Community Service

The Community Service course at Chattanooga Christian School is much more than just a 1-semester, required course for seniors. The course is an intentional effort to afford students the opportunity to put "feet" on the mission of the school, implementing the aspects of leadership and service that they have learned throughout their years at CCS.

Activities:

• Selecting and serving at a ministry with which CCS has a service partnership
• Discussing big questions about service, compassion, and the Christian life
• Spending time reflecting in writing on experiences and lessons learned through the course
• Developing and sharing with peers a personal "Philosophy of Service"

Essential Understandings or Concepts:

• Serving others should be our response in obedience to Christ's command to love God first and then our neighbor
• Serving others is the lifestyle of a Christian
• Being exposed to the needs and struggles of others different from ourselves encourages grace and understanding
• Serving provides an opportunity to be changed personally while having a positive impact on the lives of others
• Confronting selfishness (serving self) and learning self-denial (serving others) are difficult but invaluable lessons
• Service is worship

Selection of service location:

When students are contemplating the location for their community service, the Community Service Director encourages students to serve in areas of personal interest, skill, or ability. For instance, if a student is interested in pursuing a teaching career, he or she may volunteer at a local public school. Or if a student is skilled with construction or landscaping, he or she may spend the semester working with Widows Harvest Ministries.

It is not uncommon for students to enjoy their Community Service assignment and the relationships they develop there so much that they request a second semester assignment. In fact, some alumni attribute their career and job choices to their eye-opening and influential experiences in their Community Service classes.

Students serve at the following local ministries and nonprofits:

Battle Academy
Calvin Donaldson Environmental Science Academy
Chambliss Center for Children
Chattanooga Area Food Bank
Chattanooga Sports Ministries
Life Spring Community Health Clinic
Little Miss Mag
Morning Pointe Senior Living
Signal Centers
Widows Harvest Ministries