Dr. Jessica Peck prescribes hope for healthy families on American Family Radio
Hello, and welcome to the Dr. Nurse Mama show, prescribing Hope for healthy families here on American Family Radio. Here's your host, professor, pediatric nurse practitioner, and mom of four, Dr. Jessica Peck.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, hey there, friends, and welcome to my favorite time of day, getting to spend time with you, prescribing hope for healthy Families. Listen, we've got a powerful way to start the week. We are giving you a prescription for hope today to encourage students to pray for their school. Now, the story we're going to tell you today began with a small group of teenagers in Texas who believed that God could do something big if they were willing to pray. That one bold step forward around a flagpole in 1990, which coincidentally was a year I was in school, became see you at the pole a global movement calling students to lead with fleet faith and courage. And today we are joined by Doug Clark, who's the national field director for the national network of youth Ministries, to revisit the powerful origin story of see you at the pole and talk about how God is continuing to lead that movement in the 21st century. And if you have ever wondered what God can do through just a few praying students, well, this is your invitation to find out. Don't miss your chance to be a part of something, something bigger. And Doug, before, welcome to the show.
Doug Clark: What are you seeing God do in generations of young people
Before we get into see you at the pole, you and I were just having a conversation before we started about younger generations, about Gen Alpha, Gen Z, millennials. And I shared with you my disdain for trash talking those generations and just, you know, generalizing, bemoaning the woes of these generations and how their, insert any negative adjective you want. You are seeing God, Ra, powerful leaders and Gen Z, Gen Alpha in millennials. And I would love to just start with a positive word of that. What are you seeing God do in generations of young people, Doug?
>> Doug Clark: Well, first of all, thank you so much for, on your podcast to be willing to, focus on see you at the pole and on what is happening with this younger generation. there's a lot that's happening, many of us who are observers. And I've been in Youth Ministry since 1974. So I go back just a little bit, of time. And during that entire time, I've always been praying God, would you raise up, a generation that will help lead us in revival and awakening in our country and be part ultimately of fulfilling the great Commission in this generation? And to be able to see God move in at different times during those 50 years, has been exciting. But I feel like we're on an uptick right now and so it should be encouraging. Gen Z is in the midst of and Gen Alpha in being in the midst of a big challenge between a worsening mental health crisis on the one hand, which is very real and probably very personal to a lot of your listeners. But on the other hand God is doing some amazing things. I've been watching all summer through summer camps to see what kind of response to the gospel is happening at summer camps. And it's been extraordinary. And youth leader after youth leader after you leader has just testified that they feel like there's something special happening with this generation. I was on the call earlier this morning with some of our team with the National Network of Youth Ministries and one of the observations that was made as we were talking about this subject was that there's been an extraordinary, extraordinary response to the gospel, through summer camps in particular. One of our guys was just down from Alaska and they'd been up at a conference called Fusion up there, Anchorage that happens every year. He said they had one of the largest groups they've ever had and out of that over 80 students had registered first time commitments to, to the gospel and to give their lives to Christ. So again these are anecdotal, but Gen Z is taking initiative, students that are. What was the story my friend in, in Birmingham told me was that they had kids who had been part of a Christian club in their elementary school but when they got into middle school that same Christian club wasn't established yet. It's called First Priority of America and it's a dynamic campus ministry that's student led. And so the students demanded that there would be a First Priority club in their middle school. They did all the work. The principal had not been responsive to youth leaders about helping to get this established but when the students came forward they said okay and they let the students take the lead. And these middle school students were excited about starting a club that's a part of prayer. It includes outreach, includes some sharing and growing together and it has been hitting almost every campus in the entire Birmingham area. So two different ends of the country that way. but there are stories like that all across the country and so something, something's good, something good is happening. I think Carey Nieuwhof who's another podcast leader, if it's okay to talk about other podcasts.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
