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School students from around the area could be found near their schools’ flag poles early Wednesday morning, part of a national event in which students pray for their schools and communities.

Tim Madeira, general manager of Christian radio station WRGN, said the station encouraged a designated participant from each school to call in and provide information about their school.

Madeira stressed that the event was initiated and organized by students.

“The event varies from school to school, according to the nature of students participating,” he said.

Wayne Morgan, regional coordinator for National Network of Youth Ministries, said the event is in its 26th year.

“It started with a group of ninth-graders praying for their school, and then deciding that they wanted to go to their school to do that,” he said

“Our Twitter page shows people participating from around the world,” he said. “I was talking to someone today who had been at a rally in Berlin, Germany. The picture gets bigger and bigger.”

Public, Christian and even home-school groups participated in the effort, with the Luzerne County home-schooled students gathering at the offices of WRGN.

Kaleigh Shission, a junior at Wyoming Area Secondary Center, said 11 students gathered at her school. Shission, the group leader, said she read bible verses before the group prayed.

David Golobek, who attended the event at Hanover Area High School, said he thought it was a great opportunity to be an example to other students.

“My youth pastor became a Christian after seeing other young people around the flagpole,” he said.

Golobek, in his third year of participating in the event, said he believed there was a benefit to embracing faith at a young age.

“If you grow up believing, you have more opportunity to learn about your beliefs as you grow,” he said.

Madeira said the event also provided an opportunity for fellowship, enjoying the company of other like-minded people.

“The kids even had breakfast here,” he said.

Madeira said the gatherings were significant in that young people, themselves, were expressing their faith.

Locally, over 500 students were reported to have participated.

Students from the River of Life Christian School pray near their school’s flag pole early Wednesday morning.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_14492589_1251795028184945_6764538444723950405_n-1.jpg.optimal.jpgStudents from the River of Life Christian School pray near their school’s flag pole early Wednesday morning. Submitted photo

By Geri Gibbons

[email protected]

By the numbers, kids participating from local schools:

• Greater Nanticoke – 10

• Wyoming Valley West – 3

• GAR – 12

• Hanover Area – 2

• Crestwood – 16

• Lake Lehman – 51

• Wyoming Area – 11

• Northwest – 27

• Dallas – 30

• Coughlin – 11

• Meyers – 8

• Luzerne County Homeschool Association – 18

• West Side Career & Technology Center – 9

• River of Life Christian Academy – 43

• Rock Solid Academy – 70

Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons