THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 29, 1994 TAG: 9409280132
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
MORE THAN 75 LOCAL young people took part last week in what may have been the largest simultaneous youth prayer meeting in history.
``See You at the Pole'' took place on school campuses across the nation and around the world Wednesday, Sept. 21. These student-led and student-initiated meetings brought young people together before school hours around flag poles outside school facilities to join in prayer for their personal lives, their peers, their schools and their nation.
The idea of ``See You at the Pole'' began in 1990 when a small band of Texas students assembled for prayer in front of their school. Today, SYATP has grown into a national day of student prayer, an annual event observed in all 50 states and many other countries.
In September 1993, well over 1 million students and adults in the United States gathered for prayer, according to estimates. Youths in Canada, Germany, Russia, Hong Kong, Ecuador, Africa, Belgium and Australia also participated.
Heather Leggett and her best friend, Laurie Gardner, helped initiate ``See You at the Pole'' at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy three years ago. According to Leggett, the 10 to 15 students who gathered that first year simply joined hands and prayed silently. But from small beginnings, bigger things happened. Last year, the gathering grew to 28 and included students, faculty and administrators. This year, the number increased to 38.
Leggett and other students also helped organize a Good News Club at N-SA, a weekly Bible study for students held during activity period. Now a senior, one of Leggett's prayer concerns at SYATP this year was that there would be strong student leadership to continue to support this group.
Heather Stafford, a ninth-grader at Nansemond River High School, also met with about 20 students for prayer a week ago Wednesday.
``We ended up with a good turnout,'' Stafford said. ``We mainly prayed that a Bible club could be started by students at our school and that there wouldn't be as many fights at school this year.''
Jonathan Loving, a new student at Nansemond River, was impressed with the response of his peers to SYATP.
``It was great. We prayed for God's help in the new school year and that God would help us to be better Christian examples to other students.''
Brian Saunders, a senior at Lakeland High School, said he has attended several SYATP events over the past three years. ``It's a really good thing. It helps bring Christians together and helps you meet others who share the same values.
``See You at the Pole'' publicity usually spreads by word of mouth among students. And spin-off activities also seem to be generated from SYATP events such as Bible clubs, on-going prayer groups and joint efforts among churches and community groups.
While SYATP is promoted by more than 50 Christian organizations and denominational groups, no one group sponsors this event. It continues to be a grass-roots, student-led effort.
According to SYATP promotional coordinator Doug Clark, this year's event brought together well over 2 million young people worldwide - a significant increase over last year's numbers. As reports continue to come in to the National Network of Youth Ministries' office in San Diego, that number may increase.
Throughout Hampton Roads, hundreds of high school and middle school students participated in prayer at SYATP events. Several student groups also sponsored pre-pole and post-pole rallies to celebrate the results of ``See You at the Pole.''
``This is a great thing for our schools,'' said Neal Johnson, minister of youth and music at Nansemond River Baptist Church in north Suffolk. ``It's helping to change the moral temperament and attitude of our schools.''
Youth minister Yolene Curry of First Baptist Church agreed.
``This event helps kids see they do have a voice and they can have a positive impact on their schools and communities.'' ILLUSTRATION: Jonathan Loving and Heather Stafford gather at the flagpoles
outside Nansemond River High. They were among 18 students who
participated in ``See You At the Pole'' for prayer.
by CNB