"CONVERGE" (from Matthew 18:20) is the theme for See You at the Pole 2011, the Annual Global Day of Student Prayer. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, September 28, at schools across the United States and in many other countries.
In 2010, teenagers met for See You at the Pole in every U.S. state and many countries around the world. Other nations have launched SYATP movements with their own promotional efforts, including Australia (where it was observed in 2011 on May 26; see stories at www.syatpaustralia.com) and Canada (on the same date as U.S.; www.syatpcanada.com).
But the lesser-known part of the story of SYATP has been how, both locally and nationally, students and youth leaders have taken the event beyond one day to continue prayer, evangelism, and other student-led campus ministry.
The Campus Alliance (www.everyschool.com) offers a wealth of resources to help people adopt and minister to schools in their communities.It was started by the Network, but leaders include a broad cross-section of denominations and ministry organizations.
JoshMcDowell and other Christian leaders have endorsed Christian Endeavor's "Pray WITH Youth" campaign (www.praywithyouth.com), which encourages churches (starting on September 11) to support the need to pray with teenagers.
ClaimYour Campus (www.claimyourcampus.com) was launched by a Michigan youth pastor, Jeff Eckert, who is driven by a vision to see students and their churches "own" on-campus prayer every day of the school week, all year long.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes sponsors "Fields of Faith" (October 12 this year; www.fieldsoffaith.com) to provide an opportunity for students to share the gospel with their friends as a natural follow-up to their prayers for their peers at SYATP.
The40 Day Challenge (www.40days.net) was started in Florida to encourage praying students to grow in their faith, offering support and resources to help them in a more vital walk with God.
These national efforts may not involve nearly as many people as the multitude of local "SAW You at the Pole" rallies, student-led prayer meetings, Bible studies, and clubs that are launched every fall as a logical extension of the prayer rallies on the fourth Wednesday of September.
PerhapsGod has given you or your students a successful strategy. If so, NNYM and SYATP this year will be showcasing them online. Please send details to Doug Clark at dclark@nnym.org or call him at 858-946-1410.
Everything necessary for students to plan and promote a successful SYATP is available free at www.syatp.com. Additional promotional resources can be ordered online or by calling (817) HIS-PLAN (817-447-7526) between 9-5 (Central Time), Monday-Friday. Brochures, a promotional DVD, and posters are some of the materials available for 2011. Media helps for print and radio are also available for download.
NNYM coordinates SYATP promotion. Daryl Nuss, executive director of the Network, commented: "SYATP helps launch teenagers and college students – in unity – to minister to their peers. See You at the Pole empowers students in prayer at the beginning of the school year to take leadership at their schools. What better way is there to begin a semester than to pray for their friends, community, and nation?"
Your church congregations can show support for students by sponsoring special "Campus Challenge Sunday" commissioning services September 24-25, the weekend before See You at the Pole. Participants can recognize and pray for Christian students and educators in their congregations. For resources, please contact Doug Clark.
Clark added, "See You at the Pole, at its best, has never been about oneday. It's been about supporting students and helping them understand how they can be "campus missionaries" all year long."