See You At The Pole

See You at the Pole

See You at the Pole™ is a an annual nation-wide event where students join in a movement of prayer that is bigger than themselves. It is like an early morning stadium wave of students’ hands raised in prayer moving across the country.

On the fourth Wednesday in September, before school starts, students stand and pray at their school flagpole. Together, they lift their voices to God in prayer for their friends, families, teachers, their community, their nation, and the world. It is uniquely student-initiated, student-organized, and student-led. Interested in how it began? Find out more here.

Why SYATP?

“When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there” (Matt 18:20 MSG). According to Jesus, even two students gathered at the flagpole to seek His face is enough make our Father want to show up and join in on the wave. That is what scripture tells us. What a motivating picture and promise!

Here are some practical advantages of SYATP for leaders:

Increase the amount of prayer happening on your campus.
Meet students and catalyze a movement at the start of the school year.
Help curious or new students meet Christians on campus.
Build connections with other ministry-minded adults (pastors, parents, teachers, administration, etc.)
Create an opportunity for students to lead in prayer.

For Students, SYATP…

provides a place of belonging for those who want to see God impact their campus.
makes a way for students who pray to find each other.
connects and unifies believers & Christian groups on campus.
is a visible yet vulnerable sign to peers of students’ love and faith.
is a unique opportunity to identify other adults who care and pray.
gives them a vision for their whole school, community, and nation.
is an easy way to kick-start a prayer group on campus.

As someone who cares and prays, who will you challenge to participate in a wave of prayer at SYATP this year?

If it is just you and Jesus right now, will you show up to pray and trust God to start a wave by His Spirit?

It is like an early morning stadium wave of students' hands raised in prayer moving across the country.

Why Leaders Keep Returning to the Pole

“This could very well be the most important national student event of the year. Whenever you get one million teenagers praying for their schools, God takes notice . Only in eternity will we know what God has done in answer to the courageous prayers of students holding hands around their flag pole.”

-Kevin Young, Cru High School National Director

“SYATP challenges us (as leaders) to release control and allow students to step up .”- Jason Dinh, San Diego Team Leader, Cru HS

“When students experience the glory of God through prayer, everything else will fall into place…”- Annie, high school student leader

“SYATP is a significant opportunity for students to take a physical stand and make prayer a tangible action point. Because students stand outside and pray while their peers walk into school and watch them, it’s a big faith step for many.”- Jason Geick, San Diego Team Leader, Cru HS

“One year, we challenged our girls to lead SYATP at their school on very short notice. It gave them a heart and vision for their whole school .”- Laurie and Carol, Orlando Team, Cru HS

“I always wanted to be the person who organized the students who would lead SYATP so we could have students sign our sign up sheet so we would have all the names. That way, we would be able to invite them personally to different opportunities Cru has later.” -Scott from Cru’s Coaching Center

“Sometimes SYATP gives students a chance to share their faith with their friends who don’t know Jesus yet.” Chris Trimpe, Indy Field Staff, Cru HS

“Early morning, genuine, bold, visible prayer from the hearts of students ushers in the presence of God in the most powerful way. I have seen spiritual movements birthed from simply a few students gathering to pray at SYATP.”- Dawn, Cru HS, Orlando

“When you see teenagers, youth leaders, and administration gather around a poll and go before their King, you see the unity of the church and a piece of heaven on earth. ” – Carlos, Orlando Team Leader, Cru HS

The effects of this "stadium wave" will ripple into eternity. So what are you waiting for? Start the wave.

If You Are Ready for The Pole...

Here is How To Prepare

Download SYATP App or visit SYATP’s website.

Both are packed with resources to help students make their “stadium prayer wave” as big or as intimate as they envision. The website comes complete with these simple sections on how to prepare:

PRAY – some basic ways to pray as you prepare
PREPARE – a downloadable preparation checklist
PUBLICIZE – promotional videos, photos, graphics, a virtual SYATP warehouse
PLAN – includes a downloadable planning guide . You will also find a list of students’ rights as well as resources for legal help, just in case. [Scroll down to see it.]

The effects of this “stadium wave” will ripple into eternity. So what are you waiting for? Start the wave.

For more information about SYATP, check out SYATP FAQs .

Next Step

Visit SYATP.COM and start planning your SYATP for September. Talk to other youth groups in the area to see if they will join you on that day to pray for your school.

SYATP.COM

From Grief to Purpose: Finding God in the Storm

Growing up in a Christian home, she always knew about Jesus, but her relationship with Him didn’t feel personal until tragedy struck in eighth grade. Transitioning from homeschooling to public school had already pushed her out of her comfort zone, and anxiety loomed as she struggled to find her place. Then, during the fall of 2020, both her parents contracted COVID. While her mom recovered, her dad’s condition worsened, leading to months of uncertainty. She vividly remembers the day he left for the hospital and the long, heartbreaking journey that followed. Despite moments of hope, her dad passed away on February 20th, 2021. At just 13 years old, she faced the devastating reality of losing her father—a loss that shook her world and her faith.

In the midst of that grief, she began to see God’s hand at work. During sleepless nights and moments of overwhelming sorrow, God surrounded her with people who cared—friends, family, and a community that embodied His love. Though the pain of loss didn’t disappear, she found comfort in the truth that this life is not the end. Inspired by Paul’s words about eternity, she started to see her father’s passing as a reminder of the hope we have in Christ. That hope spurred her to action. On a family mission trip to Thailand, she met students leading Cru groups at their schools, and the seed was planted to start something similar back home. Despite initial uncertainty, God provided resources, opened doors, and brought others alongside her to launch Cru at her school—a ministry that has been thriving for nearly a year now.

