It was a simple plan that stemmed from a small group of teens who came together for a DiscipleNow weekend in Texas in 1990. Being burdened for their lost friends, their hearts were moved to prayer.

“Compelled to pray, they drove to three different schools that night. Not knowing exactly what to do, they went to the school flagpoles and prayed for their friends, schools and leaders,” says See You at the Pole’s official site. “Those students had no idea how God would use their obedience.”

More than two decades later, the annual event has become a way that millions of students nation wide and throughout the world have connected in prayer.

“Amazing,” said Norman Flowers, Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO) student evangelism and mobilization specialist. “See You at the Pole is such an effective time of ministry and evangelism. Students are praying for students, crying out for God to use them.”

On Sept. 28, students will come together (in prayer) at flag poles throughout Oklahoma for a student-led morning of prayer.

The theme for the 2011 See You at the Pole is “Converge,” based on Matt. 18:20. Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.”

“At some schools, it will be simply a small handful of students who gather to pray,” said Flowers. “At others, there will be huge rallies, with music and a Bible lesson. Either way is a powerful act of faith.”

On the same day as the morning student-led prayer times there will be evening rallies across Oklahoma. Many of these will be supported by associations and the BGCO.

“Last year, we helped sponsor more than 30 different rallies, with (more than) 10,000 students participating,” Flowers said. “We saw more than 300 professions of faith in Christ on that one evening. The State Missions Offering helps dedicate monies to help associations with the rallies, which enables groups to book a venue, a speaker and m ore for the rallies.”

“It is a simple, yet effective way, to hold an evangelistic rally,” said Flowers.

See You at the Pole is all about students praying for God’s incredible power to be released on their campus. It is Christian students from a variety of churches coming together to see a spiritual explosion begin in their lives as well as the lives of other students, teachers and principals.

You can be a part of this movement of God by beginning to plan now. Many adults pray at the local schools on Sunday afternoon or Tuesday evening prior to SYATP. You can also begin preparing for an evangelistic rally at your church or with your association. A SYATP associational rally fund request form must be submitted by your DOM by Wed., Sept. 14, says skopos.org, the BGCO-sponsored website. The site also contains information and resources connected to See You at the Pole, such as four weeks of quiet time materials, as well as information about rallies in your area.

“Some youth ministers in parts of the country have begun to wonder aloud, ‘Is this still an effective event for today’s youth?’ To them I would say it is always effective for the people of God to cry out in prayer for a lost and broken world, asking Him to heal our land and our schools,” Flowers concluded.
For more information, visit www.skopos.org or call 405/942-3800.

Brian Hobbs is director of communications for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.