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Students across the nation will gather for prayer at their school flagpoles on Wednesday morning, September 25, before classes begin.  They will join hands and hearts to pray for their friends, families, schools and nation.

“For over 28 years, See You at the Pole (SYATP) has been about one simple act—prayer.  SYATP is still about students uniting themselves in prayer before God, interceding for their generation,” according to their website www.syatp.com.

“See You At The Pole,” described as a student-organized and student-led event, began with a small group of teenagers in Burleson, Texas during a DiscipleNow weekend in 1990.

On Saturday night that weekend, their hearts became broken before God and burdened for their friends. “Compelled to pray, they drove to three different schools that night. Not knowing exactly what to do, they went to the school flagpoles and prayed for their friends, schools, and leaders. Those students had no idea how God would use their obedience,” their website tells the history of SYATP.

Three decades later millions of students from all 50 states and many countries will pray at their school flagpoles.  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 and countries.”

“If My people pray” is this year’s theme, based on 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (NKJ)

During the ten to fifteen minute event before school starts on September 25, 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 peer pressure 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.

Someone once said, “Don’t underestimate two minutes with God in prayer.”  Commit to pray for students around the globe as they gather for See You at the Pole on September 25.  On that Wednesday morning, 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.

Jan White is a national award-winning religion columnist. She can be reached at jan@janwhitewriter.com