overview of the p.r.a.y. curriculum deb hazlewood, presenter presbyterian scouting ministry: using...
TRANSCRIPT
Overview of the P.R.A.Y. Curriculum
Deb Hazlewood, Presenter
Presbyterian Scouting Ministry:Using the P.R.A.Y. Program
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
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
God and MeGrades 1-3
Theme: “Best Friends with Jesus”
Hands-On: GAMEBox Memory Requirement:
The Lord’s Prayer Schedule: minimum 4
sessions
Lesson 1God 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 2Jesus is God’s Gift to Me
Story 1:Jesus Is BornMatthew 1:18-25Luke 1:26-35Luke 2:1-20Matthew 2:1-12
Story 2:Jesus Was Born to Be Our SaviorJohn 3:16
Lesson 3:I Can Talk with God
Story 1:Jesus Prayed to GodMark 1:35-37
Story 2:God Talks to Samuel 1 Samuel 3:1-10
Lesson 4: Because God Caresfor Me, I Can Care for Others
Story 1: Jesus is the Good ShepherdMatthew 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.”
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 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: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.”
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.”
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.”
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 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 Youth11123 S. Towne Square, Ste. B, St. Louis MO 63123phone 1-800-933-7729 or 314-845-3318fax 314-845-0038 email [email protected]