 Have you ever stopped to think that God has put you or your children in their school with a purpose in mind? You have a chance to make a difference by living out the incredible truth of the gospel: that your life is changed because God purchased you by the death of His own Son. It's a radical message that demands a radical response. On September 28, 2011, hundreds of thousands of students across the nation and around the world will do just that as they gather for See You at the Pole rallies. In 1990, a group of high school students on a youth retreat in Burleson, TX, felt moved to drive to three area schools to pray. Their impromptu prayer launched See You at The Pole (SYATP), a yearly gathering in which students from all denominations meet to pray for their school, their nation, and their world. So, what does a successful SYATP gathering look like? Whether your event has one person or 50 people, if it becomes the starting point for ministry at your school, it's a successful event. The really important thing is the everyday witness of authentic believers praying on their campus. Here are a few tips for facilitating a gathering: 1. Recruit other students to join you in prayer - the most important and probably the hardest part of planning for SYATP is finding other students who will wake up early and pray with you! Give people specific roles to promote individual ownership 2. Invite adults who will cheer you on - Is there a teacher at your school whom you know is a Christian? Do you have a youth leader who has been there for you through thick and thin? SYATP is student led event, but it can't hurt to have a few enthusiastic adults on your team. 3. Enlist support from your church family - Tell church leadership that you see yourself and your friends as missionaries at your school, and that you'd like for the church to send you out by praying for you on a Sunday morning. 4. Bring food - As long as you're up early to pray, it can't hurt to have some doughnuts on hand! Plus, having some snacks available could be a way to share with curious students. 5. Debrief with others - Host a follow-up event in which students can come together later to celebrate what God did on your (their) campus. 6. Think long term - It is about more than just a prayer meeting one day each school year. It's about genuinely living for Christ on your campus every day. 7. Know your rights then lay them down - There is a lot of buzz about the separation of church and state in the media these days. What does the law say about praying on campus? a. It's important to realize that the First Amendment was never intended to limit religious expression. Rather it was meant to prevent government from setting up official religion or showing preference to one religion over another. b. We need to clarify the difference between a public and private school. Public schools are government funded and are therefore bound by the Constitution. Private schools, on the other hand, use private funding to operate - so private school officials can lawfully deny participation in SYATP on campus. "On the whole it's safe to say that as long as SYATP is student led, student initiated, it's constitutional. Not only is it permissible under the First Amendment, students have the right to participate." - Jonathon Scruggs - Alliance Defense Fund attorney As Christians, however, we're called to set aside our rights in order to follow Jesus. Don't be afraid as you participate in SYATP, but if school officials fight you on your participation, respond with love and respect. In the end, such response will shine the light of Christ far brighter than staging a protest. | 
DISASTER RELIEF 
When your church is ready to move forward in seeking home mission opportunities check out the North American Mission Board (NAMB) website (
