Presbyterian Scouting Ministry: Using the P.R.A.Y. Program Overview of the P.R.A.Y. Curriculum Deb Hazlewood, Presenter

Previous Poll Choose the statement that best describes your current practice. We tell our Unit about religious emblems and hope they do it We regularly offer the P.R.A.Y. programs to our youth

Results Choose the statement that best describes your current practice. 100% = We tell our Unit about religious emblems and hope they do it 0% = We regularly offer the P.R.A.Y. programs to our youth

Goals You will teach a P.R.A.Y. class.

Outline: Overview of the P.R.A.Y. Program Discuss the P.R.A.Y. Program as Evangelism

Sample SCREEN SHOT ONLY

What is the P.R.A.Y. Program? Created by the churches Clergy reviews the work and signs it off Awards are approved for the official Scout uniforms For boys and girls in grades 1-12

Program Summaries God and Me, grades 1-3 God and Family, grades 4-5 God and Church, grades 6-8 God and Life, grades 9-12

Program Summary: God and Me (grades 1-3)

God and Me Grades 1-3 Theme: “Best Friends with Jesus” Hands-On: GAMEBox Memory Requirement: The Lord’s Prayer Schedule: minimum 4 sessions

Lesson 1 God Created Me Story 1: God Said That It Was Good Genesis 1:1- 2:3 Story 2: God Calls Me by Name Isaiah 43:1-2, 4

Lesson 2 Jesus is God’s Gift to Me Story 1: Jesus Is Born Matthew 1:18-25 Luke 1:26-35 Luke 2:1-20 Matthew 2:1-12 Story 2: Jesus Was Born to Be Our Savior John 3:16

Lesson 3: I Can Talk with God Story 1: Jesus Prayed to God Mark 1:35-37 Story 2: God Talks to Samuel 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Lesson 4: Because God Cares for Me, I Can Care for Others Story 1: Jesus is the Good Shepherd Matthew 18:12-14 Story 2: Jesus is a Friend to All Luke 19:1-10

God and Me: Prayer Cube Favorite lesson: The lesson on prayer Kids use P-A-T-H* to learn four parts of prayer and they make a prayer cube. * Praise - Apology - Thanks - Help

God and Me: Award Red is the color for the God and Me program. Red symbolizes love and the blood of Christ. When children wear the recognition, they are reminded that they are “Best Friends with Jesus.”

Program Summary: God and Family (grades 4-5)

God and Family: Grades 4-5 Theme: “Growing in God’s Love” Hands-on: PIZZA Memory Requirement: The Ten Commandments Schedule: minimum 6 sessions

God and Family: Grades 4-5 Table of Contents Crust – Foundation – We Are God’s Family Sauce – Family Heritage, Spiritual Heritage Toppings – Our Talents and Gifts Strengthen Our Families Cheese – In God’s Family We’re Loved No Matter What! Because We’re Loved, We Follow Rules Bake – Being in God’s Family Helps Us When Things Are Tough Eat, Share, Enjoy! – In God’s Family, We Share as a Response to God’s Love

God and Family: Grades 4-5 Table of Contents Crust – Foundation – We Are God’s Family

God and Family: Grades 4-5 Table of Contents Sauce – Family Heritage, Spiritual Heritage

God and Family: Grades 4-5 Table of Contents Toppings – Our Talents and Gifts Strengthen Our Families

God and Family: Grades 4-5 Table of Contents Cheese – In God’s Family We’re Loved No Matter What! Because We’re Loved, We Follow Rules

God and Family: Grades 4-5 Table of Contents Bake – Being in God’s Family Helps Us When Things Are Tough

God and Family: Grades 4-5 Eat, Share, Enjoy! – In God’s Family, We Share as a Response to God’s Love

God and Family: Grades 4-5 Favorite activity: making a real pizza!

God and Family: Award Yellow is the color for the God and Family program. Yellow symbolizes sunlight and joy. When children wear the recognition, they are reminded of the joy and blessings of family as they seek to “Grow in God’s Love.”

