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Service Challenge 2008

PURPOSE: This event encourages participants to make Christian service an integral part of their lifestyle. It promotes creative thinking in coming up with new ways to serve the church and the community. (Note: This is SERVICE, requiring preparation and service time. It is not just an impromptu "good deed".)

PROCESS: Each participant will:

• Complete at least three service projects prior to convention (choose from list included).
• Submit a typed report of 300 words or less, single-spaced in 12 point font explaining the personal benefit gained by the participant.
• Complete the Award Certification Form. The local Church Coordinator must verify the completed projects and sign the original form.
• Mail the following to the Event Director:
  • The original Certification Form
  • One copy of the Service Challenge Essay
  • A stamped postcard with the Church Coordinator's mailing address if receipt confirmation is requested.

THE PACKAGE MUST BE POSTMARKED BY MONDAY, February 25, 2008

The Event Director will:

• Send confirmation of receipt to the Church Coordinator if a stamped postcard is included.
• Provide a list of awards to the Pre-Convention Director.

RULES:

1. Participants are encouraged to create one service project which meets the needs of an individual, builds up the church, or improves the community. (This is optional.)
2. Participants must complete a 300 – word or less typed report explaining the personal benefit gained by the participant by completing this event. This report should be written by the participant with minimal adult help. This report must follow the following formatting:
   • Single-spaced in 12 point font
   • In upper left corner of page:
     • Participant Name
     • Date
     • Congregation Name
3. The report must include the following information for each item completed:
   • Who was served
   • How the participant's service helped the person(s)
   • How the Lord blessed the participant for their service.
4. If a participant creates his/her own service project, the idea should be included in the written report. The project should be identified on the Certification Form as project number 18 or 43 as appropriate (see list of Project Descriptions by grade category below). Appropriate numbers must accompany each service project and be correctly referenced from the list
5. Local program Director will sign the certification form after the participant has completed the service projects. Each Church Coordinator or Adult Certifying completion must verify correct service project numbers are used. These can be confirmed by parents or other adults who have knowledge of the service done.
6. Local program Directors should verify that any "Create-your-Own" service projects be a minimum effort of TWO HOURS, which includes preparation and service.
7. Certification forms are to be placed on top of the Service Challenge Essay and sent to the Service Challenge Director at the address listed above.

Service Challenge Award Certification Form

3-6 GRADE CATEGORY

1. Write and mail three sympathy cards to appropriate individuals or families.
2. Write and mail three notes of encouragement to shut-ins, sick, elderly, etc.
3. Bring three different friends to church.
4. Spend one hour picking up trash in your community.
5. Write and mail three holiday cards to children in a children's home.
6. Choose five articles of clothing from personal wardrobe and donate to an organization that will be distributed to needy families.
7. Skip a meal and donate equivalent amount of money that would have been spent on that meal to an organization that feeds hungry people.
8. Write and mail letters to three missionaries encouraging them in their work.
9. Paint or color pictures for three children in a local hospital. Deliver it to them.
10. Help a shut-in from your local church with chores at their home. (Rake leaves, mow yard, shovel snow, pull weeds, wash dishes, etc.)
11. Work on a recycling project (aluminum cans, plastic, etc. for at least one month and donate the money to a non-profit organization.
12. Donate two hours helping a Bible Class teacher, VBS teacher or other member to work on class materials or other church projects.
13. Donate two hours assisting in the cleaning of the church building or church facilities.
14. Help prepare and/or clean up communion trays for two weeks.
15. Bake and deliver a food item to an appropriate person. (Example: Elderly, sick, shut-in, someone grieving, etc.)
16. With the help of an Adult, sing with a group of youth at a nursing home.
17. Help serve in a Food Kitchen with Adults you know.
18. Help a neighbor wash their car from beginning to end.
19. With the help of an adult, visit with the elderly at a nursing home.
20. Other-Create you own-approved by the local Church coordinator.

7-12 GRADE CATEGORY

1. Baby-sit free of charge for a total of six hours. Your own family doesn't count.
2. Locate a needy family and personally put together and deliver a "Holiday Box."
3. Help two shut-ins from your local church with chores at their home. (Rake leaves, mow lawn, shovel snow, pull weeds, wash dishes, etc.)
4. Spend a total of three hours picking up trash within your community.
5. Participate for at least three hours in an "adopt a highway" or a "clean the beach" program.
6. Participate in a youth group "work camp" or "work building" program.
7. Work on a recycling (aluminum cans, plastic bags, etc.) for at least two months and donate the money made to a non-profit organization.
8. Write and mail five sympathy cards to appropriate individuals and families.
9. Write and mail eight notes of encouragement to shut-ins, elderly, sick, etc.
10. Bring five different friends to visit church service.
11. Choose eight articles of clothing from personal wardrobe and donate to an organization that will distribute to needy families.
12. Contact a children's home and arrange to be a pen pal with one of the children. (Write and mail at least one or two letters each month for four months.)
13. Skip four meals (not all at once). Donate the equivalent amount of money that would have been spent on those meals to an organization that feeds hungry people.
14. Write and mail letters to five missionaries encouraging them in their work.
15. Volunteer six hours to help around the church.
16. Visit four people in a local nursing home.
17. Wash all the windows in the houses for two shut-ins.
18. Prepare and deliver food to two families who need help. (Hospital, sick, death, etc.)
19. Donate four hours of helping a Bible Class teacher, VBS teacher, or other member prepare Bible class materials, or other church projects.
20. Teach or assist in teaching a class for Vacation Bible School.
21. Work in the church nursery for one month.
22. Assist in the preparation and deliver of communion for shut-ins for one month.
23. Prepare and deliver a complete meal to the Minister/Preacher of your church.
24. Help assist in instructing younger LTC-SW participants in one of their Convention events.
25. Other-Create your own-approved by the local church coordinator.

AWARDS:

Failure to submit according to the rules and/or submission guidelines could result in a reduced rating being given.

1. There are three ratings available in each grade category. Awards will be based on the following scale:
   • Gold Rating — 8 service projects and written report
   • Silver Ratings — 5 service projects and written report
   • Bronze Ratings — 3 service projects and written report
2. Participants who achieve a Gold, Silver, or Bronze rating will receive an appropriately-colored engraved plate for the individual's award plaque.

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