See You At The Pole?
In 1962-1964 an initiative was launched to remove a mandated prayer from our public schools. Madeline Murray O’Hair succeeded in removing the formal prayer from school, and, others successfu followed by removing Bible reading from the daily school schedule.
But, make no mistake about it. As long as there are tests in school, there will be prayer in school! And as long as our homes and our youth ministries raise spiritually healthy teenage disciples, there will always be Bible reading in our schools.
One of the most important commitments that I have kept since my earliest days in youth ministry has been to attend See You At The Pole (SYATP). Over the course of the last 32 years, nothing has been as effective to systematically restore prayer and Bible reading back into our schools like SYATP.
What is SYATP? This is the global student prayer meeting around the flagpole on the local school campus that was started 32 years ago in Dallas, TX.
SEE YOU AT THE POLE IS A TIME OF PRAYER ANNUALLY ON THE FOURTH WEDNESDAY OF SEPTEMBER WHEN STUDENTS MEET AT THEIR SCHOOL FLAGPOLE BEFORE SCHOOL TO PRAY FOR THEIR FRIENDS, FAMILIES, TEACHERS, SCHOOL, AND OUR NATION. IT IS STUDENT-INITIATED, STUDENT-ORGANIZED, AND STUDENT-LED.
The Importance of SYATP
I have never missed a SYATP. And I am determined to be the only person in world history to NEVER miss a SYATP prayer meeting on the local school campus. If you know me, I have perfect attendance at this point.
Rain, brought an umbrella. Snow, dressed a little warmer. Sickness, went back to bed afterwards. Travel, got up quite a bit earlier. Opposition, prayed anyway. Discouragement, still showed up when I was the only one standing at a flag pole two straight years.
Why? To make a statement to this generation of the importance of having a passion and a mission for the campus setting - the last tribal stop where teenagers can share their faith with their friends.
There are moments in everyone's life that require commitment. Especially in the face of opposition or obstacles.
In 2021, in the U.S., there were about 4.2 million students praying around the flagpole at their schools for SYATP. You cannot remove praying students from our public schools. Actually, teenagers have to be at school. So why not bring their faith? This is part of the reason why I believe this generation is going to lead The Next Great Awakening in America. The public prayers of millions of students around the school flagpole every year will not fail to reach the heart of God.
SYATP History
In the 32 year history of SYATP I have never been disappointed. Whether I’ve been alone or with students, leaders, staff, faculty, coaches, or parents, we cannot lose this powerful freedom. This generation has something to say about The Next Great Awakening in America. And the public school campus is the perfect place to make a public statement for a generation.
We must not allow those who have initiated the movement of taking prayer out of schools to succeed. Our involvement in SYATP is the proof of that. Because there are moments in everyone's life that require commitment, I believe it is just such a moment for this generation.
This year’s theme is AFLAME. Taken from Romans 12, Paul says, “Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.” One version says, “Don’t let the flame go out…PRAY!”
If not now, when? If not here, where? If not us, who?
At almost 60, if I can make this commitment, so can you. It really is a matter of priority. If we do not take our freedom to pray, our freedom to pray may be taken from us!
Here are four important reasons why we must pray on the school campus at the flagpole:
1. Prayer is a public statement against a powerful spiritual adversary.
Satan seems to work more publicly than the church allows God to. It’s almost like the church is hiding God every Sunday behind the walls of our buildings and our faith never makes it to everyday life. See You At The Pole is the perfect time to go public with your faith.
After all, Jesus did not die on the cross publicly, for me to serve him privately.
2. Praying around the flagpole at school will introduce you to many other believers.
You may not even know there are other Christian’s in your school, on your team, or in classroom, but, attendance at SYATP will put you in relationship with other Christians at your school. What a great way to meet new friends.
You really are not alone as a Christian and these kind of public events can bring young and old believers together.
3. Because if we do not take the freedom to pray, the freedom to pray may be taken away from us.
We live in a free country. Let’s not be bound in our faith. Exercising our spiritual prayer muscle will not allow it to atrophy. SYATP is a great statement against the forces trying to remove prayer and Bible reading from the school campus. There are actually many places around our nation that have monthly prayer meetings just like this all year around.
As Edmund Burke once said, “the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing.”
4. There is power in prayer.
It’s only people of prayer who completely understand this. The negativity towards prayer is usually propagated by people who are not praying. We are not simply finite and natural beings. We are infinite and supernatural beings. And prayer connects us to our supernatural Creator. God has not left us in peril and alone without His sovereign hand to work through us to reach a generation.
Here are 5 important practical points about prayer:
• We do not pray to get, we pray to know - nothing wrong with asking. But, our relationship with God is the most important part of prayer.
• Prayer must have a specific time and place or it may not ever happen in your life - I’ve learned that having a planned time of prayer more certainly means that our prayer will be more successful.
• Use prayer and worship together for an explosive experience - prayer and worship are inseparable and create a powerful setting.
• Pray the Scriptures if you want to learn how to pray - sometimes we do not know how to pray and praying the scriptures gives us a guide to more effective praying.
• Remember, prayer is also listening and that should take the pressure off from us thinking that we have to produce in prayer - listening will allow the Holy Spirit to speak clearly to us.
Finally
It seems like the only kind of news that comes out of the public school is bad news. Bullying, suicide, addictions, the sexual Revolution, and gun violence. Just to name a few. But when is the last time the media covered an event like SYATP telling thousands of stories about the friendship, hope, faith, unity, freedom, and the kindness that is prevailing in the public schools of America?
After all, it’s there. But we see what we focus upon.
I’m not as concerned about Madeline Murray O’Hair removing organized prayer from school and other legislation that removes Bible reading from the daily campus schedule. Because I know the truth and have witnessed firsthand the millions of students who faithfully stand as sentinels in a generation on the public school campus.
Please don't miss this years gathering. Next week, September 28, 7 AM local time. I’ll be at a public school in Dallas and interviewing students around the flag pole next week.
Be sure to check into the podcast next week for some exciting stories from the flagpole.