Program Summary: God and Church (grades 6-8)

God and Church: Grades 6-8 Theme: “My Journey with Christ” Hands-on: Video or Photo Album Memory Requirement: Creed Schedule: minimum 12 sessions Daily Bible Reading Requirement: 3 weeks min. Service Projects: Community and Church service projects

Unit I - My Journey: Meeting Christ Lesson I – Meeting Jesus, the Person Lesson 2 – Meeting Jesus, the Son of God Lesson 3 – Meeting Jesus, the Head of the Church Project: Daily Bible Reading

Unit II – My Journey: Worshiping God Lesson 4: Learning How Christ Worshiped God Lesson 5: Exploring How My Congregation Worships God Project: Discovering How I Can Worship God

Unit III – My Journey: Witnessing and Ministering for Christ Lesson 6 – Learning How Christ Witnessed and Ministered to Others Lesson 7 – Exploring How My Congregation Witnesses and Ministers to Others Project – Discovering How I Can Witness and Minister to Others

God and Church: Grades 6-8 God and Church is often incorporated into confirmation programs. Special consideration must be made when teaching multi-denominations in one class. This is the only level that has denominational pins.

God and Church: Grades 6-8 Favorite activities: Making videos Learning about their own congregations Interviewing clergy Visiting other churches

God and Church: Award Blue is the color for the God and Church program. Blue symbolizes loyalty and truth. When young people wear the recognition, they are challenged to uphold these values as they continue a lifetime “Journey with Christ.”

Program Summary: God and Life (grades 9-12)

God and Life: Grades 9-12 Theme: “Called by Christ to Serve” Bible Study: the life of Paul Daily Bible Reading Requirement: 3 months minimum Schedule: minimum 12 sessions plus 5 Service Projects Required: Write a Personal Statement of Commitment

God and Life: Grades 9-12 Lesson 1 - God Calls All Kinds of People Before his conversion, Paul persecuted Christians. God does not call perfect people. God calls ordinary people and transforms them. Jeremiah, Moses, Peter

God and Life: Grades 9-12 Lesson 2 - God Doesn’t Expect Us to Do It On Our Own After his conversion, Paul was helped by Ananias and Barnabas. The Christian life needs the help and fellowship of Christian believers. Ethiopian/Philip, Moses/Jethro, paralytic/friends

God and Life: Grades 9-12 Lesson 3 - Each of Us Must Make a Personal Response to the Call of God After his encounter with Christ on the Damascus road, Paul was baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. He responded and accepted God’s call for his life. The Holy Spirit is at work in our lives – we just need to respond! Mary/Martha, spies sent into Canaan, Naaman, disciples Isaiah, Mary, Peter

God and Life: Grades 9-12 Lesson 4 - God Gives Strength to Face Adversities Paul led a difficult life: many people wanted him dead. God does not promise a life free from difficulty and suffering. On the contrary, the times of difficulty and suffering may strengthen our dependence on God and prepare us for greater service.  God does not guarantee an easy life, but God does promise to be with us. Stephen, Hannah, Lazarus, Jesus

God and Life: Grades 9-12 Lesson 5 - God Can Accomplish Great Things through Those Who are Willing to Do God’s Will Because of Paul, the church was strengthened and it grew in numbers. God can use each of us for God’s purposes! Moses, Elijah, the widow’s mite, Queen Esther

God and Life: Grades 9-12 Favorite Activities Bible Study Leading a worship service Doing the children’s sermon

God and Life: Award Green is the color for the God and Life program. Green symbolizes new growth and eternal life. When young people wear the recognition, they are strengthened in the knowledge that they are “Called by Christ to Serve.”

Program summaries Questions?

The P.R.A.Y. Program: More than Just an Award Christian Education

Christian Education Bible-based curriculum Appropriate for Sunday school programs, confirmation classes, and small group opportunities. Intentional milestones

Christian Education Family ministry Participants are required to do projects with their families. Parents may choose to participate in the Adult Mentor Program Mentors have a workbook to complete just like their children The Adult Mentor Program is an intentional program for parents to share their faith with their children.

