Monday, September 24, 2012

See You at the Pole



See You at the Pole (SYATP) is a global day of student prayer. It began in 1990 with only ten students praying at their school and twenty-two years later millions pray on their campuses the fourth Wednesday in September.  It is student-initiated, student-organized and student-led. Typically, students will gather around the flag pole in front of their school before the school day to lift up their friends, families, teachers, school and nation to God. It is supported by a league of ministries like: Moms in Touch, National Day of Prayer, Christian Educators, Campus Crusade for Christ, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Youth for Christ and many more. (See the SYATP website for a full list.)
One of the greatest questions that is asked each year is whether teachers and/or administrations can join in See You at the Pole. The purpose of SYATP is for students to be the leaders and initiators of the event. It is their time to seek God.  Well-intentioned adults often join in and even take over the event, but it is neither wisdom nor legal.  As a part of the 16-9 movement, we strive to help Christians in the public school understand what they can and cannot do. SYATP is one of these very important events that we need to be wise as a serpent and humble as a dove.
To prepare for See You at the Pole, an adult and teacher’s role is to pray for the students BEFORE the event. Second, be sure to understand the US Government Guidelines for Constitutionally Protected Prayer for the Public Elementary and Secondary Schools. It basically states that students-led prayer is totally legal because it does not interrupt instruction, it is before the school date and is outside the school building, but most importantly it is student-led.  Teachers may pray with each other before or after school, but are not permitted to pray with the students. Although it is tempting to support the students, use wisdom and discretion.  There certainly needs to be adult supervision in the area, but allow the students to experience this incredible freedom and privilege.
For the students, there is no requirement to ask permission of the administrators to hold a See You at the Pole event on the 4th Wednesday in September (or any other day of the school year) because this precedent has already been settled in the courts.  However, since we are representing Jesus Christ, it is always courteous to let the administration of the school know.  If there should be any objection, don’t take the battle on. Be respectful and then call for assistance to a host of legal advocates such as Liberty Counsel, Alliance Defense Fund, Christian Educators (CEAI) and/or National Legal Foundation.  Most times, it only takes a simple phone call to clear up any fears or misunderstandings that may arise.
The See You at the Pole website is a wealth of information from legal guidelines to checklists for preparation. Whether there is a single student, two or three huddled together or hundreds gathered to pray, it is about the students’ cry for an awakening. The 2012 See You at the Pole™ theme is Awaken and the Scripture is Ephesians 3:14–21 - “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father… I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts…And I pray that you… grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and…that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…’”
This year SYATP falls on the Jewish high holy day of Yom Kippur.  For those schools that are closed, please consider having your SYATP event the day before or after.  For those students and teachers who are home on that day, why not consider fasting on this day with our Jewish brothers and sisters? May God be given the glory each day and especially on this year’s See You at the Pole.

Prayerfully yours,
K

Note: To more fully understand the 16-9 Movement, please read the first blog entry by clicking here.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Educator Sunday



