2 Oct, 2007
Did you meet at the pole?
Nationwide, students gather at 'See You at the Pole' to pray
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Students across the nation took advantage of their freedom of speech and assembly Sept. 26 as they gathered around flagpoles to pray, share testimonies and worship God with songs.
Chad Childress, director of student evangelism at the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board, described See You at the Pole as "empowering to students because it gives 3 million students throughout the United States an opportunity to gather in a cross-denominational setting and see other students who believe as they do -- that there's something greater."
In Mississippi, even the governor took part in the annual student-led event.
"It's powerful and very emotional when children pray for you," Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said. "When they were praying for me and Marsha, they were praying for the state and the future."
In Georgia, Jeff Jackson was one of several pastors who showed up for See You at the Pole in order to show his support of students.
"We participate in See You at the Pole events at several Forsyth County middle and high schools every year...," said Jackson, adult education pastor at First Redeemer Church in Cumming, Ga., a Southern Baptist congregation.
"Not only did we have 50 or so students involved today, we had more than a dozen of our lay youth ministry leaders to show up at each school," Jackson added. "We want our First Redeemer students to know that their youth leaders are behind them and proud of their stand."
Mark Hall, lead singer of the Christian group Casting Crowns, told the Associated Press that students who gather around their school flagpoles for prayer before classes "are changing the world for the better."
See You at the Pole started with a group of youth in Burleson, Texas, in 1990 and has taken root nationwide as students proclaim their faith publicly and ask God to intervene in circumstances they face together. The event's official website, www.syatp.com, has set up a forum for reporting what God has done at rallies this year.
photos courtesy images.google.com & story bpnews.net, 9/26/07
Acts 1:8-11
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (ESV)
What does today's God's Story scripture about Jesus returning to Heaven have to do with us?
About 2000 years ago, 40 days after Christ's crucifixion, the apostles looked up in the sky as they watched Jesus ascend into Heaven. Some of God's angels passed on a promise from God that really motivated the early disciples to get busy for the sake of Christ!
God spoke through His messengers that Christ's followers should plan on Jesus returning in the same way He went - bodily and visibly! Every day, we are getting closer to the return of Jesus to judge and rule over the earth. We are to work hard to share the Good News of Jesus so that others will be able to share in God's eternal blessings.
So you're wondering how the 'See You At The Pole' events connect with the future event of Christ's return? (Even if you're not, allow me to make the connection.)
Immediately after Christ returned to Heaven, the disciples had a prayer meeting (Acts 1:12-14) to begin relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to enable them to do what Jesus told them to do - to tell God's Story - all around the world!
When a multitude of students all around the world gathered together around school flag poles, they were doing much more than looking up into the sky. They were calling upon the power of the Holy Spirit to move in their hearts and in their lands. Perhaps you were one of them!
God's Spirit is moving in the hearts of Christian youth to spread the Good News of Christ to the hearts of people all over "to the end of the earth".
This is part of the ongoing process of telling God's Story.
- Thank God for the Good News of Christ that brings forgiveness and eternal life in Heaven. Praise Him for the power of the Holy Spirit which gives you the love and courage you need to help spread God's Story all over the world. Pray for the ongoing effect of the 'See You At The Pole' events to be powerful in every nation. Ask God's Spirit to show you how to be involved in some way in the ever-widening circle of Christ's life-changing message.
- Every day, ask Jesus to show you how to learn the stories of others and then connect your story and God's Story to their stories.
- Whenever you see a school flag pole, pray for the story of Jesus to be told and understood in your own world and all around the rest of the world.
- Memorize Acts 1:8 as a reminder of the power and the mission that God has for you.
How can you connect today's story and God's Story scripture and your story to others?
- If you are not in a prayer group for the purpose of encouraging each other to abide in Jesus (grow spiritually) and share His Story, then pray about the possibility of starting one with some school friends, your co-workers, or through your church.
- To be encouraged and challenged, learn more stories from 'See You At The Pole' by going to www.syatp.com.
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