Leading through faith: Hillside High students create prayer circle at school

Youth mentor Anthony Lewis (second from left) leads students Samuel Philpot (far left), Deshaun Mitchell (middle), Nick Campbell (second from right) and Tajh Hall (far right) in prayer Friday morning. (Staff photo by Niles Iverson)


In an age when teenagers crave social media popularity, students at Hillside High School are showing their peers the powerful impact that comes from stepping out of the norm.

Every school morning at 8:50, the halls of Hillside are filled with sleepy faces, young couples and a growing number of teenagers eager to participate in a daily prayer service.

“We have praise of worship; we do revival,” ninth-grader Aaliyah Peterson said before a Friday morning service. “We have over 20 people getting saved each and every week. It’s a great experience.”

Five student leaders wait for the perfect opportunity to gather their peers in a giant circle consuming the front lobby area. Then, around 120 students and faculty members join hands and share 10 minutes of mindfulness before school starts.

Silence.

Next, a humble voice breaks the silence, praying for a safe and productive school day and giving thanks to God for the previous day.

The student leaders alternate leading the service with conviction and heart. They said they believe it’s their calling.

Prayer circle founder Daniel Gwyn, a senior at Hillside, promotes the prayer group on Instagram to encourage more students to attend. (Staff photo by Sarah Kreitzer)

Prayer circle founder Daniel Gwyn, a senior at Hillside, promotes the prayer group on Instagram to encourage more students to attend. (Staff photo by Sarah Kreitzer)

“Faith is kind of the key ingredient,” prayer leader Daniel Gwyn said. “A lot of people involved in the school might not go to church, so if they see our faith, then they might begin to have it.”

Daniel, a 12th-grader and creator of the service, has been attending World Overcomers Christian Church and youth group for only six months, but he said his newfound faith has changed his life.

“It’s helped me be a better leader,” he said. “I was selfish before, and it’s helped me figure out that a lot of people need more help than I do.”

Daniel gives credit to his youth leaders, Manny Arango and Anthony Lewis, for his reasoning behind creating the service. But Manny insists he only provided a helping hand.

“Daniel started this,” he said. “Once he started it, me and Anthony just threw fuel on the fire.”

Schoolwide Impact

Although the service is short, the meditation provides tangible benefits for the students. Gary Kayye, an adjunct journalism professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, said meditation helps with anxiety and stress and has mental and physical advantages.

The students said that coming together and sharing moments of prayer helps them ease any anxieties about their school days.

“The prayer service starts the day off,” said ninth-grader Kamryn Sneed. “It helps me be worry-free and prepares me for the day.”

Daniel said the prayer group has grown exponentially since it began in January. Students spread the word about the service through social media and physical flyers posted throughout the school.

“It started little, and then it grew and grew,” said 10th-grader Taylor Pierce. “Now just about everybody is looking forward to prayer in the morning.”

For the students, the sense of solidarity draws them to join hands every morning.

“It’s just so powerful, being able to come together,” said Tierra Sims, also a 10th-grader. “When you see other people do it, it makes you want to go do it, and then you learn from it.”

A moment of silence and reverence to start the day in the otherwise bustling lobby of Hillside High School. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Gwyn)

A moment of worship and reverence to start the day in the otherwise bustling lobby of Hillside High School. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Gwyn)

Though many participants have been attending church for their whole lives, students tend to agree with Daniel’s sentiment that including faith at school has the power to make remarkable changes in the community. Ninth-grader Aaliyah Peterson deems the positive effects of prayer essential and hopes for change.

“Everything that we have to deal with – fighting and all the gun violence and everything – I feel like we need faith and God when we’re going through the day,”Aaliyah said. “A lot of kids around here don’t go to church, and they’re on the streets doing things like that.”

Fixing Current Issues

The prayer circle is struggling to get Latino students to join the faith community. Ninth-grader Maria Belen Lopez said she and her friends are apprehensive about attending the service.

“We didn’t join because we don’t know what’s going on,” Maria said. “We don’t even know what it is.”

Manny, one of the youth leaders, said this is a deep-rooted issue, but he wants to bring in someone who prays in Spanish to bring attention to the divide.

“That’s my immediate solution,” he said.

Daniel also prioritizes togetherness and makes an effort to provide breakfast as a small incentive for any student who wants to join the prayer circle.

“My favorite days are Tuesdays because we give out free doughnuts, and so many people make sure they’re here for that,” he said. “We want there to be change in the culture.”

Edited by Matt Wotus

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16 thoughts on “Leading through faith: Hillside High students create prayer circle at school

    • The VOICE thanks the Hillside Chronicle for this story. It was theirs first. And they deserve the credit for passing it on to us.

  1. paula batton says:

    This is amazing. I’m sharing this with my kids (8,10) to show them an example of some strong teenagers working their faith!

    • Yes, Daniel Gwyn is an amazing young man. The VOICE thanks the Hillside Chronicle for the lead on this inspiring story.

    • The VOICE is indebted to teacher Jackie Novotny and her Hillside Chronicle staff for breaking this story.

  2. I just love this article. I don’t know if these youths realize this is the most powerful weapon of all. Starting your day with prayer is an awesome way to start the day. I am speechless!!!!!

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