions at Truth meetings, said Stephens, who sponsors the club.

In Scott City, a similar group called Impact, meets before school each Wednesday, said principal Fred Graham. The group has been active in "See You at the Pole" prayer rallies in the past.

For the past several years, Truth members have been instrumental in publicizing the annual "See You at the Pole" rally at Central High School each September, Stephens said.

The national rally is designed to give students a time to gather to pray for their schools, classmates and teachers. It is usually held around the flagpole on campus.

College students at Southeast Missouri State University also gathered for "See You at the Pole." However, they have extended the once-a-year prayer vigil into monthly prayer events.

Students at the Baptist Student Center meet monthly specifically for prayer, said Mike Parry, campus minister. "But the heart of what we do is the prayer partnerships." Pairs of students meet regularly for prayer.

Students also have gathered for breakfast and spend time praying for their classmates, teachers and friends. Next week, several students will participate in a prayer walk around the campus.

The prayer walk is a half-hour commitment where students walk around the campus praying for Southeast, Parry said. "It's like a prayer vigil. It's a good way to keep the campus in mind and to pray for the different aspects."

Christian students need a chance to gather for support and encouragement. It gives them a chance to realize they are not alone, Stephens said.

"If they have strong Christian beliefs, they sometimes think they are alone in the world," she said. "Now they have a place to belong and can form a bond with students of similar values."

Although they don't meet on campus, members of Young Life in Cape Girardeau, say that knowing other Christians in their classes can help them get through the school day.

Katie Barbour said the group is just fun to be around. "It's a lot of fun, doesn't matter what church you go to. It's a chance to do something together."

Young Life is a nondenominational Christian organization that meets each Monday evening.

Truth has been meeting on the Central campus for four years. Meetings are held each Wednesday afternoon in Room 215 at the high school.

Junior Jeff Myers leads the group and serves as its representative to the student senate.

"Basically it's the Christians of the school who meet so we will know who each other are," Myers said. "We try to build each other up and be a support."

"Now we are just getting involved with everything," Myers said. The club was even represented during the school's recent homecoming parade.

In addition to praying for teachers, classmates and family members, the club members talk about topics relevant to their lives as Christians and as students.

At other times, they invite guest speakers or simply watch a Christian video.

"It's a smorgasbord of ideas about how we live and our own Christian walk," said Keri Woodall, a senior.

Although the club is recognized by the school, it seems that some students still ignore its existence, she added.

Myers said, "Sometimes it's hard because it is religion and offends some people. In the middle of class, someone might ask a stupid question or make me feel awkward."

But that doesn't seem to bother him much. Truth members still try to set a Christian example.

"This is probably the biggest mission field we'll ever be in," Myers said. "It points out that we not only have to learn but also to witness."