Students across Oklahoma gathered at their school flag poles on September 25 for donuts, fellowship and worship. But the main reason they assembled was simply to pray.
Millions of students across the United States and in 63 other countries have taken part in See You at the Pole (SYATP), which began 33 years ago when a group of students, following a retreat weekend the year before, followed through on the conviction to pray. The word spread. A movement began.
SYATP continues today. Students gather to pray for family, friends, schools, communities, their state, country and the world. They ask God to move and for Jesus to be known — for God to carry out His redemptive plan in the world and use them to do it.
The movement, however, does not stop at a one day gathering at a flagpole. The event at the flagpole is a springboard. Many groups host collective, area or community post-pole rallies where students gather to celebrate, testify and share the Gospel.
Many have their own gatherings in their churches with their groups to reflect on the day, but the impact hits well beyond just one day or a single event. The fruit of the public event of the pole is the ongoing faithfulness of students to walk in obedience and continue to be an example to those in their sphere of influence.
Josh Pollock, youth minister at Seminole, First, said of the event, “See You at the Pole is one of those rare events where, as a youth minister, I get to step back and simply watch. It is powerful to see students taking charge, leading in worship, fellowship and prayer. What is even more special is watching students, who may not typically lead out during a Wednesday night youth group meeting, lead their peers in prayer for friends, teachers and the lost. It is a unique moment of student-led faith in action.”
Holden McCrackin, NextGen and Missions minister at El Reno, First, said “It’s always uplifting and encouraging to witness students across the state coming together in prayer for their schools, communities, state, country and the world.”
Each September marks a moment of opportunity across our state—students leading out, and adult leaders providing support, empowering youth and engaging a generation with the hope of the Gospel.
It also marks a moment of opportunity for those on the outside looking in—an opportunity to pray, support, equip and involve—to see students mobilized to pray, to serve, to share. It can serve as a great picture and practice of of disciple making, empowering students to carry the light inside to the world around.
It is a good thing to see students set an example in faith. We would be wise to follow their lead. Get involved however you can in the good work God is doing in and through our youth and youth ministries in our state—but first, pray.
