June 14, 2019

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” – Acts 20:35

High school students face many challenges. Difficult schedules, challenging social interactions, and learning difficult subjects such as math and science and many other academic areas. For some students, it is overwhelming, and they find high school difficult to complete.

The leadership at the Alternative Learning Center in Dubuque, Iowa understand how difficult it can be for some students. After all, it is not just academics that are challenging. Students come from all walks of life and sometimes their home life and other situations make it difficult for them to be successful in school. That is why they have instituted a new program to give students school credit and teach them how to help their neighbors.

If the students in the Alternative Learning Center choose to do so, they are given an opportunity to serve in their neighborhood and earn PE credits. The student who join the program spend time working in the yards of neighbors who cannot help themselves. This alternative teaches the students how to serve and care for others. Although the students do not always start with a high level of motivation, as their time in the program continues, their joy and motivation increase. They learn they are capable of being a blessing and making a positive difference.

We were not all created for the same academic path. However, we were all created to love and serve our neighbors. This is the heart of God, who created us in His image. These students may be doing yard work to receive school credit, but they are learning that through serving, we all receive much more than PE credit. We receive a joy as we share God’s love. This is why the scriptures tell us, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Rev. Keith King, Online Campus Pastor