Christian students salute Old Glory on special day




Christian club members sing

Christian club members sing


Don’t tell the members of the Maranatha Christian Club it’s unconstitutional to say "under God" as part of the Pledge of Allegiance.


In September, about half of the 65-member club turned out beneath Old Glory at Agoura High School for the annual "See You at the Flagpole Day."


The event, which began in Burleson, Texas, in 1990, is observed on the third Wednesday of September and provides a public outlet for students to display their faith. According to national organizers, more than 3 million students took part in the event last year. The yearly event attracts Christian teens of nearly every denomination to sing and pray at the flagpole of their schools before class.


Inspired by the idea, students of Maranatha decided once a year wasn’t often enough to demonstrate their pride in the nation and in their faith.


"Once a month, we gather at the flagpole to sing and pray," said Katie Van Dellen, 16, the president of Maranatha at AHS. "It’s a lot of fun."


The club, whose name comes from an early Christian invocation meaning "the Lord cometh" in Greek, meets regularly to pray and do charity work. According to Van Dellen, the club is currently conducting a "Change Against Cancer" drive, the proceeds from which will be donated to the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital cancer ward.


Not affiliated with any specific churches or religious organizations off-campus, the club welcomes Christian and non-Christian students alike to join in its meetings or help in its fundraisers.


––Gregory Koteles


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