>> Doug Clark: He does a thing that's just the church trends of the year and he commented in January that Gen, Z is in the midst of revival and, and decline at the same time. But he came back in the middle of July and said I have to revise that because it's revival, it's not decline. Interestingly that young men here and there's been a lot of testimonies and stories coming from England that they have said young men are the ones who are taking the lead in returning to church. And so we're excited about this. It's a great season to be in youth ministry and I feel refreshed in my spirit just to see what God's doing. And we want to kindle it, we want to support it, we want to come around it because they don't want to go alone. They want older Christians to come alongside them. They don't need to take the reins. But that's what see you at the pole is all about. But they, they do want adults to come alongside and support, encourage them. When I could share some ways that some of your listeners could do that.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Absolutely. We're going to equip them to do that today. And Doug, I really hope listeners are listening because you are not alone in telling me of your hope and what you're seeing happen in Gen Z and Gen Alpha. We are hearing from so many ministries. We've heard Moms in Prayer International, we've heard from Fellowship of Christian Athletes, we've heard from all kinds of ministries all over the place who are giving this, this ground swelling. They're giving early reports saying this is happening. We are sensing the heartbeat of revival start to beat within Gen Z and Gen Alpha. And in a world where we are filled and flooded with doom scrolling and we're all hearing bad news and so much negative attitude, I feel like the enemy kind of stirs that up to quell that rev that's happening. And let's not be obstacles or stumbling blocks and let's encourage and lift up the arms of the next generation to carry on the faith. Because I agree with you, something is happening, something is giving. And one of the, you know, one of the things that encourages me about Gen Z, Doug, is I don't know if you've been following this story in the news, but not too long ago Forest Frank, who is an, a musical artist, a worship leader who's very popular with Gen Z, he was skateboarding and I have to say this because I'm a pediatric nurse with no helmet, no shoes. Forest, love you. Just you know, all reinder to everybody to wear their shoes and, and wear their helmet. But he broke his back. And I was following this journey and he was in tremendous pain, Doug. And there was one video that he posted where he's literally crying, asking people, please pray for me. This pain is unbearable. And I saw that he posted an update two weeks later that his back was completely healed, had an X ray, completely healed. And I saw a group, a camp leaders, a camp worship leaders who wrote a song kind of in jest, just if you're going to write a Forrest Frank song, this is how it is. And it was about Jesus making lemonade. And that song was ranked number one across all genres. And this is the arms of Gen Z and Gen Alpha who are saying, we want music that points us to the hope that is in Jesus. And man, you and I could. We could really go talk about that very enthusiastically for a long time.
See you at the pole started in 1990 and continues today
But one of the things that I love, Doug, is that all of this happening, even through see you at the pole, which we'll talk specifically about, it started in 1990. There were kids back then, before social media, before smartphones, who said, we're going to take a step forward and start this. And you've been involved since the early days, like you said, you've been involved in ministry since the youth ministry, since the 70s. So what tell us about the beginning, the origin story of see you at the pole and how you see God continuing to work through that ministry today and that movement.
>> Doug Clark: Ah, yeah. Thank you so much for asking that. Predating, sea with the pole. God has often worked through young people when he's been ready to do something fresh in terms of revival and awakening in our culture. We know the haystack prayer meeting that was leading into one of the great awakenings in our history. And it has been young people who are often at the vanguard. So that's been something that's fueled our desire to support students as they take the lead and do nc at the poll. Well, go back to 1990. if your visitors could or your listeners could visit with me to the living room of a volunteer youth leader couple in Burleson, Texas, just to the south of Fort Worth. And imagine a group of a half a dozen eight freshmen students who have been watching their older high school, peers lead in terms of praying and pouring into them throughout the school year and as they came to the spring of 1990, that they were part of a conference called A disciple. Now, probably a lot of your listeners have heard of that. It's a kind of a thing that's very common in Southern Baptist churches. And they were Sitting in the living room with, their adult leaders. And they were. There was just a time of deep surrender of their lives. Getting rid of every single thing that might be an obstacle, kind of like Hebrews where it says casting off anything that might, encumber, you know, them from, from moving forward with Jesus. And they felt God directing them during this time of surrender to go and to go pray. So now on a Saturday night at the schools in their community in Burleson, I think they went to three campuses and they weren't supposed to leave the house, but they did. It was just out of obedience to the Lord, a little bit of rebellion, but it's kind of a healthy thing. And they went and prayed. They felt awkward, they felt exposed, they felt, conspicuous. But they also felt like Jesus really met them as they were praying. So my friend Rick Eubanks, who was their youth pastor, heard about it. Instead of getting in