Recently, I had the opportunity to sing with the Singing Men of Arkansas during our Summer Tour. The Singing Men of Arkansas is a men’s chorus based in Northwest Arkansas. Annually, the group presents two main concerts: Home for Christmas and Heritage of Hymns. It is a joy to rehearse and sing with this group of guys. They come from all walks of life: teachers, businessmen, construction workers, pastors, and more. And it doesn’t hurt my feelings to be one of the younger guys, even at 53. Our tour was shortened due to new policies implemented by the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
We had initially planned to sing at several prisons, but because of the changes, we were only able to sing at one prison and then at two retirement centers. As we sang at the second retirement facility, I was struck by a thought: so many people are simply forgotten. The prison where we sang was full of men who had made poor choices that led to their incarceration. The retirement home was full of lonely people who had been put aside. Men and women like these are forgotten, but they are not the only ones. There are young people in our communities who are drifting with no direction and seemingly no one who cares about them. That breaks my heart. And I hope it breaks yours.
It is easy to forget about those who need us. If someone isn’t crying out for help and isn’t right in front of us, they disappear. The forgotten men and women in our communities need our Savior and us. So, what do we do? How do we make an effort to reach out to the forgotten students around us and in our churches?
• Pray for direction. We should make this the first step in everything we do for the kingdom. Too often, we move forward on our own without seeking the Father. We believe we are strong and independent, able to do anything. We forget that God is in control. As Henry Blackaby has shared, we should find where God is working and join Him there. It begins with bending the knee to God and asking for help.
• Ask your students about their classmates. Who seems to eat alone? Who is quiet and doesn’t interact with others? Sometimes these students can seem weird, but that doesn’t change the fact that God loves them and calls us to do the same. Have them make a short list to pray for, and then join them in that process.
• Provide service opportunities. Whether you are leading your students to reach out to the forgotten in the community, such as those in nursing homes, or ministering to the community at large, young people love the idea of making their lives count. These service moments offer a great opportunity for the lonely to join in. A cause can be a powerful rallying point that draws others into community.
• Be ready to welcome young people to your group meetings and church gatherings. If someone takes the time to come to your church or meeting space, we should bend over backward to make them feel welcome. Nothing phony, just a real welcome. You need to extend a genuine, warm welcome so the student feels like they have just come home. This has to be an intentional choice by you and your people. Whoever is leading needs to model this and expect it from everyone. Students need to feel welcome, even if they are a little weird.
I think one of the most important things we need to do is open our eyes. There are forgotten people all around us. I had to visit a prison and a nursing home to be reminded of that. Hopefully, it won’t take a road trip for you to see the need all around you. Ask God to direct you to the forgotten and to give them the love they crave.
How do you reach out to the lost and seemingly forgotten in your community? Join the conversation at Facebook.com/groups/StudentMinistryMattersCommunity.
