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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 30 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 more than 20 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.”

“First Pray” is this year’s theme, based on the Apostle Paul’s words to a young man named Timothy, which says, “I urge you, first of all, to pray” 1 Timothy 2:1. Today, there is cultural chaos, political unrest, division, and a downward spiral of morality. 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” is not 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.

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 has compiled a collection of her columns in her book, “Everyday Faith for Daily Life.”