“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” -Philippians 2:4
I am a proud graduate of Lawton Public Schools. I began my academic career at Eisenhower Elementary School. Like many schools in Lawton, Eisenhower Elementary was a diverse school. The school has students from varied social and economic backgrounds. Many of the students come from a rough background where discipline and responsibility are not taught and modeled. These difficult home lives often show up in behavioral issues at school.
In the Spring of 2021, many of the older boys at Eisenhower were being referred to the office for behavioral issues. Their behavior was keeping them out of the classroom and preventing them from having a successful school year. The constant misbehavior, arguments, and fights among the boys was a real disturbance.
The leadership at Eisenhower decided that something needed to change. In the fall of 2021, the school created Gentlemen and Generals. They invited men from the community to come and help form this club that would develop positive character traits in these young boys. They have learned about teamwork, kindness, responsibility, and so much more. The boys have been taught how to tie their own ties and how to wear a suit. They now have “Dress for Success Day” where they wear suits and ties. One teacher noted that, “They all seem to stand a little bit taller.”
One of the first projects of the Gentlemen and Generals was to raise money to help feed the homeless in Lawton. The club raised money and purchased supplies for five “Blessing Boxes” around town. Their mentors and students spent time filling the boxes and helping to feed the needy population of Lawton.
These students are being taught how to build a better world. They are learning to become the best they can be and learning to serve others in the process. Most importantly, they are being taught how to give. Giving changes our lives. It takes us from being demanding, and selfish to being people who help bless others’ lives. It made me happy to read about the Gentlemen and Generals program at my elementary school. People are investing their time, their money, and their knowledge into these young men.
We all can build a better world. When we commit to giving our time, our talent, and our resources we help others succeed. When we give, we become better people ourselves because our hearts are opened wide as we contribute to the needs of others.
-Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
