• • Foo e Friday night sacrifice reaches out Surrounded by a fence, a group of Harding students found a way to not only have fun on Friday nights, but to make a difference as well. "I don't know how much we ben– efit them," senior D aniel Tignor said. "What we learn from them and what we see is the biggest benefit." Every Friday night, a group of Harding students would caravan to Little Rock to show love to the homeless. The idea of traveling to Little Rock on Friday nights began in 2000 and continued in 2005. The group varied week to week as new swdents were added to the group. "l juSt tell people to try it," senior Jason Hawes said. "When someone goes for the first time, they usually love it and come back." For many students, this ministry was a way to connect with others from different walks of life and fulfill what the Lord commanded in the Great Commission in Macrhew 28. "It's a way to tangibly help people," senior Aaron Brown said. "You make a lot of friends and you reach out to those who are poor and needy, just like scripture says [to do]." . The grou p traveled around downtOwn Little Rock to several shelters and down by the Arkansas River where some homeless people lived. "Everyone has a story," sophomore Lucas Manhews said. "Whether it is a past love that kicked them our or family issues, they all have personal struggles." Some students who participated in the ministry learned lessons from the problems the homeless in Little Rock faced every day. "Money has meant a lot less to me since I've been going to Li ttle Rock," Marthews said. "1 am aware of how materialistic our society really is. Part of the challenge is not being so selfish. I've really been taught how to be a servant." The students said they found joy in coming together and being able to build relationships, not only with each other, but with the home– less individuals that they began to see on a regular basis. "It's all about building relationships," Mat– thews said. "I really like talking to Jerry. He reminds me ofone of my uncles. He has a big, white bushy beard, and his eyes crinkle up on the sides when he smiles. He shows as much, if nOt more, love than we bring to him." "the students collecred money before each weekly trip and purchased food, clothing and water for the people they encountered. "Usually the first five m inutes is passing Out rh e items we bring," Tignor said. "After that, more and more people are willing to talk to us, and we spend hours connecting with them." Matthews said spending his Friday nights like this was worth it for him and the homeless he reached through the mi.nistry. "There are so many ways to have fun on a Friday night," Matthews said. "1 can't think of anything better. You go and serve people while loving people and being loved by people. It's people coming tOgether as they are in one place, nOt separate from the rest of the world." -AndrewDorsey ou
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