All around the globe, in every time zone, millions of students will be gathering at their flagpoles, praying for their school, friends, families, churches, and communities on Wednesday morning, Sept. 28, before classes begin.

“See You At The Pole” (SYATP) – described as a student-organized and student-led event – began in 1990 with a small group of teenagers in the Ft. Worth suburb of Burleson, Texas. This year students from all 50 states and 20 countries will pray at their school flagpoles. Students in elementary schools, middle/junior high schools, high schools, and colleges/universities will be participating.

For the last 25 years, “See You at the Pole” has been about one simple act—prayer, with students uniting themselves in prayer before God for their generation, the group states on their website www.syatp.com.

“We cry out – A generation seeking Him!” is this year’s theme, based on Psalm 24:3–6 that reads, Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart….who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face” (NIV).

During the 10- to 15- minute event before school starts on Sept. 28, students who choose to attend are asked to pray for God to bring moral and spiritual awakening to their campuses and countries.

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.”

On Wednesday morning, Sept.28, when students gather to pray around their flagpoles, let’s join our hearts with them and pray for our children, their teachers and their schools.

SYATP says the best place for adults to pray on that day is not on campus with the students, but at alternate locations such as your church, home, courthouse flagpole, office building flagpole, or military base flagpole.

This special time of prayer could bring about the moral and spiritual awakening that our country so desperately needs.

 

– Jan White is an award-winning columnist. She can be reached at jwhite@andycable.com.