Christian Education Servant leaders Participants must put their faith into action by designing meaningful service projects. Service projects target the family, the congregation, and the community.

Christian Education Changed lives! Parents notice changes in their children and how they interact with each other. Children have asked to be baptized after completing a class. Parents learn to pray with their children and talk about their faith. Families have started attending church again because of a P.R.A.Y. class.

The P.R.A.Y. Program: More than Just a Sunday School Curriculum… it’s EVANGELISM

The P.R.A.Y. Program: More than Just a Sunday School Curriculum… it’s Evangelism The P.R.A.Y. Program is an Evangelism tool that your congregation can use to grow its membership

The P.R.A.Y. Program: More than Just a Sunday School Curriculum… it’s Evangelism Eligibility requirements: Boys and girls May be earned by scouts and non-scouts Families do not need to have official membership in a congregation to be eligible

The P.R.A.Y. Program: More than Just a Sunday School Curriculum… it’s Evangelism Congregations that promote the P.R.A.Y. classes through the Scouting community are reaching out to scouting families that do not have church homes.

Scouting … A Mission Field! Roughly half of a typical scouting group will not be active in a congregation. Take the Cub Scouts for example: If there are 10 families in a Cub Scout Pack, there are perhaps 5 families without a church home, meeting in your church building.

Scouting Provides “Pre-Qualified” Families Why do families sign up for Scouts? VALUES You have unchurched families in your building who want values.

Be Intentional About Ministry A full 100% of Scouts pledge their Duty to God. The church’s job is to help them fulfill this promise. The church has an opportunity to turn Scouting into a ministry. This ministry can grow your membership.

Turning Scouting into a Ministry Offer a P.R.A.Y. class. Use the P.R.A.Y. classes as an opportunity for the members of your congregation to interact with your Scouting families.

Goal: Make Scouting a Ministry (not just a group that meets in the basement) Use people from your church (i.e. Sunday school teachers, pastors, parents, etc.) to teach the classes so that your Scouting families can get to know some of your church members. Consider using the Mentor program as an opportunity for Scouting parents to interact with each other and with members of your church.

Goal: Make Scouting a Ministry (not just a group that meets in the basement) Continue to find ways to connect Scouting families with your church members. Include Scouts in service projects at the church to help them get their service hours. Plan the award ceremony during a regular worship service and invite the families.

Goal: Make Scouting a Ministry (not just a group that meets in the basement) Quote from a pastor: “Once a family or individual from our Scouting ministry visits our church, they find something that ministers to their family here. Scouting remains our main outreach ministry and we continue to develop nurturing ministries to keep those families coming back again & again.”

Goal: Make Scouting a Ministry (not just a group that meets in the basement) Use the P.R.A.Y. program as a way to invite families into the life of your church A P.R.A.Y. class is a non-threatening way for unchurched families to connect with a church.

Setting Up a Class The P.R.A.Y. program may be presented in different formats, i.e. classroom setting, weekend camp retreat, at home with parents, or as an independent study with the pastor. Participants are required to present their work to the pastor. The pastor may or may not be the teacher, but the pastor (not the Scout leader or parent) conducts the final interview with the students.

Setting Up a Class Decide which program(s) you will offer Consider whom you will invite to participate in your class Publicize your class Make a budget Recruit and train adult counselors/teachers Consider if you will offer the Adult Mentor component

Setting Up a Class Choose dates Create a class schedule with assignments Review the supply list and gather materials Order booklets Arrange to order recognitions and plan the award ceremony

Conclusion Scouting is a rich mission field. A P.R.A.Y. class is a non-threatening way for unchurched families to connect with a church. It is this type of Scouting MINISTRY that can bring young families into your congregation.

Blessings on Your Ministry! Thank you for attending our presentation! Visit our learning center for more webinar opportunities. We hope we have given you the tools and encouragement to strengthen your P.R.A.Y. ministry! Programs of Religious Activities with Youth 11123 S. Towne Square, Ste. B, St. Louis MO 63123 phone 1-800-933-7729 or 314-845-3318 fax 314-845-0038 email pray@praypub.org