The power of prayer

Danette Goulet

Hand in hand, eyes shut tight, about 15 students and teachers stood

around the flagpole at Estancia High School and prayed Wednesday morning.

It was not a reaction to a recent tragedy, but a statement of faith.

“We’re lifting up our school and our students,” said Jennifer George,

16, the student leader of the Bible Club at Estancia.

Students at all four Newport-Mesa Unified School District high schools

joined an international prayer observance day Wednesday morning before

classes began by gathering around a flagpole at each campus to pray.

The event, known as “See You at the Pole,” was started in 1990 by a

small group of teens in Burleson, Tex. After a weekend retreat, the

students were inspired to bring their renewed faith back to their friends

and families.

They drove from school to school and prayed at the flagpoles for their

friends, schools and leaders. That gave students the idea to send out a

challenge of sorts to inspire similar gatherings where students would

pray simultaneously.

That first year, about 20,000 students joined in the prayers. Now more

than 3 million students from across the globe participate.

At Estancia, George led students and teachers in praying for each

other, their hardships, past tragedies and even everyday occurrences.

“We’re not going to worry about it,” she told onlookers. “We’re going

to pray about it.”

While it was just a small number of students who showed up early for

school, the moment was a powerful one for them.

“It’s great God’s been glorified,” said Raseny Nopenkam, an Estancia

junior. “It was great because no one proclaims God’s name at school.”