Capitol filled with prayer for friends, school and community

They could have prayed at home. They could have stayed at home.

But prayer was most important to the more than 50 students who showed up at the Capitol on Wednesday as part of the annual "See You at the Pole."

An event organized by youth for youth, See You at the Pole began in 1990 in Texas. It has since grown to all 50 states and several countries around the world.

Students did not attend Carson High School on Wednesday due to a teacher training day.

In Carson City, youth who attend Capital Christian Center, Fountainhead Foursquare Church, First Presbyterian Church and others, gathered at the Capitol and joined hands in prayer. They were joined by pastors JJ Tuttle from Connected, Jeremy Morgado from Capital Christian Center, Chris White of Fountainhead Foursquare Church and Alan Dorway of First Presbyterian Church.

Sixteen-year-old Angel Fernandez said the prayer event was great and something that opened his eyes to what problems face youth today.

"Things like what goes on at the high school, cutting, the war in Iraq, things like that," Angel said. "Things that need to be changed."

Angel said the youth pray because they believe in it and it is part of their faith.

"It inspires us to make a difference," he said. "In the way we think and treat others."

Angel prayed for his family " his mom, a brother and two sisters " and Carson High School.

Chris White, pastor of youth and children's ministry at Fountainhead Foursquare Church, attended his first "See You at the Pole" as the new youth and children's ministry pastor of Fountainhead Foursquare Church.

"I was very pleased with the turnout," White said. "These kids prayed for their friends who are addicted to drugs or alcohol, the war in Iraq, Carson City as a whole that our city would be blessed, the poor, and widows actually came up.

White added the students specifically prayed for Carson High, Carson Middle and Eagle Valley middle schools, and for the unity of all churches in town.

"It's neat to see the high school and junior high school kids get together," White said. "Youth and churches getting together to pray. It's just awesome."