"Anxiety loomed as she struggled to find her place."

Her story is one of resilience, faith, and transformation. Through unimaginable grief, she discovered the depth of God’s love and the strength found in trusting Him. The loss of her dad deepened her desire to share Jesus with others, knowing firsthand how essential His presence is in life’s hardest moments. Cru has given her a platform to do just that—to tell others about the God who redeems brokenness and uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Her journey reminds us that while pain is inevitable, God is sovereign, faithful, and able to bring beauty from ashes.

Next Step

Check out Christina's Story and consider how God might use an international mission in your or another student's life.

christina's story

The Six Milestones Every Student Needs to Grow in Faith

Why These Milestones Matter

If we are not careful, students can float through our ministry without ever taking real steps forward. They might show up every week, but never really grow or take ownership of their faith. Milestones give us a simple, clear map for helping them keep moving. They help us answer the question, “What’s next for this student?” and give students the courage to take that step.

When we guide students from milestone to milestone, we are not just helping them stay involved. We are helping them grow into strong, confident followers of Jesus who are ready to lead and influence others.

Share Christ with a Student Who Doesn’t Know Jesus

Before anything else, a student needs the chance to hear the good news of Jesus in a clear and personal way. This is where it all begins. Many teenagers have never heard the gospel explained in full, even if they have been around church. Take the time to share about God’s love, our need for forgiveness, and the hope we have in Christ. The first step in their journey is not about them sharing their faith — it is about them hearing it for the first time.

Helpful Resources:

Lead a Student Through Their First Follow-Up

When a student says yes to Jesus, it is just the start of something new and exciting. The first follow-up meeting is where you can help them understand what it means to walk with God daily. It is also a chance to build trust and start a discipleship relationship. This step anchors their new faith and helps them grow instead of drifting away.

Helpful Resources:

Help a Student Understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit

Helping students understand the Holy Spirit is a game-changer. Too often, new believers try to live the Christian life in their own strength, and it leaves them frustrated. Teaching them about the Spirit-filled life shows them how to depend on God’s power for both living and sharing their faith. This is when students start to realize that God is not just calling them to do hard things — He is empowering them to actually do them.

Helpful Resources:

GodTools App (go through the Satisfied tool with them)
Holy Spirit Booklet

Holy Spirit Study in Thrive Studies

First Evangelism Experience

Many students have never had the chance to talk about their faith with someone who doesn’t know Jesus. Taking them out to share, whether on campus, at an event, or in the community, changes that. At first, they might feel nervous, but once they see God working through them, it can be life-changing. That moment when a student realizes, “God just used me to help someone understand the gospel” — that is the spark that often leads to a lifetime of ministry.

Helpful Resources:

Challenge to a Cru Training Event

There is something powerful about getting students away from their normal routine and into an environment filled with worship, biblical teaching, and friends who are chasing after Jesus. Conferences give them the space to grow, hear from God, and take big steps of faith. The bus ride there might be full of nerves, but the ride home is usually buzzing with stories of what God did. Over and over again, we have seen students return from these events ready to lead and make a difference.

Helpful Resources:

Conferences Page

Challenge to Spiritual Leadership on Campus

Teenagers are capable of more than they realize. The world constantly challenges them to step up in sports, academics, and clubs, but sometimes the church forgets to ask them to lead in ministry. Giving students real leadership opportunities — leading a Bible study, speaking at a meeting, planning an outreach — unlocks their potential and sets an example for younger students. Over time, this creates a culture where leadership is expected and contagious.

Helpful Resources:

Student Leader Section – GoToTheCampus.com

Wrapping It Up

These milestones are not a checklist to rush through. They are a pathway to help students grow, one step at a time. Every student you know is somewhere on this journey. Your role is to encourage them, challenge them, and walk alongside them as they take the next step. The goal is not just to build a ministry — it is to build students who live on mission for Jesus for the rest of their lives.

Want to dig deeper? Check out our full conversations about the Six Milestones in these YouTube videos.

Next Step

Write down the names of every student in your ministry. Identify their current milestone and decide how you can help them reach the next one.

The Priceless Project: Impacting Girls in Public Schools

The Priceless Project: Impacting Girls in Public Schools

The Priceless Project is a powerful small-group resource designed especially for girls, offering a safe, encouraging space to talk about identity, value, and purpose. It’s already making a difference in public schools, giving students a chance to connect, grow, and be reminded of their worth.

One of its greatest strengths is flexibility. The Priceless Project comes in two versions:

A Bible study version for church, youth group, or Christian school settings
A public school version with the same strong themes but without Scripture references — making it ideal for campuses that might not allow explicitly faith-based content

The public school version can be a great way to get in the door on a campus that’s difficult to access. It allows you to mentor a group of girls who need it, build relationships with them, and meet real emotional and social needs in a way that schools welcome.

Priceless Project

from Emily French

Why use The Priceless Project?

Creates a safe, respectful space for girls to share and be heard
Meets real emotional and social needs in public schools
Builds leadership and peer-to-peer mentoring skills
Easy to use, with free resources and an app for facilitators
Proven track record in schools through partnerships with teachers and administrators

All digital resources are free for Cru. Use the discount code PricelessCru at checkout. All physical books are available for purchase at iampriceless.me.

A free Priceless Project App is also available for Apple and Android — with digital curriculum, playlists, blog posts, and a safe space for facilitators to connect with the girls they lead.

You can learn more, explore the curriculum, and order resources at iampriceless.me.