trouble, he applauded that and saw the continuity of these freshmen students doing what had been, they'd been discipled to do, which was to reach out and care for their friends. Well, that happens in youth groups all over America. And so we hope that'll continue. but these students who took initiative with their volunteer youth leaders, were the inspiration then when, Rick Eubanks was in a meeting planning a statewide evangelism conference for June of 1990. And he shared the story of how God had just really met these students as they prayed. And they started doing that around and they were thinking, okay, these students are going to meet in June. There's going to be 20,000 kids from across the state. how can we help them after the summer to begin the next school year of 1990 with some kind of, energy and unanimity and, or working together, in unity across the state. And so they came up with this idea of see at the pole. And they thought, well, every school has a flagpole. We could just encourage students on a common day at a common time before school to gather and just pray for their schools. Not to make a show, not to do a political thing. It was just to pray for their schools because they wanted to see their friends reach for Jesus. And prayer is the first and best thing that we can do when we care for somebody. It fast forward that when they expected maybe three or four thousand kids across the state of Texas, there in fact were over 50,000 that parade. And it had already spread to three other states. And so that's when it just next year, it was just, it became international. It was really grown. It was a Holy Spirit thing.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Wow. I love seeing things like that and especially seeing that it is student led. This was student led. And you know, I've heard so often so many, so many pastors saying there is no junior Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit that is in adults is in the hearts of young people. And to see their courage and boldness. You know, one of the things I love about young people and young generations is that they're bolder. I wonder, you know, this didn't come in an office setting. You know, there weren't workers who said, oh, let's just go around our office and that kind of thing. But students will have that boldness to do that. And Doug, when we come back, we'll talk some more about the power of prayer and the challenges that are facing students today. I see parents who are more and more fearful about sending their kids to school. They worry about violence and bullying and online they worry about awful things like school shooters and. And we see that fear taking root in the hearts of kids. And we'll talk about how prayer can be such a powerful weapon against, against fear. We'll also give you information about this year's event and how you can get involved as a parent, as a church, as a community partner. There are so many things that you can do. And we'll also talk about what happens after the poll because this isn't just a one day event. As Doug, has shared with us. This is God stirring the hearts of young people and he will continue to work and we will tell you how you can be a part when we come back.
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>> Chain Breaker by Zach Williams: Been walking the same old road for miles and miles. If you've been hearing the same Old voice at the same old lies. If you're trying to feel the same old holes inside? There's a better life, there's a better life. If you got pain, he's a pain taker? If you feel lost, he's a way maker? If you need freedom, or saving he's a prison-shaking Saviour If You got chains, he's a chain breaker.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Welcome back, friends. That is Chain Breaker by Zach Williams. And today we're talking about chains being broken among students. Today, among Gen Alpha and Gen Z, God is doing a work. Now, we live in a time where students are surrounded by noise and stress and unending stress and spiritual battles on every side. But what if prayer wasn't just a response to that, but it was a proactive weapon against it? What if students rising up in this prayer and rising up in prayer could shift the atmosphere in schools and cities and across entire generations? We are talking today to Doug, Clark and he is sharing why this movement matters, what students are really up against, and how. See you at the pole Can ignite hope and healing. So if you are a student, a parent, a youth leader, anyone invested in the next generation, lean in because this is your wake up call to stand in the gap. We're joined by Doug Clark, national field director for the National Network of Youth Ministries, and we're talking about See you at the pole And Doug before the break, I was sharing just the fear that is on campuses. And I remember one time last spring after, the tragic news of a school shooting had happened and I was lacing up my shoes and putting on my, my cheerful pediatric scrubs to go and work at a school in the day. And I felt fear in my heart for the first time. I had not felt that before, but I really felt that palpable sense of going somewhere that is supposed to be safe and wondering if it in fact was.
What do you see as what students are facing in these unprecedented cultural, emotional, spiritual
What do you see as what students are facing in these unprecedented cultural, emotional, spiritual, mental health challenges, as you said? And I can attest to what are those pressures that they're against right now and how can you see, how have you seen prayer as an effective weapon against that?
