Every year on a morning in September, students in countries across the world gather at their school flagpoles to pray for their communities. Middle schools, high schools, and colleges alike have participated in the event, called See You at the Pole. since it began 1990. The event was first staged by a few teenagers in the United States, who felt burdened for their schoolmates. On a Saturday evening in 1990, they drove to several schools and gathered around the flagpoles to pray together. Since then, See You At The Pole has grown into an international event with more than 3 million participants across more than 20 countries.
“The main goal is to gather together to pray for the country, our communities, and schools,” said Andrew Sherman, SGA Executive Officer of Spiritual Life, who helped to organize the event this year. But besides offering a chance to pray and connect with fellow students, SGA also arranged to provide free coffee and donuts for attendees.
Students who have gone in the past admit that donuts may have been their original motivation to go, but that it was the power of the event that had the greatest impact on them. “I had heard there would be donuts there, and that seemed sufficient motivation to get up extra early and stand in penguin huddles around the flagpole,” said Jordan Trautwein ‘19, who had also attended See You At The Pole events in the past. “Once I was there my focus shifted to the true purpose of the event.”
She went on to add that See You at the Pole was one of the first events she went to at Houghton, and she continued to be amazed by how welcoming people were. “There aren’t a lot of times you get to gather with a bunch of strangers on a misty morning to talk about your hopes and concerns for the semester,” she said. “People shared honestly and prayed sincerely. It was a poignant example of how Houghton is not only a school, but also a form of congregation.”
This feeling of connection and congregation struck her as the most important aspect of the event. “A huge focus in the news, both national and global, is how divided people are,” Trautwein said. “Unfortunately, the Church is not always above such division. See You At the Pole is a practice in unity, encouraging us to bring our different issues to the same God.”
This “practice in unity” gathered a large group of students early on Wednesday morning. Students came together at the flagpole, enjoyed donuts and cups of coffee, and took time to pray for the coming school year, for everyone at Houghton College, and for broader issues around the world.
Andrew Sherman said that Houghton College plans to participate in this event for years to come. Students will continue to have the opportunity to participate in this student-founded event, which, as Trautwein says, “doesn’t rely on older generations to pray on our behalf, but calls students to be involved in their community’s issues and their own faith.”