Millions of students across the nation and around the world will gather for prayer at their school flagpoles on Wednesday morning, Sept. 23, before classes begin. They will join hands and hearts to pray for their friends, families, schools, communities, and nation.

“See You At The Pole,” (SYATP) is a student-organized and student-led event that began in 1990 with a small group of teenagers in the Ft. Worth suburb of Burleson, Texas. The event has grown to God-sized proportions, spreading around the world.

Twenty-six years later, millions of students from all 50 states and many countries will pray at their school flagpoles. God used the obedience of a small group of teens to start an international movement of prayer among young people.

According to www.syatp.com, the event “brings students to their school flagpoles to intercede for their leaders, schools, and families, asking God to bring moral and spiritual awakening to their campuses.”

“United” is this year’s theme, and is based on Acts 1:14, “They all met together and were constantly united in prayer.” SYATP is about “students uniting themselves in prayer before God interceding for their generation.”

It involves students in elementary schools, junior high, high schools, and colleges across the globe. Adults often pray in support of the students on campus by gathering nearby – at their places of work or worship, or at city halls.

During the 10 to 15 minute event before school starts on Sept. 23, students who choose to attend are asked to pray for their school, friends, family, churches and communities.

According to the San Diego-based National Network of Youth Ministries, who coordinates the promotion of SYATP, “Every year, we have seen this day serve as a springboard for unity among teenagers.” Organizers have said that “See You At The Pole” isn’t about which grade a student is in or what church he or she attends. It’s not a political rally or a stand for or against anything. It’s about coming together to pray.

Facing the pressure of their peers to try alcohol and drugs, students need prayer to stand strong against temptations. This generation of young people needs our prayers too. Most of their music tells them to be promiscuous, risking STD’s and unplanned pregnancies. Some songs, movies, and video games encourage violent behavior.

“The greatest thing anyone can do for God and for man is to pray,” writes author S.D. Gordon. Someone once said, “Don’t underestimate two minutes with God in prayer.” This special time of prayer could bring about the moral and spiritual awakening that our country so desperately needs.

Someone once said, “When we are linked by the power of prayer, it’s like we’re holding each other’s hands.” On Wednesday morning, Sept. 23, when students gather to pray around their flagpoles, let’s join our hearts with them as they join hands and pray together. Let’s unite with them in prayer for our children, their teachers and their schools.