>> Doug Clark: That's such a good question. mental health crisis is real. I think it's fair and it's helpful as a starting place to recognize that. I'm not a mental health professional. So going into the details of that are, are, are would be a little supposition on my part. But, but, I do know that it's a real challenge that's facing young people, youth leaders that we talk with, deal with this all the time. Suicide is up, ah, suicidal ideation has increased. Those would be two examples of some of the most extreme. But then students are often just very isolated and lonely. the last 13 years in particular, cell phones have become an instrument that has isolated students. They're spending more and more time on their screens and, and less and less time with each other and, and with with their friends. So it's, those are real issues. And so at the same time students are hungry for relationship. They are, by every research that I've seen, they're open to an experience with God, not particularly interested in Jesus and they want to know about Him. And so the opening opportunities that we have in front of us are remarkable. so there's a, there's that and, and anything that is done in terms of that kind of ministry of evangelism has to be preceded by prayer. So it's building a foundation for ministry that especially reaches the schools. And so we're trying to focus on uniting ministries together to pray for schools, adults praying for schools, students praying for schools, and, and to organize and encourage that in every way that we can. so that's, that's, that's the bottom line.
How do you see the relationship between revival and student led prayer
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, what do you see as the connection between, you talked about revival and how you see that as a heartbeat in this generation? How do you see the relationship between revival and student led prayer?
>> Doug Clark: Every spiritual movement that has happened. I remember a guy who was one of my favorite revival historians, J. Edwin Orr, who's with the Lord now. He's a professor of mine in seminary. And he said when God wants to do something with his people, he always sets them to praying. The Welsh revival that happened in the 1910s, that started in Wales and spread over here. We hear of the outward things that happened, the, the revival that broke out. But there was a guy by the name of Evan Roberts who was faithfully praying, extraordinary praying, prior to that to help build the foundation for that revival. And there are always prayer initiatives that happen and the Holy Spirit gets people to praying before, before there's an awakening. So that it's a, it's a direct connection and has always been evident. The, I, mentioned the Haystack prayer meeting. That was a prayer meeting before it was a revival. the businessman revival. This was in the 1850s. Started with an upper room in a church in Manhattan with a prayer meeting at noon. That spread and became a prayer, prayer movement across the country. As far as Portland, Portland, Oregon and so those. The prayer has always been the thing that's, that's, that's been at the forefront of it.
How have you seen prayer specifically associated with See you at the pole impact schools
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: And how have you seen prayer specifically associated with See at the pole impact individual lives and schools? I'm sure having been involved in it as long as you have, there have been moments that have just really stood out. And I think it's important to say for all of the moments that we know about. There are so many stories, I'm sure, that are being written in the annals of heaven that we won't know this side of eternity, all of the impact that it has. But can you share with us maybe some specific examples, some stories that come to mind where lives have been changed, schools have been changed, hearts have been changed.
>> Doug Clark: I've heard of several schools where this has happened. So it's the same story that's been almost reproduced in different places in Houston and in Michigan. I have a friend, Jeff, Eckert, who started a ministry called claim your campus, which takes the idea of see you at the pole and then helps, equip students to pray every single day of the week with this app that they've supplied. CYC app. And it started though one of his favorite stories is they had a school where there was violence happening. We've seen this happen in Cincinnati with one of our team members with the national network of youth Ministries as well. But there was violence and fights just consistently happening. And so the youth pastors came together and they began to just pray consistently every single day. The fighting just dropped off to nothing. It happened at a school in Houston, it happened in Cincinnati, it happened in Michigan. But they found it just a direct correlation and we believe a causal connection in heaven between, the violence in the school and the fact that they were praying every single day for the school. Well, that the principal noticed that. And the one in Cincinnati came to our staff member, Orlando Hale, and she said, this is because you're praying. You've been coming and praying, and we see the difference. And so administrators can see that. And it makes them more open to spiritual things as well. That's just one example that's been multiplied into in many places.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: It's so encouraging. And I feel like in today's day and age, you know, all that you said about the mental health crisis, for me as a, as a primary care health professional, I can attest that is all very true. And when we look at people coming together thinking, what can we do about this? I think there is a tendency towards self help. There's a tendency towards what program do we need to put in place? What curriculum do we need? What app do we need? What, you know, life intervention. And those things all have their time, place. I am not saying that those things are bad at all, but in the context of a community of faith, I think there are some things that are just beyond our power, Doug. There are things that we cannot fix. And then we try as humans to control the environment because that's what makes us feel safer about sending our kids to school. And there's some extent that we've got to release that. And prayer is such a powerful weapon that is so often overlooked or taken for granted, you know, yeah, yeah, of course we're going to pray, but we're also going to do these things. And those follow up things are so important. But I think many times that prayer is just put on the back burner. And that's one of the most powerful things to me about See you at the pole. Now, I was in high school in the 90s. I did stand around a flagpole, praying for my school. And I remember those moments and just feeling like it was, it was such a comfort to know that there was a God who sees, who knows, who cares, who is more powerful than I can imagine. And putting your cares into those prayers is really powerful.
