Called to a Life of Service

PCHS Christian Service Hours

In response to Christ’s freely given gift of salvation, Christians are called to live a life of service.  

I Peter 4:10 – Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  

At Pella Christian High School, we recognize that many students are presently pursuing service opportunities through various school, church, and community organizations.  Our desire is for all students to develop and experience the joy of serving others.  An individual service hour requirement allows students to take ownership and explore service opportunities that match their personal gifts and interests.  Our deep hope is that all Pella Christian High School graduates will make Kingdom Service a lifetime habit.

Service Hours Requirements

Class of 2025 

  • Students are to complete a minimum of 10 hours of service per year.
  • Service hours accumulated in one year cannot be credited to a previous or upcoming school year.

  Class of 2026 and beyond

  • Students are required to complete a minimum of 60 hours of service during their 4 years of high school.
  • Transfer students’ required hours will be prorated based on their years enrolled at Pella Christian High School.

Graduation Honors

  • Students who accumulate at least 150 service hours prior to graduation will receive graduation honors for their service.  
  • 50 service hours to Pella Christian High School or any supporting sister school
  • 50 service hours to their church or any supporting church
  • 50 service hours outside of school or church

Winterim Service-Oriented Mission Trips

  • Up to 40 hours of service performed by students during Winterim service-oriented mission trips may be counted above and beyond the service hours required for graduation.  
  • These service hours will be documented but will not be included in the hours calculated for students’ graduation requirement.  
  • Students’ total hours of service, including hours of service performed during Winterim service-oriented mission trips, will be calculated and recognition may be given to students who have outstanding records of total service hours throughout their high school career.  

Additional Information

  • For each Christian service project, students will document their completed service hours experience on the required Christian service form and turn in their completed service hours forms to their homeroom teacher prior to leaving for summer break.
  • Students are encouraged to turn in all service hours completed, even if their total exceeds the required number of hours.  
  • Recognition may be given to students with outstanding records of total service hours throughout their high school career.
  • The service year begins on the first day of summer break and ends on the last day of 2nd semester finals.
  • Students may contact their homeroom teacher if they have questions about whether a service opportunity qualifies for service hours.
  • Homeroom teachers will record students’ service hours.
  • Completed service hours will be documented on students’ transcripts at the end of each school year.

Service Hour Forms

Service Hours Examples

  • School
    • Team manager
    • Booster Club Concession Stand (student hours)
    • Summer camps assistant 
    • Grade school co-curricular activities and fundraisers
  • Community
    • Youth teams coach (volunteer)
    • Fundraisers that support nonprofit organizations
    • Various Tulip Time booths (volunteer)
    • Camp counselor (volunteer)
    • Yard work (for a non-relative unable to do his/her own yard work)
    • Nonprofit organizations, for example:
      • Pella Christian Opportunity Center
      • Pella Forward with Faith houses 
      • Habitat for Humanity
      • The Well in Pella, Knoxville, or Newton
      • Legacy in Pella
      • Local food pantries
      • Nursing homes
      • Hospitals
  • Church
    • Vacation Bible School
    • Youth group initiated volunteer opportunities
    • Rehearsals for a worship/praise team
    • Technical assistant for sound, video, or projection system 
    • Nursery assistant

Unacceptable Service Hours Examples

  • Time spent preparing for or carrying out activities that are part of being a member of a curricular or co-curricular activity, for example:
    • Concert set-up/tear down
    • StuCo (Student Council)
    • Yearbook
    • Set construction
    • AgVenture Day
    • Caleb Crew Leader
  • Time spent during a school day resulting in a student missing class
  • Travel, leisure, or sleeping time during a mission trip
  • Time spent benefitting the profit of a for-profit company
  • Activities where a student receives a tangible benefit