Movement of Praying Youth Continues to Grow; Annual See You at the Pole(tm) Set for September 18

Three million students throughout the U.S. will join together around their school flagpoles on Wednesday, September 18 for the 13th annual See You at the Pole (SYATP), a grass roots prayer event that began in Texas in 1990.

Lifting up prayers for America, its leaders and its youth, students throughout the U.S. will join together around their school flagpoles on Wednesday, September 18 for the 13th annual See You at the Pole (SYATP), a grass roots prayer event that began in Texas in 1990. Students will gather around their school flagpoles at 7:00 a.m.

During the past 12 years, millions of young people have lifted voices, bended knees and joined hands to pray for their schools as part of See You at the Pole(tm)-National Day of Student Prayer, asking God to bring moral and spiritual awakening to their campuses and their countries.

"Oh, that you would burst from the heavens and come down" is the 2002 See You at the Pole (SYATP) theme, quoting from Isaiah 64:1-2. The prophet's cry for God to reveal Himself and "make His name known" is echoed in the fervent spirit of many teenagers as they have gathered for See You at the Pole over the years.

In 2001, barely a week after the terrorist attacks on America of September 11, more than 3 million young people met for SYATP in all 50 states of the U.S. Many prayed passionately for the nation in crisis.

There were also reports from countries on six continents, including Australia, Canada, Cayman Islands, China, Finland, Ghana, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, S. Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Philippines, Puerto Rico, S. Africa, Swaziland, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.

See You at the Pole is a student-initiated and student-led movement that started in the Ft. Worth suburb of Burleson, Texas, in 1990. It originated with just one youth group, meeting at night at several schools around Burleson during a weekend retreat.

Church congregations nationwide plan to show support for See You at the Pole by sponsoring special "Campus Challenge Sunday" commissioning services September 14-15, the weekend before See You at the Pole. Participants will recognize and pray for Christian students and educators. Resources have been created by the National Network of Youth Ministries to help church leaders plan for this event. A special video, Planning Guide and Prayer Guide can be ordered by calling
1-888-ALLIANCE and asking for the "Campus Challenge Sunday Resources." Some of this material can be downloaded free from www.everyschool.com.

Media note: For more information about See You at the Pole, local event leaders, or to set up an interview, contact David Overstreet or Doug Clark of the National Network of Youth Ministries at (858) 451-1111 Monday-Friday from 9-5, Pacific Time; or e-mail pray@syatp.com. There is also information on the See You at the Pole web site, www.syatp.com.