James 5:16 is a simple prayer that we need to lean into
And I love that each year when you do see you at the poll, you have a unique theme you prepare specifically for. What is God going to do that year? So I would love for you to talk about this year's theme.
>> Doug Clark: Yeah. Could I precede that by just underscoring what you just said?
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Absolutely.
>> Doug Clark: Personally convicted by, again, I was listening to a podcast and there was a young woman who was on staff at a church in Waco, Texas, and she was sharing about her interaction with others. She's only in her young 20s, but she, she was sharing about how they would meet regularly with those, other young adults at her church. And she made this offhanded comments like, well, we meet together every week, we confess our sins, we pray for each other. And she went on and talked about something else and I, I found myself sitting back and going, James 5:16 is so clear and simple, but here's a guy who's been a Christian since 1971 and somehow there was a freshness to that. I felt convicted that there's this tool, this promise that God's given us of, confess your sins to one another, pray for one another so that you'll be healed. And so when students are just modeling that who are like 18, 19, 20 years old. And I thought how quick it is for us to forget the simplicity of that promise. And you said it a moment ago. It's like we kind of take it for granted. It said, don't be anxious about anything, but instead pray about everything and don't forget to thank God for the answers. And God will hear and, and, and answer your prayers. That's a simple prayer, but it is a rock solid promise that we need to lean into. So that story of just a little bit of transparency for an older believer, it was just like, oh, man, it's so simple. I started practicing that chat with these two guys in my accountability group and boom, we experienced an immediate freedom with some stuff we'd been struggling with that was like, I could have been done with this a long time ago, but I'm still wrestling with it.
The theme for See You at the Pole this year is awe
So, but the theme this year for Sea at the Pole is just the single word awe, is taking. Taken from Habakkuk, chapter three, verse two. And Lord, we stand in awe of you. And that has been often the, the kind of experience the young people have had from Asbury. And on that there's this sense of when they come to worship confession, brokenness before the Lord, continue to worship, but that they have experienced, a sense of awe of the presence of God there. So we want to lean into that and we're encouraging that to be the theme, this year for our See You with the Pole.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: I love that God makes it so simple for us. You know, sometimes I think we just over complicate it as humans and, and just that simple promise. And I appreciate, Doug, your transparency and authenticity in that. I think it's really hard to sit. And again, this is where we can learn from kids because I've sat with so many groups of kids who freely confess their sin. That is a normal part of their accountability with each other. And they just say, I'm struggling with this. And I think, well, I'm sitting in adult life group on Sunday, and let me tell you, that is not happening. You know, it's. This is how the prayer request time goes, Doug. It's basically, and I'm not discounting these, These requests are m. Minimizing them. So please don't. Don't interpret me of that. But it's, you know, so and so's grandma is sick and in the hospital, and so. And so is having surgery on his big toe next week, and we need to pray for him. There's very rarely, I very rarely see an adult raise their hand and say, you Know, I am just struggling with discontentment. I am struggling with my mental health. I am. My marriage is on the roc. We don't see that. And I think that that's something that we can learn from this younger generation. And when you're talking about awe, it's just one word, awe. Ah. I mean, I think about one of the most beloved hymns of the church that is always going to, bring the church to his feet. Oh Lord, my God. When I an awesome wonder consider all. I mean, there's something to be said for that. And even now I think I'm a big Phil Wickham fan. And you know, Phil, of course, his testimony is really, just inspiring because his parents were saved in the Jesus movement that happened in California. And he has just re released. I think about. We sang awesome God in the 90s when I was at CU at the Pole. I know for a fact we sang that song around there. And he's just re released a new. New lyrics to that SC to that song, which I just absolutely love. This has been one that's been on repeat. Just fire in his eyes Healing in his veins Everywhere his glory on displays Take a look at those stars he can name them all before his thr Every knee falls. I mean, just talking about the awesome power of God that we're so worried about our kids and sending them to school. And we have the power of an awesome God who loves them and cares for them and Doug, we're coming up on our next break. Already. This is going too fast. We have too much to talk about. But just give everybody a brief, where. If their hearts are burning like ours are, where can they go?
