California Family Minute

Little did a small group of Texas teens know when they gathered for a weekend youth group retreat early in 1990 and listened obediently to God, that 20 years later the See You at the Pole student movement would blanket all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries. That small group of teens, burdened for their friends, initiated a movement that by September 1990 first drew 45,000 teens in four states. A year later, one million students from coast to coast gathered at school flagpoles. That initial movement has now grown to God-sized proportions. 

Now, with boldness and power, millions of students plan to gather at their school flagpoles on September 22 – to PRAY for their schools, for their teachers, for classmates, and for their communities. They will pray that God will be revealed on their campuses. See You at the Pole is their call to gather in unity and commitment at their school flagpoles at 7 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Uniting at the flagpole on campus allows many students to discover those of like faith and make new friends. In past years, some students have led large gatherings, while others have found only a few like-minded teens. One observer tells of a lone girl, who explained she was meeting with God. 

See You at the Pole (SYATP) is a student-initiated, student-organized, and student-led event. Often, as students gather in the dawn-tinged light of early morning, they find they are not alone; there are other Christians on their campuses. Precious friendships, continued prayer times, Bible studies and Christian campus clubs begin – all from the obedience of teens who gather to pray.  

“Reveal,” based on the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 is the theme for this year’s event. “With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what's best—as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You're in charge! You can do anything you want! You're ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes.” (The Message Bible)

Often, wondering what the world is coming to, adults fear for the coming generation. Now, imagine the future firmly planted in the hands of millions of teens gathering in the early light and committing themselves and their generation to their God.