Several Nicholls students will gather around the flagpole near Elkins Hall
Wednesday to pray for their school, community and nation during the 14th
annual “See You At the Pole: National Day of Student Prayer” event.
Students from Christian student organizations and local churches will meet
at three separate times: 7 a.m., 7:30 a.m. and noon. The
non-denominational, student-led, student initiated event, however, is not
limited to churchgoers.
“This is for everyone who wants to pray,” Carrie Manning, freshman from
Houma, said. “There are so many things that need prayer right now, and this
is a great time for students to come together and pray for those things. I
encourage students to participate because great things happen because of
‘See You at the Pole.'”
Praying about a looming war in Iraq, more than 75 students gathered around
the flagpole at Nicholls during three separate times last year.
Nationally, more than 2.5 million teen-agers and young adults gathered for
the event that lasts about 30 minutes at their schools in all 50 states.
About 25 foreign nations participated in the event as well.
During the past 13 years, millions of young people have lifted their voices
and joined hands asking God for spiritual and moral awakening to their
campuses. SYATP, held every third Wednesday of September, coincides with the
national Youth Prayer Week from Sept. 14-20.
“It’s a special time,” David Billiot, freshman from Houma, said. “I think
it’s great that students join together each year to pray and share their
faith with one another. Students who participate show they care spiritually
about their school.”
This year’s theme, “Consumed,” is based on a passage from 1 Kings 18:26-39
when the Israelites completely surrendered to God:
” … (The prophet) Elijah stepped forward and prayed, Let it be known
today that you are God, that you are turning their hearts back again,…
then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt offering … when all
the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, he is
God.”
“The theme says it all,” Blake Butler, freshman from New Orleans, said. “The
Christian students on campus should just be sold out for God and sharing
their faith with others, and acknowledging him in all our ways.”
Churches around the nation support the event by hosting special “Campus
Challenge Sunday” services the weekend before SYATP.
SYATP started more than a decade ago when a group of teen-agers from
Burleson, Texas, traveled to three schools and prayed around their flagpoles
during a weekend retreat. A few months later, more than 25,000 teen-agers
were challenged during a youth rally to follow the same example at their
schools.
Almost 50,000 students at 1,200 schools did just that, holding the first
organized flagpole prayer event on Sept. 12, 1990 at 7 a.m. Just a year
later, the event became national. It has grown on to become an international
event also.
The event is not a protest, and is protected by a federal law that says all
student initiated prayer and religious gatherings are legal at any school at
any time if it does not interfere with schoolwork.
“I think it’s really awesome that students gather to pray around the flag
pole once a year,” Luke Sedotal, freshman from Thibodaux, said. “It would be
nice, however, if students prayed every day and not just at “See You At the
Pole.'”