July 31, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
Members of the community gathered Sunday to lift up in prayer students, teachers, administrators, school board members, and others affiliated with the school system in what has become an annual observance prior to the start of school.
This year’s prayer time called” Back 2 School Call 2 Prayer” was held at the DeKalb Middle School Gym featuring several local ministers offering prayers for each school and others. It’s the first time the event has been held at a centralized location since 2019, prior to the COVID pandemic. For the last three years, the observance has taken place in smaller groups at each of the five individual schools. Part of the reason the event was brought back indoors was that now air conditioning has been installed in the school gyms.
Iain Swisher, Pastor of the Smithville AG (First Assembly of God) made welcoming remarks followed by a student led pledge of allegience.
“I’m super thankful we now have air conditioning in the middle school gym here and thankful for the support of Director of Schools Patrick Cripps and the principals here allowing us to come together because I believe there is something important about us being together unified,” said Swisher.
After the program Swisher told WJLE why this observance is important.
“Faith is important in this community and its something we need here and everywhere and there is no better way to express it than our ability to be able to lift up prayers for our students, schools, and others who are part of it,” said Swisher. “Worship is something we do that invites His presence. His word is how He speaks to us but our time in prayer is when we can cast our cares upon Him as he wants us to because he cares for us. That’s why I feel like its really important for us to continue to do this. This is a tradition my father-in-law Brother Donnie Kelly helped kick off years ago so its something I’m honored to endeavor to help keep going on in this community as long as we can,” said Swisher.
The order of the observance was as follows:
*Opening and Welcome- Iain Swisher Smithville AG
*Pledge of Allegiance – Student lead
*DeKalb West School- Christian Cudney – Refuge
*Smithville Elementary- Robin Philipps- Church of God
*DeKalb Christian Academy- Iain Swisher Smithville AG
*Northside Elementary- Chad Ramsey- First Baptist
*DMS- Chris Moore – Church of God
*High School- Josh Moon – Smithville AG
*Day Schools- Nathan Thomason- Outreach Baptist
*Athletic Teams and Transportation- Jordan Atnip – First Baptist
*Faculty- Isaac Gray – Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian
*School Board- Graden Kirksey – Refuge
*Close- Iain Swisher Smithville AG