Praise and Worship at BHS's 'See You at the Pole'

On the fourth Wednesday of every September, students across America gather at their school’s flagpole to pray for their school, friends, family, and nation. Bellaire High School proudly participates in this tradition, where students express their faith through worship and prayer. The Bellaire High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) hosts this annual event, celebrating with worship, prayer, and a shared breakfast.

FCA is an international nonprofit Christian sports ministry that focuses on building faith in student athletes amidst busy practice schedules and the chaos that comes with being a student. However, at Bellaire High School, FCA extends its mission beyond athletes, welcoming students from all backgrounds to grow in their faith together.

This year’s “See You at the Pole” event was held in the school’s courtyard before the start of the day. Although traffic and noise kept the gathering from forming around the flagpole, as is tradition, Bellaire FCA maintained the essence of the event by standing in a circle in the courtyard. 

Bellaire FCA club sponsor Ms. Juanita Camarillo and Hope City Church worship team leading the crowd in heartfelt worship. Pictured: Juanita Camarillo, Will Miller, Fega Anigboro, Edwin Rodriguez, Jeremiah McConnico. 

This year's event was especially meaningful as the FCA club invited guests from local churches to lead worship, facilitate fellowship, and pray over the campus and community. Fega Anigboro from Hope City Church brought breakfast tacos for everybody who attended. He also organized the Hope City worship team to come to Bellaire and lead worship for FCA’s See You at the Pole event. As the sun began to rise, guitarist Jeremiah McConnico and vocalist Edwin Rodriguez, from the Hope City Church worship team, led the crowd in heartfelt praise and worship.

Jake O’Neil from Second Baptist Church gave a sermon for See You at the Pole, encouraging students to stand strong in their faith. O’Neil is very active in Bellaire’s FCA. O’Neil, a familiar face at Bellaire’s FCA events, also leads the boys' Bible study on Wednesdays and fellowship for FCA meetings every Friday during lunch. Additionally, Will Miller, the FCA area representative for the Houston Independent School District (HISD), was actively involved in organizing the event, as he is throughout the year. Alongside Bellaire FCA’s sponsor, Ms. Juanita Camarillo, Miller helped ensure everything ran smoothly. Club officers also arrived early to assist with setup, bringing breakfast pastries and drinks for the attendees.

Although FCA is rooted in Christian values, the club at Bellaire High School is open to all students, not just Christians or athletes. FCA provides an inclusive environment where students at any stage of their spiritual journey can come together to engage in fellowship, grow in their faith, and support one another. This year’s “See You at the Pole” event was a testament to that mission, uniting the Bellaire High School community in worship and prayer, creating lasting connections and spiritual growth among the students.