This morning (Sept. 27), students across the country gathered a little earlier than usual at their schools for the 33rd annual See You at the Pole student-led prayer event.
Every year since 1990 on the fourth Wednesday in September, students from around the globe have come together to pray. And as dawn broke in each time zone across the U.S., students, teachers and supporters joined at schools, churches and parks to lift up their friends, families, school, city, state and nation to the Lord.
At Eastside Elementary in Clewiston, Florida, SYATP leaders noted in a Facebook post that “the rain couldn’t dampen our prayers for our students and their families, our educators and our schools this morning. What an amazing way to start the day!”
A supporter at Crisp County High School noted it was “great to see those students who met this morning at the annual See you at the Pole. They prayed for the school, administration, teachers [and] staff but mostly [for] lost students. Students prayed for their families and friends, as well our country’s leaders and local government officials.”
‘Boldness to pray’
Greg Stier, founder and president of Dare 2 Share Ministries International, offered a prayer via social media for students leading prayer events at their schools.
“Father, as teenagers from across the nation and around the world gather around the flagpoles in front of their schools today, fill them with boldness to pray. May their gathering trigger gospel conversations with their fellow classmates who walk by and see and hear. Use all of this to create a wave of student-led, Spirit-empowered revival that sweeps every continent, country, community and campus. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
This year’s See You at the Pole theme is “Wholehearted,” taken from Jeremiah 29:13. Debi DeBoer, ministry director for First Priority Greater Birmingham, said the theme is “very convicting and serves as a reminder that God wants our full commitment.”
“Jesus made us His first priority when He died on the cross for us, and He deserves our full devotion,” said DeBoer, whose organization is part of the First Priority national network of nonprofit youth organizations that support student-initiated, student-led Christian clubs on middle school and high school campuses.
Revival moment
As student ministries report an uptick in attendance at Bible study and worship events this fall following reports of revival on many campuses earlier this year, SYATP is a “moment,” said Doug Clark, national field director of the National Network of Youth Ministries, which coordinates SYATP promotion.
Clark said organizers hope adults and students will consider turning SYATP into a movement that results in regular student-led prayer gatherings.
“The heart of SYATP is extraordinary prayer,” Clark said, adding that SYATP partners with Claim Your Campus to encourage students to pray daily at their schools.
Clark suggested several ways students and others can pray regularly for students:
- Pray every time you drive through a school zone.
- Gather other believing adults and prayer-walk a school in your community in the evening or on a weekend.
- Engage with students and teachers in your church.
- Start a weekly prayer gathering at your school.
- Network with others to hold a post-SYATP rally.
- Report what happened at your SYATP event on social media.
For more information on the history of SYATP and additional resources, go to syatp.com.
