Photo: Southaven Middle School students who participated in Wednesday’s See You At The Pole. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Southaven, MS – Students at Southaven Middle School and other DeSoto County Schools participated in the annual “See You At The Pole” (SYATP) event Wednesday morning, joining a national and global movement of student-initiated prayer gatherings held at school flagpoles.
An early morning assembly at Southaven Middle School, a landmark event now in its third consecutive year at the school, brought together students, teachers, and local pastors for a time of reflection and intercession. The gathering centered on reading scripture and praying for the school, community, and nation.
Dr. Brian Alexander, a teacher and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) leader at Southaven Middle School, underscored the significance of the event being driven by students.
“The whole purpose is, this is a global day for student-led prayer,” Dr. Alexander explained. “We’re in the process of helping the students who want to be leaders… to help train them in the way Jesus wants them to be leaders.”
Students took turns reading verses and hearing adults provide explanations of each verse., followed by prayer.
A Focus on Unity, Not Division
Addressing the current national climate, Dr. Alexander emphasized that the event was a conscious effort to focus on unifying principles.
“With everything that is going on in the country, there’s a lot of divisive speech out there,” he noted. “Our purpose here is to reunite our thoughts back to Jesus Christ. When we reunite our thoughts back to Jesus Christ, then He leads everything, because the Bible tells us that He’s not an author of confusion… He’s the author of unity and peace.”
He affirmed the primary goal: “Our goal here at Southaven Middle School is not really to be political, but to lead people to Jesus.”
The gathering featured students reading various scriptures, including verses on humbling oneself in prayer, seeking God’s face, and the biblical principle of two or three gathering in Christ’s name. A number of local pastors and community members offered brief thoughts and led prayers.
The Movement’s History
See You At The Pole is held every fourth Wednesday in September. The movement began in 1990 in Burleson, Texas, when a small group of teenagers was led to pray at their school’s flagpole before classes started. The idea quickly spread across the United States and has since become a global event, seeing millions of students voluntarily gather to pray for their schools, leaders, and communities.
Dr. Alexander expressed his long-term vision for the Southaven Middle School gathering. While he had to take on a leading role this year, he hopes to see the students fully take the reins soon. “I want we’ll get into a place where I don’t have to say anything, and as student is just leaving,” he shared. “I get out of here, take pictures. That’s what I want to do one day down the road.”
The Southaven Middle School gathering was one of a number of See You At The Pole events at schools in DeSoto County, all held at 7 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
See You At The Pole activity at Pleasant Hill Elementary School in Olive Branch. (Courtesy Jean Bakken)Prayers are said by and over the students at Southaven Middle School Wednesday morning.
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates and high school football play-by-play on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
