Service Ministry

Guidelines for Participating in Service Ministry:

Each participant will work throughout the year in a chosen area of service or ministry.

  • Each work of service or ministry will require consistency and time. The standard is a minimum of ONE HOUR PER WEEK per service or ministry. If a certain ministry takes less time (for example, providing refreshments or preparing communion for Sunday), please give it your all: be on time, set up, and clean up thoroughly, etc.
  • If a certain project is extended beyond the minimum guidelines, it still counts as one project and cannot be recorded as a separate project or lengthier award. For example: if you babysit 4 hours/week for a family in need for a total of 7 months, this activity would not count as a longer commitment due to double time. It’s still a 7 month commitment.
  • Award guidelines are listed as they will pertain in future years with the knowledge of this new event.
  • The local church coordinator must sign the award certification form to verify that each project complies with the Service Ministry guidelines.

 

Award Requirements:

Service Ministry is not a judged event. Awards to participants will be given according to the following criteria.

  • Grades 3-6
    1. Gold: 1 ministry done weekly for a minimum of 5 months, or 2 ministries for 3 months each
    2. Silver: 1 ministry done twice monthly for a minimum of 7 months, or 2 for 4 months each
    3. Bronze: 1 ministry done monthly for a minimum of 9 months, or 2 for 5 months each
  • Grades 7-9
    1. Gold: 1 ministry done weekly for a minimum of 7 months, or 2 ministries for 4 months each
    2. Silver: 1 ministry done twice monthly for a minimum of 9 months, or 2 for 5 months each
    3. Bronze: 1 ministry done monthly for a minimum of 11 months, or 2 for 6 months each
  • Grades 10-12
    1. Gold: 1 ministry done weekly for a minimum of 9 months, or 2 ministries for 5 months each
    2. Silver: 1 ministry done twice monthly for a minimum of 11 months, or 2 for 6 months each
    3. Bronze: 1 ministry done monthly for a minimum of 12 months, or 2 for 7 months each
  • Participants are allowed breaks in their service. If it’s easier, use the following values to help calculate for which award they qualify:
    1. 3 months = 13 times of service
    2. 4 months = 17 times
    3. 5 months = 22 times
    4. 6 months = 26 times
    5. 7 months = 30 times
    6. 9 months = 39 times
    7. 11 months = 48 times.

 

Submission Protocol:

Submissions of Service Ministry entries should follow these guidelines.

  • Service Ministry entries should be submitted to the Service Ministry event director.
  • Submissions can be made via the REGISTRATION page uplink, or by email/postal mail to the event director.
  • Click on the event director’s name posted at the top of this page, or visit the CONTACT US page, for information on how to submit materials to the event director.
  • Submissions must include a Pre-Convention Cover Sheet (listing all Service Ministry participants from the church) and a copy of the Service Ministry Award Certification Form for each participant from the church registered in the event.
  • All required materials must be submitted on or before the pre-convention submissions deadline (postal submissions must be post-marked on or before this date).
  • Do not send entries in a manner that require signature receipt.
  • The event coordinator will send confirmation of receipt of the submission to the church coordinator.
  • If applicable to the participant(s), a LTCSW Special Needs or Concerns Form should be submitted to the LTCSW Special Needs Coordinator by the registration deadline.

 

Resources:

Select from these suggested service projects and activities.

  1. Write and mail or deliver a minimum of 3 sympathy, thinking of you, or birthday cards to appropriate individuals and families in your church or as an out reach from church.
  2. Deliver cards, communion, meals or goody-baskets to shut-ins, elderly, sick, etc.
  3. Spend a minimum of 1 hour picking up trash within your community.
  4. Organize a clothing drive and donate to an organization that will distribute to needy families.
  5. Help a shut-in (non-family) from your local church or in your community with chores at their home.  (Rake leaves, mow lawn, shovel snow, pull weeds, wash dishes, etc.)
  6. Prepare and deliver food to a minimum of 1 family who need help. (Hospital, sick, death, etc.)
  7. Visit a local nursing home and spend a minimum of 1 hour performing (singing, etc.) or spending time with the residents.
  8. Help serve a minimum of 1 time in a Food Kitchen (or Feed My Starving Children).
  9. Baby-sit free of charge for a minimum of 2 hours (non-family).
  10. Participate for a minimum of 1 hour in an “adopt a highway” or a “clean the beach” program.
  11. Volunteer a minimum of 1 hour to help church outreach programs.
  12. Volunteer with an after school program at a school.
  13. Volunteer at an animal rescue for a minimum of 1 hour.
  14. Serve consistently in any ministry in church (AV, nursery, office work, preparing communion, cleaning, welcome, preparing refreshments, etc.)
  15. Other—Create your own—approved by the local Church Coordinator. (With a minimum of 1 hour of service)