Wondering how to make See You At The Pole a win for your community? That question came up in an online youth ministry group, and Nick Cancemi shared a great strategy. We asked him if we could share it with you. See below for some ways Nick and his local network shared resources and strategy to make SYATP an asset to reaching every student in their community. What are your best tips? Share them in the comments!
#1 - Tear down walls of separation.
When I was serving in Texas, I would host a SYATP training session. I invited other churches of various denominations and asked them to bring their leaders or students who would want to help lead SYATP on their campus. This got students working together towards one goal, as opposed to a bunch of smaller group all having their own idea of how the morning should go.
#2 - Guide the students, but let it be student led.
I usually helped provide a place for them to meet and plan, provided food, and supplies for the meetings, and then let them get to it. I and the other YPs would always answer any questions they asked and give minor suggestions if they asked for them, but we tried to be as hands-off as possible.
#3 - Pour some money into the event.
More than the donuts/juice the morning of; but really invest in it. Help pay for signs, banners, etc for promotion. I think SYATP is less successful now because it is not promoted very much. Buy some shirts, bracelets, etc.
#4 - Make it more than a one-day event.
I usually challenge the leaders to gather at the pole to pray the entire week before the event and the entire week after the event. A pre-rally and/or post rally are awesome ways to keep the spirit of the event alive and allow for multiple groups to gather. I would always pay for a post-event and another YP in town would pay for a pre-event. We would alternate where these were hosted each year (churches, community center, school, etc) to avoid it being an event associated with one particular church.
Nick is a husband, father, and pastor and serves in Knoxville, Tennessee as the Associate Pastor at Sharon Baptist Church. His primary responsibilities are youth ministry, all ages of discipleship, and media ministry. I am passionate about discipleship, being a Godly father/husband, and college football! Connect with him more - CLICK HERE