Kristi Beckel, 14
Joseph Ennis, 14
Cassandra Griffin, 14
Justin Michael Ray, 17
Shawn Brown, 23
Kim Jones, 23
Sydney Browning, 36
On the night of Wednesday, September 15th, 1999, the See You at the Pole movement suffered its first martyrs.
At a rally celebrating See You at the Pole in Fort Worth, Texas at Wedgwood Baptist Church , a gunman wearing black and cursing Jesus burst into the meeting, opened fire with a semi-automatic handgun, and exploded a pipe bomb.
Not far from where the See You at the Pole Movement was born, four teens and three adults died for their participation in that movement. Seven were wounded.
Some may dismiss this tragic event as simply the random act of a deranged gunman. I do not. These deaths have meaning and purpose which one day, perhaps soon, shall be revealed. As I read the following morning, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones." (Psalm 116:15)
I think one meaning is this being yet another wake-up call that it is no longer "safe" to be a Christian in America. In our complacency, we have thought that persecution and martyrdom is something that happens somewhere else at some other time. If that was ever so, it is so no longer.
Combined with the Columbine shootings and recent court rulings taking away religious freedoms, this event brings home that being a committed Christian anywhere is not risk-free. Whether from Christ-haters wearing black, arrogant judges robed in black, or simply those who's hearts are darkened, there are many with the power of government, or with the power of lies and hate, or even with the power of the gun who would take away your freedoms or even your life.
And Christian teenagers seem to be the main target. Teenagers who are committed to following Jesus are a threat to Satan. And some, including this writer, think the next awakening will start with the youth. So the followers of Evil, empowered by Satan, are lashing out.
But who said being a Christian is supposed to be safe? We are to follow Christ, who suffered and died for God and for us. And Christians have been persecuted and martyred again and again through the centuries and today. We still have it easy compared to most. In Sudan and East Timor and elsewhere, claiming the name of Christ is a death sentence. In numerous other countries, it is illegal to be a Christian. Then in countries like China, you can be a Christian, but only if you are a meek member of a state-approved so-called "church". In comparison, most of us haven't come anywhere close to imprisonment or death for our Lord.
But, still, persecution has come and is coming to American teenagers and those who labor with them. So how are we to respond? Are we to timidly keep our faith to ourselves and be closet Christians? Or are we to boldly live for Jesus and pray and tell everyone about Him, no matter who doesn't like it, no matter what the cost?
If we choose to be courageous for Christ, then the deaths of those in Fort Worth and at Columbine will not be in vain.
So with these young martyrs and with martyrs through the centuries, let us put our lives on the line for Jesus. Many have died for proclaiming this truth -- let us proclaim it also:
JESUS is LORD!
In April 1990, some teenagers in Burleson, Texas felt an intense need to pray for their friends. They decided to drive to three schools to pray around the flagpoles.
They felt a little weird at first. What would people think if they saw them praying around a flagpole? But they prayed for the schools and for their friends.
Some time later, several youth leaders were brainstorming, trying to find ways to motivate teens to pray. Then they remembered what the Burleson teens had done.
This led to over 20,000 students at a youth rally in Dallas being challenged to meet at their school flagpoles for prayer.
Early in the morning of September 12th, 1990, over 45,000 students met around flagpoles and prayed on 1200 school campuses in four states.
In 1998, up to 3 million students in all 50 states and 20 countries participated in See You at the Pole.
It all started with a few teenagers who wanted to pray for their friends.
There's nothing God can't do with youth who are faithful to Him.
The 2004 See You at the Pole will be on the morning of Wednesday, September 15th.
See You at the Pole at Ponder High School, Ponder, Texas, 9-17-03
The See You at the Pole web site is http://www.syatp.com.
And in case you thought See You at the Pole was just a one day a year American thing, YOU'RE WRONG!
There's an Australian See You at the Pole. It was on May 15 this year. Check it out: www.syatpaustralia.com.
It's happening up in Canada, too ----> www.syatpcanada.com
And there are other student prayer movements worldwide. One is Youth Prayer Week.
I know of one group of students who met at a statute of Mao to pray in China! I wonder what The Chairman would think of that!
I think God just might be doing something by moving teens all over the place to pray together. So be a part of what God is doing. Get together and PRAY!
back to home
