General Suggestions for MERGE
	General Suggestions for Service  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 had a relationship with these organizations: Delmar Gardens Assisted Living, Lawrenceville 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 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 theMERGE 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- monetarily, academically, 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. Whether hours are eligible for MERGE credit or not, students are encouraged to submit aMERGE 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 be promoted 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.  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. What better way to honor the Father, than to serve and love like Jesus?