November 9, 2025
On a September morning, while most students are just arriving for class, clusters of teenagers across Georgia gather at their schools’ flagpoles. With bowed heads and joined hands, they pray for their classmates, teachers, and nation — continuing a tradition that began more than three decades ago in Texas and has since spread worldwide.
See You at the Pole began in 1990, when a small group of high school students in Texas felt burdened to pray for their local schools. Word quickly spread, and just a few months later, more than 45,000 students across four states were participating. By 1991, the movement had gone national, with around one million students participating. Today, students around the world gather as one voice to pray for their schools and leaders.
What has made the event endure is its simplicity: it is completely student-initiated and student-led. Churches and youth leaders encourage and equip, but the leadership rests with students themselves. This student-driven model has allowed SYATP to flourish across generations and cultures.
Across Georgia, See You at the Pole has become a familiar sight each fall. From Atlanta suburbs to small rural towns, students step forward to lead their peers in prayer before the first bell.
As Georgia teenagers face increasing pressures, from mental health struggles to cultural division to the desire to feel safe on school campus, the event continues to shine as a reminder that prayer still matters.
For many students, this moment is their first bold step in living out their faith publicly. It often sparks greater confidence to live for Christ in classrooms, on athletic fields, and in friendships. Tim Allgood, associate pastor of families at FBC Hartwell, See You at the Pole signals both unity as believers, as well as dependence on God.
“Events like this send a message of dependence. Looking to and depending on God for guidance, protection, direction, and help. This is a wonderful opportunity for students from various churches to come together on our school campus to worship and pray as one.”
Some may wonder if a decades-old event still resonates in today’s fast-changing world. Yet See You at the Pole's longevity is itself a testimony to its ongoing value. For more than 30 years, it has given students a framework for ownership, unity, and boldness in their faith. This isn’t just about one day of prayer. It becomes a launching point for discipleship.
Kevin Stout, student pastor at Central Baptist Church in Warner Robins, also sees the impact the event has in his community. “Anytime a teenager wakes up early people take notice and See You at the Pole gets the community’s attention every year here in Warner Robins. I personally receive numerous texts of encouragement from people in the community every year.”
As another school year continues, See You at the Pole remains more than just a single day on the calendar. It is a spark — one that churches, families, and communities can help fan into flame throughout the year. Far from being outdated, it continues to remind Georgia communities that prayer is both timeless and timely. In a world where so much divides, the sight of young believers praying at the flagpole still speaks volumes.
Whether it is See You at the Pole or any number of various ministry opportunities, there is deep significance in students taking their faith outside the walls of the church, gathering as one voice, and seeking the Lord together.
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