This Sunday, September 23rd, is Educator Sunday! It is a special Sunday in churches across America to honor educators in their high calling. Even if you never heard of Educator Sunday before, why not mention this opportunity to pray for the educators in your congregation. It doesn’t take money. It doesn’t take preparation. It doesn’t even take a lot of time. All you need is love and honor for those who are serving children in the public, private, charter and home school settings.  When educators feel the support of their church community, it releases them to minister to the children God called them to serve.  Did you realize that the public schools are the largest mission field in the world? There are millions of students and parents whose lives we touch that do not know the Lord. Educators are in a godly position to influence and though we always pray that every child has the opportunity to be positively influenced by our teachers, we know that is not always true. Praying for the teachers in the school where your children attend is a covering needed. Honoring the educators who attend your church speaks volumes to those who are “in the trenches.”
A simple suggestion for Educator Sunday is for the pastor to ask all the educators (administrators, paraprofessionals, and teachers) to stand and be recognized. The pastor and congregation can then pray over them and for them in a manner and style that is customary to their church. The pastor can briefly explain to the congregation the incredible role that teachers play as missionaries in all settings, public/private or home school. Finally, the pastor can commission these educators to be Jesus in their schools. You see, we all know, particularly in the public schools, that we cannot establish a religion, but every educator can “Be Jesus” to those children and treat them as He would have. What an impact our Christian educators can make in a school district when they are empowered by their church to be missional in their high calling and legal and graceful in their approach.
Christian Educators Association International, CEAI, since 1985, has named the Sunday before See You At The Pole, as Educator Sunday. It does not have to be that particular Sunday, especially if you want to prepare a special Sunday for all the educators in your church, but that pattern has helped congregations honor both the teachers and prepare the students for the incredible honor of praying for our schools. (More about what teachers can and cannot do on See You At the Pole coming in the next post!) CEAI has downloadable resources to help you plan and celebrate Educators Sunday on our website.  It includes a brochure describing the event and bulletin inserts in a couple forms so you don’t have to recreate the wheel.
Educators are in a position to be the most influential people in the world. They teach and prepare us for all the other jobs and positions we may hold in life. National Teacher Day in May is a great way to celebrate educators, but Educator Sunday is a much more spiritual and empowering way to recognize how our teachers must answer to God first for all they do and be reminded of how important it is to guard every word, every lesson and hold up their position as the high calling it is. May God bless the educators of our great nation and in our congregations across America.


Prayerfully yours,
K

Note: To more fully understand the 16-9 Movement, please read the first blog entry by clicking here.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Shine Like Stars



The current trend in education is to be in a PLC (Professional Learning Community) or PLN (Professional Learning Network). Being in community is one of the most powerful ways to create systematic change. Presently, PLCs have become a mandate and as soon as you legislate something, it becomes less appealing. However, I would encourage you to be in a PLC at school and a PLN in your personal life. The PLC at school will typically be with grade level, discipline areas and subject related colleagues. The idea is to share ideas and lesson plans for the benefits of the learning of all. In a PLN, typically you join together with others who share a common interest. One of the largest PLNs I am a part of is the Discovery Educator Network – the DEN. The teachers in the DEN collaborated, meet at events and are joined by social networks. No one has to mandate when and where they meet and what they should be working on.  It grows itself. Teachers are naturally creative and some of the most unique teaching ideas ever have come through this community.
 The PLN that I would like to encourage you to become a part of is your own Bible study group on campus. As Christian Educators, the basis of all we learn begins in the Word. Too often our workload is overbearing and thought of “one more thing to do” is just too much. I propose that if you are in the Word first, all the other “to dos” become a bit more bearable. Can you imagine if every Christian in the public school made their Bible Study PLN (Personal Learning Network) their #1 priority? Matt. 19:26With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” If it seems that you cannot possibly do one more thing, you are right.  You can’t but with God’s help and the power of the Holy Spirit, you can form a prayer group/Bible study with your colleagues.
Teachers often look for devotional materials that can be used with their prayer groups at school. There are a few great ones out there: Cornerstone Devotionals for Teachers and FACE (Fellowship and Christian Encouragement), however for this post, I would like to highlight Shine Like Stars, a twelve part devotional study written by Doreen Madre, executive secretary for Christian Educators Association, Int. (CEAI). This powerful study includes sections on our worldview, being under authority, our high calling and much more. As your form prayer groups, teachers often look for more to bind them together.  Using Shine Like Stars as the platform for your Bible study, your prayer group becomes a PLN! When Christians fellowship together in the Word, there is power.  May God bless your precious time. May He give you wisdom to say yes to those things that please Him most and that you find others to share His good Word with. 
There is one more option for being a part of a PLN (Professional Learning Network) that is beyond the school. Why not join a national PLN doing this study? I experimented with online and it definitely has merit.  Let me know if you are interested in doing it with others online and I will set some dates and prepare it for us.  All you will have to do is join and participate.  Anyone game?


Prayerfully yours,
K

Note: To more fully understand the 16-9 Movement, please read the first blog entry by clicking here.