>> Doug Clark: To find out more, more syatp.com so it's real simple. Everything they need to know about See at the pole is up there and available within the next week or so. We'll have merchandise available if they're interested in buying that. But you don't need anything to do See at the poll. It's free. and it also has a great deal of information about how to get prepared to help young people plan and prepare their seat at the pole because it is student initiated and student led. maybe when we come back, we can talk about ways that adults can pray and be actively involved in not just watching See you at the pole happen.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: I love it. That's exactly what we'll talk about. What can you do? How can you pray for this event? Now I've been encouraging my listeners. When you walk into the store and you see all those school supplies right at the cash register to start praying right over those like you would pray over Seaton Church. Pray over the child who would use those. And when we come back, Doug will tell you how you can pray over the See you with the pole movement and how you can get involved, whether you're a parent, a church, a community, or you have kids that you can equip to be involved. We'll talk more about those logistics and what happens after the poll. We'll see you after this break. Everyone knows that the entertainment industry desensitizes viewers, especially impressionable young minds. So join with one million moms. It's the ongoing, effective movement that anyone can join. We won't give up protecting our families against indecency. Visit onemillionmoms.com and click on Successes to read about the kind of victories we can have when we work together. Sign up speak up onemillionmoms.com the loss.
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>> I've Witnessed It by Melodie Malone and Passion: Worthy God, you're worthy of all of it. Your promises never fail.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: welcome back, friends. That song is I've Witnessed it by Melodie Malone and Passion, and I want to give you a true confession. The first time I heard that song, it undid me. I was in tears because I was thinking for me, as a pediatric healthcare professional, someone who's been working with kids and churches and communities and schools and clinics and in my own home my whole life, and thinking that I'd seen some really awful tragedies. I've seen traumas. I've seen. I've seen the worst of the worst. And people often ask me, how can you still believe in a God who allows those things to happen in the world? And when I heard this song, I've witnessed it. I thought because along with all of those things, I've witnessed God's faithfulness. I've seen him bring life to death. I've seen him do miracles that are beyond words. And I believe that if God was small enough to be understood, he wouldn't be big enough to be worshiped. And I choose to believe that God is in control, that he will make all things right. And he is writing a bigger story than One that we can hope to redeem here on earth, that there will be greater redemption of that in heaven. I believe that God sent his son Jesus to redeem, restore, renew all things. And today we are talking about a work of redemption that God is doing. Every year, students gather at their flag poles across the world to say we're not afraid to pray. We believe that God can move and we believe that we have access, access to the very throne room of God to ask him to do that. But see you at the poll is more than a one day event. It is happening on September 24th this year, but it is more than a one day event. It is a spark for lasting revival. And in this final segment, Doug Clark is going to walk us through what this looks like. How can students boldly lead, how can families and churches fuel the fire beyond the flagpole? And if you've waiting for a sign to get involved, this is it, my friend. This is your sign, your prayers, your presence, your purpose, your participation. It matters.
Doug Clark: Students need to plan out what they're going to do
So Doug, let's walk through some of those logistics. If there are students who want to be involved, if there are parents, if there are churches, what does that look like? What do they need to do?
