See You at the Pole is a national day of student prayer. Every fourth Wednesday in September, students all over the country, get up extra early and gather at their school’s flag pole and offer up prayer.

The national prayer rally started in 1990 with just 10 participants. Twenty years later, the event has grown exponentially. Millions of students, parents and community leaders participate all over the globe, and it is endorsed by more than 100 ministries. Here in Kosciusko County, Lakeland Christian Academy held a SYATP rally on its campus on Sept. 24, 2014.

“We had about 80 people here today,” says Scott Wiley, director of development at LCA. “It was very interesting to observe the visitors we had from around the community that graciously accepted our invitation to pray with us today.”

“They were astonished that our faculty, staff, students and parents were all actually praying together,” Wiley continues. “This was the first time in a school setting that they have ever observed people openly praying with and for each other.”

“That is something that we probably take for granted here at Lakeland, since we pray with and for our students every day – not just maybe once a year,” says Wiley. “We are truly blessed to have that opportunity. It makes us the close knit family that we are.”

The event started as the sun rose over Winona Lake. Attendees warmed up with hot chocolate donated by Marsh Supermarket.

The Student Worship Arts Team, composed of Landon Buller, Nathan Gross, Heidi Ziebarth and Jeff Jones, led the group in a rendition of the song “The Stand.” After the song, senior Drew Nieveen led a prayer asking that SYATP have a positive impact in the local community and all over the world.

Then Wiley delivered a message about the history of SYATP. Afterwards, attendees split into small groups to pray for their family, friends, school, the nation and the world. The morning closed with the large group assembling into a large circle, holding hands, and joining in a prayer led by 1981 LCA Alumnus and Community Care pastor at Warsaw Community Church Jeff Pfeifer.

“It was a great morning,” says Wiley.