Campus Christian organizations host See You at the Columns

The event was personalized for MU students.

By Catherine Newhouse

Published Nov. 13, 2009

Christian students joined hands in front of the Columns just after dawn Thursday, their heads bowed in prayer for the MU community.

Christian fraternity Beta Upsilon Chi, "Brothers Under Christ," and Christian sorority Sigma Phi Lambda, "Sisters for the Lord," sponsored See You at the Columns. The event is based on the international See You at the Pole movement, for which students pray at the flagpole before the start of a school day in September.

"I just think it's an amazing way to start your day," Sigma Phi Lambda chaplain Lauren Sperandio said. "Being at the Columns here, it's a beautiful place with the sun rising. It just makes you realize God created this. Just to know a lot of people started out their day with prayer and God, it warms your heart."

About 30 students bundled in jackets and sweaters gathered at the columns at 7 a.m. Thursday.

Beta Upsilon Chi chaplain Samuel Phelps said Beta Upsilon Chi came up with the idea to organize See You at the Columns last semester, when brainstorming ways to reach out to the campus. He said Beta Upsilon Chi decided to personalize the See You at the Pole event to MU by gathering at the columns, the only remaining piece of Academic Hall, which burned down in the 1890s.

"It's so rooted to our history here at Mizzou," Phelps said. "What better place to have it? It's one of the trademarks of Mizzou. It's a different feel when you're by there."

Students prayed about MU's financial situation, loving others, academic stress and freshmen who are adjusting to life at MU. They sang "Heart of Worship" and "God of Wonders" a cappella. Afterward, Pastor Michael Burt from Grace Bible Church spoke about how Colossians 2:8 applies to Christian college students.

"Don't be taken captive by the elements of the world," Burt said. "If you're going to be taken captive, be taken captive by Jesus Christ."

Sigma Phi Lambda President Emma Frogge said the morning of prayer and worship helped her find contentment in the knowledge that Jesus is in control.

"I tend to be a big worrier," Frogge said. "So it really helps me to come up to the Lord at the beginning of the day. It helps me be at peace and focus on him, the big picture and the purpose of living for him."

Students also passed out note cards to take prayer requests.

"One of the ways we thought we could be there for people would be to collect prayer requests, divvy them up and pray for people," Phelps said. "That's the least we can do."

As this year's See You at the Columns theme, Beta Upsilon Chi chose Psalm 5:3: "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up."

"We can pray for them, but at the same time we offer our actions to help people," Phelps said. "I think that's the main theme: How can those of us who pray for others help people? We've got a lot of people out there, and we don't want to leave a stone unturned."