>> Doug Clark: Thank you, for asking that. and see if the poll begins with students taking time just to plan out what they're going to do. And as I mentioned before the break, we have all the resources that they need to kind of checklist down through some things that they can think about, including publicity, talking to their principal, inviting others what they're going to do and planning that out ahead of time, whether they're middle school, high school students or college students, even, even elementary age, to actually plan what they're going to have happen at their seat at the poll on the morning of September 24th. And so if they go to syatp.com those are there and available for free. so that's the help as adults, encouraging them, supporting them, reminding them and bringing, providing an opportunity for them to come together. Many networks of youth workers across the country will invite kids to come together at a pre See you at the pole gathering time to do a planning time to meet by schools and chart out what they're going to do at sea at the poll. So it's not shooting from the seat of their pants, but the I mix that metaphor a little bit. I think it's shooting from the hip. But they, they can, they can do that. So they don't show up at the flagpole and say, well I'VE got a plan. Well, I've got a plan. And now we have. Okay, let's figure this out. Out. They could do that ahead of time. So providing an opportunity, promoting it in the church the Sunday before sea with the pole is often a great time. And you're going to have I believe tomorrow Moms, in Prayer representative, on here. And Sally will talk about, Bless Our School Sunday, I imagine as being an event that's coming up. Well that is one of the partner ministries that we are supporting, Crossover cross promoting, so to speak. Because that opportunity to pray for schools, on a Sunday sometime during this fall season, is led by Moms in Prayer. And that's, that's a wonderful thing. And there's nothing more powerful than a group of moms who every Wednesday morning meet at one of their living rooms and pray for schools and every single week. And so that's a powerful, supportive thing to do, to do do. But if you're not a mom, then, what else can you do if you're a parent and you want, you can't meet at the Moms in Prayer group. There are some initiatives that we are, are seeing, kind of working in symphony this fall beginning in August and all the way through September, even into October in this kind of a prayer symphony. If you can imagine that, of people praying and, and, and praying for schools in particular. It's all focused around school, some of the opportunities that have been happening. Over 75,000 students in Tennessee were prayed for in the first weekend of August, by a thing they do at Tennessee Weekend at Prayer over students. Christian educators, a national ministry has something called Steps of Prayer all through September, inviting adults to come and, and walk on a campus and pray sometime during September. And they have resources available to help with that. Again, it's free. Claim your campus that I mentioned earlier does their prayer walk project on September 20th and 27th, the weekends before and after. See you at the poll to invite people to come and they have resources to help adults come and pray, on campus. I mentioned Bless Our School Sunday. See you at the poll itself. Health and adults can pray ah, on Wednesday, September 24th as well. We encourage them not to join in with the students but to do that from a separate occasion. It could be across the street if they're elementary kids. It might be a group of parents who are praying just 30 or 40ft away in support of their children as they're praying, and helping, helping support that so that there's safety Involved, which is important. and then you mentioned field, I don't think we mentioned this, but Fields of Faith, which is sponsored by Fellowship of Christian Athletes, has an evangelistic event that comes up after se at the pole where students share testimonies and are given an opportunity. And then there's a really fun one, something, called Prayer Zone Partners. All of us, when we're driving down the street, we'll go through what we call a school zone. There's a yellow triangular sign and it shows you students, hey, they're crossing the street here. Slow down. But that could be a prompt, just like you mentioned, going into the store and seeing backpacks. The prayer zone or the, the school zone should and could be throughout the school year be a prayer zone. And we practice this. I have a friend, in our ministry that every time I'm at his house in Indianapolis, when we leave his house, we go through, through these two schools. And he said, okay, we're going to pray, you know, so as we're going past these two schools, we pray for that school that day. And it's become a prompt that I do as I'm driving around doing errands here in my town in California. So the school zone could be on the prayer zone. And so we'll have some of these things, publicized. Look up Prayer Zone Partners and you'll get some, a little more information if they just Google that, that but all these things are part of just this symphony of prayer that we believe, none of which is wasted. I love the, the, the verse in Scripture, it says that, ah, talks about the bowls of prayer in the book of Revelation, that, and those things are all saved and they're going to be poured out. And so there's no waste of stopping to remembering to pray for that elementary school you're driving past. That is something that's an investment in heaven. And it's an investment, as I often pray, pray, Lord Jesus, would you make yourself real on that campus today? Would you raise, up students and teachers and administrators who love you and will, will forward your purposes on this campus today? And may every person get an opportunity to hear the claims of the gospel in their life during the school year. So those are a few ways we.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Can invest such great reminders. And you can go to see, sorry, syatp.org syatp.org and you can see a list of all of these partners. So if want a partner in your community, in your church, in your school, you can see a list of all of those partners. I love that. Doug, this, the school zone is now going to be a prayer zone. I definitely am going to adopt that. I think that's such a great idea.
Doug: Let's lead our listeners in prayer for students right now
And you know, we've been talking so much about prayer and encouraging adults to pray for kids. I feel like I would be remiss. You know, we know God's word says when two or more are gathered, he is there in our midst. And you and I are here having this conversation. Doug, could I just, just ask you to help lead our listeners in prayer for those students who will be gathering around the flagpole? Would you just lead us in prayer for them right now? And let's just put our feet where our faith is and put our faith into action.
