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Disclaimer: This information is accurate and complete as of July 30, 2007.
As always, please email for clarification and comments.
Providence Christian Academy is intentional about developing a lifestyle of unselfish
service and impacting the world. Our service department, MERGE, is passionate
about preparing tomorrow’s leaders to re-present Christ to the world. It equips
and encourages students, their families, and teachers to use their spiritual gifts
and talents, through their relationship with Jesus Christ, to serve the body of
Christ and the world he came to redeem. Whether we serve during the school or workday,
or among the church, in the community or around the globe, we desire to lift up
Jesus so He may draw all people to Himself.
Students in grades 8-12 are required to complete a minimum of 20 hours for the 2007-2008
academic year. At least five of these hours must be done during the first semester.
For students who anticipate a full academic load and great demands on their after
school hours due to athletics, church, work, etc… all twenty service hours may be
performed during the summer then submitted before the end of the first semester’s
deadline. To foster a service mindset, and since much of our time is spent at school
and church; up to five hours of the annual twenty hours may be performed to the
local church or within the school. When the target audience is primarily believers
in Jesus, then those hours are credited as service to the Body of Christ. The maximum
number of Body of Christ hours per year is five (5).
One aim of this program is to develop a cognizance for ministry opportunities amid
each student’s daily walk and facilitating a consistent use of their gifts. Most
service earns one hour MERGE credit for one hour of ministry. An exception
to this is week long endeavors such as a mission trip, VBS or camp service. Any
extended service of five or more four hour days or three or more eight hour days
will earn ten (10) MERGE hours credit. This encourages students to stretch
in week long ministry and receive credit and at the same time seek other avenues
of ongoing service.
We encourage students to begin serving in summer and early in the school year when
time and opportunities are more plentiful. The MERGE webpage outlines weekly,
monthly, and one-time projects to facilitate finding a good fit for service. This
information will also be found under Service Opportunities below and on the MERGE
display in the foyer. Students are encouraged to initiate service ventures and include
peers and families as they work. If students select their own project, they must
meet MERGE guidelines, have a staff or faculty sponsor and complete a MERGE
Proposal Form (available in the right margin of this page). Upon receiving approval
from the MERGE coordinator, work on the project may begin. Proposal forms
may be submitted through the High School Office.
General Suggestions for Service (for the list of 07-08 sponsored projects
see below)
Our focus is genuine need in our community and a few examples of service that would
apply are:
- Serving in a soup kitchen, food bank/pantry, or shelter;
- Disaster relief aid;
- Mentoring or tutoring at-risk or underprivileged children;
- Using skills and talents at a camp or club;
- Mission trip, VBS, Backyard Bible Club.
Our MERGE team leads service opportunities or has a relationship with these
organizations:
- Delmar Gardens Assisted Living, Lawrenceville
- Camp H.O.P.E.
- Lilburn Cooperative Ministry
- Norcross Cooperative Ministry
- Tutoring/Mentoring at Lilburn Elementary and Lilburn Middle
- Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child
- Dream House for Medically Fragile Children, Lilburn
- SPECTRUM, Autism Support Group, Lawrenceville
- Willow Branch Apartment Ministry Tutoring/Mentoring
- Movers & Shakers, Perimeter Church, Duluth
- Lughead Discipleship Leader, Grace Fellowship Church
- Pregnancy Resource Center of Gwinnett, Lawrenceville
- Roadrunners of Gwinnett/RuntheReagan
We are eager to include new opportunities, so if you are aware of needs the Providence
family may be equipped to meet, please contact the MERGE coordinator. For
on going and one time service opportunities, please refer to the school calendar
and daily high school announcements.
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06-07 MERGE Projects |
MERGE Team Leaders |
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Lilburn Elementary |
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Willow Branch Apts. Ministry |
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HOSTS- Helping One student to Succeed |
Vivian Kwarm |
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SPECTRUM |
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Dream House |
Addison Thomas, Brondyke |
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Habitat for Humanity |
Paul Malhotra |
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HOGS- Hands of God in Service |
Zach Gray |
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Operation Christmas |
Child Meghan Milks |
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Run the Reagan |
Meghan Milks |
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Loose Change to Loosen Chains |
Zach Hunter |
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Movers & Shakers |
Zach Gray |
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Pets to People Pet Ministry |
Michael Aleman, Sarah Haymon |
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Pregnancy Resource Center Gwinnett |
Amelia Bell |
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Lilburn Co-op |
Jennifer Cailor, Jennifer Harden |
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Jazz Band |
Amelia Bell |
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Carter Martin Classic |
Patrick Stephens, Stephen Brondyke |
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Camp Hope |
Amelia Bell |
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PCA, GAC & Weslyan Partnership |
Courtney Cruce, Amelia Allen |
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ACE Jamaica Mission Trip |
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Sunrise Assisted Living |
Elise McDonald, Sarah Haymon |
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Coat Drive |
Steven Brondyke |
Although we understand there are many viable and valuable forms of Christ-centered
service and we encourage participation in; here are some examples that will not
be counted toward the MERGE requirement:
- Assisting immediate or extended family members or neighbors;
- Assisting teachers with paperwork or classroom work;
- Locks for Love
- Random acts of kindness counted in retrospect;
- General childcare;
- Service performed as a school assignment or during school hours unless pre-approved;
- Ministry done during regularly scheduled worship, Bible study or church service;
- Any work receiving credit monetary, academic, or otherwise;
- Fundraising efforts;
- For profit organizations, or those that support a political party or candidate.
