Christian Youth Join in Nationwide Prayer Event
Millions of teenagers across the states and around the globe called out to God at 7 a.m. for ''See You at the Pole'' to intercede for their campuses in prayer.
WASHINGTON – The typical school day begins with the sound of a bell, a rub of the eyes and students sleepily walking into their classrooms. Today, young believers closed their eyes with a different purpose – to intercede for their campuses in prayer.
Students at practically every high school in the Tri-State area joined for the annual “See You at the Pole” (SYATP) Wednesday morning.
"It's really big around here," said Chris Winkler, multi-area director of the national capital area for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, to the Christian Post.
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"I've been doing this for five years with the FCA," he added. "Every year, it's been growing. One school goes from five to 15, from 50 to 100, from 100 kids to worship songs."
Some 250,000 students from the Metro D.C. area alone are taking part in SYATP this year, according to Winkler, who helped promote the student-initiated and student-led movement through the distribution of resources and fliers and by word of mouth to teachers, parents and youth groups.
In addition to the students in the local area, millions of teenagers across the states and around the globe called out to God at 7 a.m.
"We are excited about what God is doing in this community throughout the U.S. and elsewhere," said David Overstreet, spokesman for SYATP and Assistant Director for Field Ministries of National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM). "We see a generation excited about ministry, not just hearing about it."
NNYM President Paul Fleischmann summarized the prayer movement to four points: "to reach the teenager, to stimulate partnerships, to enhance the character of youth workers and to encourage global networking."
Without the excessive tools or complications, SYATP is a simple yet impactful gathering.
"You really don't need much of anything because all you need to know is to go to your school flagpole and pray for [your] campus and well being of the community and the church," said Fleischmann.
Nevertheless, "it is likely that it is the largest prayer gathering for students," he added.
"It's our message more than the technology that impacts the students," commented Overstreet.
The message, he explained, is "God working throughout our students to make a difference in our campus, community and country."
"The students will use it to encourage other students."
With more teenagers spiritually hungry, Winkler noted that students can be equipped to reach out to their fellow peers.
"If we train students to lead others in their love for the Lord, they are missionaries in their schools," he said. "I desire to see the next generation raised up for Christ."
[Editor's Note: Pauline J. Chang contributed reporting from Washington for this article.]