>> Doug Clark: I'd be honored to do that. And wherever you are, don't close your eyes if you're driving.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: That's right.
>> Doug Clark: If you just join in praying with us, Lord Jesus, we ask collectively, across the country that this would be the generation that you do something special with. So many times in history, Father, it's been some of the darkest times that have been, the times when your light has shown the brightest. And so we pray that even right now you would work in the hearts and illuminate. Illuminate, faith and bring, bring an awareness of you and a hunger for you to this generation and their families and their churches that we would see a move of your holy Spirit of, revival amongst your people and awakening in our country, social and cultural transformation that would happen as a result of your spirit working through believers that an awakened alive church would be a force for dramatic, supernatural change in our culture. You did it. You did it. In other times in our history. You changed slavery because of an awakening that happened prior to the Civil War. You've changed different things that have, transformed nations. And so we pray you would do that and help it to start, Lord, with us, with our own homes and our own families. Help us to be agents of encouragement and support and hope to our children, pointing them to what God can do do and what he wants to do and what he will do, if we just pray and encourage one another, and we pray that you would raise up students, that there'd be more students praying and every single middle and high school and college campus in our country this year than we've ever seen before. And may our churches become alive. And we ask it in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Amen. Amen. And I echo that prayer, Doug, and what a beautiful reminder that our prayers are like incense before the throne of God, no prayer is ever wasted. And you know, there's a lot of times, Doug, as a mom, I feel like I've prayed and it seems like God hasn't answered or he hasn't given me the answer that I wanted or expected. But no prayer is ever wasted because I can put my head on my pillow at night, know that I have presented my request to the creator of the universe. And if he sees it good to say no or to leave that prayer as what I see unanswered, then I can know that I've done everything that I can, I can trust. Trust that God is working for my good and for his glory. So I think that's so important.
What happens after see you at the poll? Well, on the site
And before we go, Doug, I do want to talk a little bit about what happens after the poll. You have a section on your website that talks about this. This is not just a one time event. It's meant to be a catalyst. It's at the beginning of the year and I pray that this will be the year that families turn to prayer as their most primary powerful weapon to protect their children. So what happens after see you at the pole?
>> Doug Clark: Well, on the see you at the poll website, there's a place for them to share stories about what happened on the day of see you at the pole But then it encourages them to go to claim your campus's website and to download the app and then organize on their campus so that there's a group of students praying on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. So that one student might just be once a week, week, but they would do that every week. And there's prompts and help with the claim your campus app that are really, really helpful. and so it guides them and, and trains them as in a sense to do that. And we've seen dramatic things happen. Some of the stories I shared earlier that have been through these claim your campus groups, for adults. Some of the things that I just mentioned, the PZP prayer zone partners, or praying for students, that can happen within the church and it should. If we envision students as missionaries to the campus, it changes our mindset to something we have already set up as kind of a mechanism in our churches where we, we write them, we pray for them, we support them, we find ways to recognize that. But students and teachers, if they're seen as missionaries, can be supported and prayed for and commissioned by the church to represent Jesus and be ambassadors at their school every single day.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, Doug, I just thank you so much for all that you do for being so invested in youth ministry. It is a wild time for child development. When we look at how much childhood and the growing up experience has changed from the 1970s to now, kids need more than ever faithful adults who are walking with the Lord. For who will stand beside them, who will raise their arms, as I said earlier, who will hold up their arms when they're tired and help them to be a beacon of hope and light for this next generation? They don't need adults saying that the world preaching messages of doom and gloom. We need hope and we need empowerment. And I thank you for everything that you're doing through See you at the pole One more time. Go to syatp.org that's syatp.org and encourage your kids. If you have kids who are going to school where there is a see you at the pole event, encourage them to go. Whether they're homeschooled or they're at Christian school and they think we pray every day, it doesn't matter. Gathering together in this powerful event. If they're at public school, they're at colleges. Encourage them to go. And as you do that, I pray that the Lord will bless you and keep keep you and make his face to shine upon you, that he'll be gracious to you. And we'll see you right back here tomorrow with Sally Burke from Moms in Prayer International. And a special message for dads, too. See you then.
>> Jeff Chamblee: The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