If you wish to request approval for a project, please complete and submit a MERGE
Proposal Form prior to serving so a determination can be made and progress made
be tracked. Please communicate with us if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions.
Record of Service
Each student must keep a record of service participation. The date, location, type
of service, and number of hours are logged and verified by the sponsor or supervising
adult (not parent). A completed MERGE Report Form may be submitted to the
High School Office anytime during the semester, but must be in prior to the December
and May deadlines. To assist students as they apply for scholarships and colleges,
the Community Service Department maintains records of community service for each
student throughout their high school tenure. Whether hours are eligible for MERGE
credit or not, students are encouraged to submit a MERGE report form for
all services performed.
Failure to perform the service hours or submit completed forms by the end of semester
deadlines may result in loss of exam exemption(s), failure to promote to the next
grade or a hold on senior transcripts until the hours of service are completed and
the form is submitted to the High School Administration.
Deadlines for 2007-2008:
Summer & Fall Semester - Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at 3:25 p.m.
Winter & Spring Semester - Friday, May 09, 2008 at 3:25 p.m.
Allowing God to fill us and plunge us into the culture fleshes out Ephesians 2:10,
“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared
in advance for us to do.” As we take Jesus to the people, He transforms His children
and the dark and dying world.
Please do not assume anything! Read through this information then contact
the MERGE coordinator for clarification or with questions or suggestions.
Be proactive and plan your service intentionally. God loves a hilarious giver. What
better way to honor the Father, than to serve and love like Jesus?
FAQ
- How do I choose a MERGE project? Use your talents, spiritual
gift(s) and interests to begin trying service opportunities. If you don’t like being
outdoors or physical labor, avoid those activities. If you enjoy being with kids
or senior adults then try ministries that cater to that group. If you try several
and still don’t feel you’re shaped for those, then you may want to consider submitting
your project idea on a SPEED Proposal Form and develop your God designed service.
- Who can/cannot sign my MERGE form? The adult who supervises your
service must verify the hours, print his/her name and sign your report form. This
person is not the parent of the servant.
- Where do I get MERGE Proposal Forms and MERGE report forms and where do
I turn them in? They are available in the high school office and may be
downloaded from this website. Take one with you to every project. Complete them
accurately and neatly and turn them in anytime the office is open. They have a tendency
to get lost, so a quick submission is wise.
- How to I join a currently scheduled project? Grab a brochure
and contact the MERGE Team Project Leader for that ministry to sign up and get additional
directions and details. Some projects have prerequisites so advance notice is crucial.
When new or one time opportunities arrive, the announcements will give instructions
on how to get more information and sign up. Please do not sign up or remove anyone
else’s name from a sign up list.
- What if I’m signed up and cannot attend? Your commitment is a
serious obligation, please honor your promises. If an emergency arises, attempt
to find someone to replace you. Notify the project leader immediately. Communicate
with organization or the MERGE coordinator as a final resort. Your responsibility
speaks volumes about your character.
- Can I do something not coordinated by PCA? YES! Fill out a MERGE
Proposal Form and turn it in to the office. As soon as you’ve received permission,
let the service begin!
- How can I get a MERGE Report Form if I forgot to pick one up at school?
These links allow you to print the most recent report forms available right now.
MERGE Proposal Form. MERGE Proposal Form.
- What determines whether service hours count as part of the five to the
Body of Christ or to the 15+ to the community? If the majority of the target
audience (the people you are serving) believe in Jesus or are part of a Christian
group, then those are MERGE hours to the Body of Christ. If the majority of the
target audience you are ministering to are not believers in Jesus then, those are
community MERGE MERGE hours. Please ask the SPEED coordinator if you are unsure
about the differentiation.
- What if I lose my MERGE Report Form? DON’T! Submit your completed
form as soon as you can. If you lose your form, YOU must get a replacement form
signed by the original supervisor, answer the questions and submit it prior to the
end of semester deadline.
- What if I do not do my service or don’t turn the form in before the deadline?
This is a character issue. As part of the registration process, your signature acknowledged
your understanding of the community service responsibility and you are able to comply.
If you do not satisfy the service requirements or fail to turn in a complete report
form by the deadline for Summer & Fall semester, then you forfeit your exam exemption.
If this occurs during the Winter & Spring semester, you forfeit your exam exemption
and you do not promote to the next grade or have your report card or transcript
released until the service requirement is met and the MERGE Report From is submitted
to the High School Administration.
- Who keeps up with my service hours? Each student is responsible
for serving and reporting his/her hours. Parents, teachers, coaches and administrators
desire to help to succeed; ultimately, each student must ensure the MERGE requirements
are met. The MERGE coordinator keeps a database with annual totals. An email request
is the optimal method to obtain a current hour count. Prior to the deadline each
semester, hours will be posted on the MERGE board. Please verify that your hours
submitted agree with the database. Please contact the MERGE coordinator if they
do not.
- Do NHS and Beta Club Hours count for MERGE credit and vice versa?
No. Beta Club and National Honor Society have their own service projects for their
members. This is different than in previous years so please be aware of this change
and plan accordingly.
MERGE Coordinator:
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4575 Lawrenceville Highway, Lilburn, GA 30047 Telephone
770-279-7200 Fax 770-279-8258
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