Struggling Students

As I wondered what to write about this week, facebook posts kept popping up with reminders about the youth suicide rate and mental health awareness. One of these was a website that has some neat ideas and is worth checking out - https://jack.org/DoSomething. I remember back to my first days of school in elementary and high school years and the anxiety I experienced. My first week or two at university was the most difficult of my life to that point for a host of reasons.

Mental health is hugely important and we do not talk about it enough in church. I know I’ve posted about this before, but particularly in these critical first couple of weeks of school the stresses are even higher. It is never easy to settle into new routines and new living situations away from home. Even those who seemingly take it in stride will hit snags and have concerns.

For all our students, regardless of age, but particularly for those in post-secondary education, we are called to continue to care about them and their families. Church should be a refuge, a safe place where children and youth feel known and loved unconditionally so that they have respite from whatever challenges and struggles they are experiencing. Here are some suggestions for supporting our students:

1. Be intentional about having Sunday school and other leaders checking how things are going at school. Plan to talk about or have whole sessions devoted to topics like dealing with bullying, managing stress, celebrating what you’re good at and dealing with areas that are tough for you, etc. If you don’t know what is making things difficult for your kids, ask - both in a group and one on one.

2. Consider ways that you can support the learning of children. Some churches offer a breakfast program or collect supplies for families that can’t afford them. Some offer after school programs and homework help or free tutoring with retired teachers and qualified others. Some have volunteers who help out wherever needed in a school to offer support.

3. Find ways to support parents. Try to find one or more qualified people who will do any of the following - actively pray with and for parents, build relationships with them and offer to help them talk through struggles at school, form a parent support group, suggest resources for parents who have concerns, i.e. community support contacts or online articles, etc. Obviously you want to be intentional about selecting volunteers and supporting them.

3. Find safe and caring people willing to stay in contact with students studying away from home to do any of the following - send them the church newsletter and care packages, get them on a facebook page or other social media and check in regularly, find out when they will be home and take them for coffee, pray for them, help them find a church and other supports where they are living, celebrate their successes and let them know they’ll be there to listen about their struggles and failures.

For those in places with post-secondary institutions:

1. Keep an eye out for students checking out your church. Have greeters ready to welcome students and to invite them to any events of interest to them. Be warm and understanding that they may not be back, but be sure to make the connection. I still remember a minister chasing me down before I went out the door to make sure I had signed the guest book and then receiving a wonderful thank you card that week for visiting.

2. Find out what events are happening on campus through chaplaincy ministries or other Christian organizations and make sure these are advertised for students that find you. If not a lot is offered, consider what your church or a group of churches could offer together - a monthly coffee house with snacks, a simple lunch once a week or once a month for free or by donation, a Bible study at a coffee shop, a movie night, etc. Research the best way to get the word out and be ready to build from a handful of participants or less.

3. Talk to chaplains and other school officials to find out what ministry needs exist for students. There may be a void you can easily fill that will take the pressure off the limited resources they have. When I was at seminary I took advantage of a Wednesday night ‘cost supper’ at the chaplaincy office. Local churches took turns providing a home-cooked meal that at the time cost $2. Not only was it great food but great conversation and soul food as well.

Too many young people feel that the world doesn’t care about them. With the demands on all levels of the education system to do more with less, teachers are stretched to the limit to handle specialized learning plans and a wide variety of behavioural and other classroom needs. The church should be a place that echoes Jesus’ desire to let the children of all ages to come and find rest and sanctuary.

Talk with your team to think about how you can support and uplift kids and youth and remind them that they are loved no matter how well they do at school and how popular they are. We will likely reap just as many benefits as they do as we answer the call to serve them.