Transcript The P.R.A.Y. Program

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% =
0% =
We tell our Unit about religious emblems
and hope they do it
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 nonthreatening 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 [email protected]