TO THE ADULTS: Please DO NOT Attend “See You at the Pole” With Your Teenager
See You at the Pole (SYATP) is scheduled for September 25, 2024. For those who have been part of evangelical churches for years, especially those who grew up and attended youth group while in high school, SYATP is one of those annual events that often is placed on the youth group’s calendar.
And once again, I hear murmurs from adults about how to be involved and lead out.
It happens every year. Well-meaning adults desire to join students at their respective schools to pray. Prayer is wonderful and needed and certainly adults should pray for their teenagers and their schools.
But…please…please hear me out. Adults…DO NOT join your students and lead out at See You at the Pole.
History of SYATP
I’ll be brief with the history. When I was a youth pastor in 1990 in Fort Worth, Texas we heard from our state convention’s youth evangelism department about a movement started in Burleson, Texas by the students in Rick Eubank’s church. They wanted their friends and peers to come to Christ and felt led to pray for them. However, they wanted to pray at the school and have Christian students from other churches join them.
The question was “Where to meet.” The answer was “the flagpole.” Why? Because every school has a flagpole.
That small group met. Then, other Baptist youth groups began to do so at their respective campuses. Soon, within just a few years, the movement went national and now is global.
So, a student-led prayer time at the students’ schools began.
Why Students Only?
I actually believe teenagers can and should lead their prayer meetings at their schools. I know there are adults at the school, in local churches, and in the homes who love these students dearly and want to stand with them and pray alongside them. That is noble and right. There are some who want to help them make the event happen. There are even some who would lead out and plan everything for the students as well.
But, please understand my plea. If adults do all the ministry events and activities for their students, we truly do not have student ministry, we have adult ministry for students. While that may not sound bad, it totally eliminates the “equipping the saints” command of scripture.
SYATP led by students, even if not as polished as if the adults led it, is totally legal with no grey areas regarding religion, government property, and equal access. Do adults have the right to pray as well. Yes and I am sure many would want to fight for their right (I’m humming Beastie Boys right now) to pray on campus. Many already have. But remember, the Equal Access Act states students have the right and can do this. Once adults show up, even well-meaning ones, the focus will be less on the prayer and the students leading and more on the adults.
Just because you have the right to do something does not mean it is right (or best) to do something.
Sometimes government officials seeking to draw attention to the need for prayer in school will desire to attend and may even promote the event via press releases and notifications on social media. What happens? The gathering shifts, even if not intended, to focus more on the officials and the politics of the gathering.
When students are led well, they can lead well. Therefore, my plea is to lead the students in what the prayer gathering truly is about.
Over the past years some have declared it to be a patriotic gathering. This is likely because it is at the flagpole and thus posters and flyers that promote it often have the red, white, and blue displayed. But remember why the flagpole was chosen. It was not to “take back our country” or even to be patriotic. It was simply chosen because every school has one and teenagers needed a location to gather that was easy to find and accessible.
Some have declared that having such a prayer gathering is what Jesus said not to do when he called out the Pharisee who prayed so others would see. I know SYATP can become that, but motive is key.
Thus, the questions are continually asked of our students, “Why are you praying? For what are you praying?”
The prayers are for fellow students, teachers, administrators, and anyone else who gathers or meets on that campus. It’s simple. It’s intercession. It’s not a prayer so that others will see who is praying (though they will.)
One More Thing
Students will do as they choose, but can I recommend not making SYATP an outside worship service with a band and a speaker. Music is good, but not required for the gathering. A few worship songs people actually know may be good, but a full “worship set” is likely too much and will take away from the time of prayer. A speaker is not needed except for someone to describe what is happening and to give guidelines and instructions. They can say “We’re here to pray about _______________. Now let’s pray.” Maybe a few pray on a microphone with a speaker available, but not necessary. Just pray. Maybe gather in groups of three or four and pray. Sometimes, we seem to think every gathering needs to look like a well-planned crusade.
Students, I encourage you to go to your school on September 25. For our schools we are recommending 30 minutes before the first bell. Spend about 10-15 minutes at SYATP then go get ready for class.
When the prayer rally is over, be ready. Some won’t like it. Some will make fun of you. That’s happened at every campus since 1990 likely. But, even if you are the only one at your flagpole praying, know you are not alone. God is there and other Christians are gathered throughout the world joining you.
Pray. Believing.
And mom, dad, pastor, student pastor, coach, teacher, administrator, government official, school alum…don’t go. Just pray where you are and let the students lead out. They can do it.
