Heath Hobbs stood in a circle of LSU students, eyes closed, head bowed and prayed for the conversion of the University and the nation.
Hobbs, a construction management sophomore, joined a group of Christian students who gathered around the American flag on the Parade Ground yesterday for the annual “See You at the Pole.”
“See You at the Pole” began in 1990, when a group of teenagers in Texas spontaneously decided to visit three neighboring high schools one night. At each school, they circled the flagpole and prayed for students and teachers. One year later the movement was national, and according to the official SYATP Web site, by 1998 more than 3 million students attended the event at their high schools and universities.
The University’s SYATP was hosted by the Baptist Collegiate Ministry, which invited several other Christian organizations, including Living Waters, Campus Crusade for Christ and Reformed University Fellowship.
During prayer, Abby Chapman, a secondary education junior, prayed that those Christian organizations would unite.
“There can sometimes be a division among us,” she said. “I think there can be competition between our organizations.”
But Chapman said events like SYATP can bring students from various organizations together through one common cause – Jesus Christ.
Sarah Hummel, a biology freshman, agreed.
“There’s just something about a bunch of people praying together,” she said. “It’s just very moving.”
Hummel said public prayer is a way to show the world she and her friends are not ashamed of their devotion to Christianity.
Chapman echoed the sentiment.
“I pray that you would give us love and compassion,” she said. “I pray that you would give us boldness to spread your word.”
She and other students also prayed for the safety of American troops overseas and for President George W. Bush.
“I pray that our president is making the right decisions, and that he will be guided by your word,” she said.
Many students asked for the strength to live their lives as Christ lived his. They prayed for evangelization on campus.
“Let students see you through us,” prayed Bethany Hales, a mass communication junior. “Let them see your light.”
After 20 minutes of standing, sometimes in silence, sometimes in prayer, the group disbanded.
“I know you have heard these prayers,” Hobbs prayed in closing. “You’ve said if we truly believe in you, these things will happen. I believe.”