Welcome: PRAY-UMC Webinar Hosts:Deb Hazlewood (Assistant CEO, P.R.A.Y.) Larry Coppock (Nat’l Dir., Office of Scouting Ministries, GCUMM) Presenter: Chris Karabinos, Johns Creek UMC

United Methodist Church PRAY Usage 4,874 P.R.A.Y Awards Earned (2015) (Tops among Protestant Faith Groups)

BSA National Jamboree – July 19-28, 2017 – UMC is recruiting chaplains & volunteers for the Faith & Beliefs exhibit for a Survey Form to participate UMC Scouters Ministry Training – The Summit Bechtel Reserve – June 19-24, 2016 UMC Scouters Ministry Training – Florida Sea Base – Feb , 2017 (Presidents Day Weekend)

Introduction: Chris Karabinos Boy Scout Leader – 20 years – Pack & Troop leader (Committee Chairs, ASM, many others) – District Leadership - including Religious Relations Chair – Atlanta Area Council - including Religious Relations Committee COR – Johns Creek UMC (2004 – 2011) P.R.A.Y. (God & Country) – Organized regular PRAY program at JCUMC Program – Organized/ led programs 10 years Asst Coordinator, United Methodist Committee on Scouting (N. Georgia Conference)

Organizing an Annual P.R.A.Y. (God & Country) Course How one United Methodist congregation built and manages their annual program April 12, 2016

Agenda What is the P.R.A.Y. (God & Country) program series? Why offer one at your church? How to run a regular, successful program? Case Study: Johns Creek UMC Key Learnings 2

What is the P.R.A.Y. Program? A series of age-specific courses designed to help youth pursue a deeper understanding of their faith. Uses mainline Protestant theology in the course material. Fulfills requirements for religious awards earned by Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing, Girl Scouts & Camp Fire. Enrollment is open to any child, grades 1-12, Scout or not. There are 4 levels in the program: Grades 1-3God and Me(1-3 months) Grades 4-6God and Family(1-3 months) Grades 6-8God and Church(4-6 months) Grades 9-12God and Life(4-6 months) Mentor program available for adults. Ministers endorsement & participation does not take much time. 3

Why offer a P.R.A.Y. Program at your Church? Help fulfill the mission at your church by bringing people to Christ. 50% of Scouts would never step inside a church if it weren’t for Boy Scouts. Round out your church’s Youth program with an education component (if you don’t already have one). Help realize the Duty-to-God component of Scouting in your scout program. 4

Case Study: Johns Creek UMC Johns Creek, GA Early Years – there were some initial challenges Had been forming small, ad hoc groups whenever a parent or scout leader asked. - Irregular at best. 3-6 youth in each group; multiple groups formed each year at different times during the year. - Might offer “Me” program one year, “Family” the next year and might never offer “Church” or “Life” programs. - Major impact on ministers who were asked to lead the groups. - Timing was variable, creating extra demands on ministers. - Recognition was inconsistent (some groups received awards in church at a service; others not recognized at all). 5

Program Objectives Johns Creek UMC 2005: Organized effort to provide a consistent program Objectives : -offer to all youth (all grades, girls & boys, non-scouts, all units) -make it easier on ministers to support -recognize everyone who completed the program -encourage adults to take the Adult Mentor program alongside -encourage youth to take the next course, eventually taking all 4 levels 6

Program Elements Johns Creek UMC Offered all 4 levels each year. Kicked-off program w/Organizational meeting in early Oct. - allows time for “Me” and “Family” programs to complete by early January (in time to get awards by Scout Sunday) Pre-recruited parents to lead groups before Org meeting. Formed multiple groups at each level (demand permitting) - den-size groups (5-10 youth/ group) Widely promoted program to: - all Boy Scout units at the church (not just one pack) - invited Girl Scouts troops to participate - the area’s Boy Scout District and Girl Scout Circles - siblings of scouts (who weren’t even in scouts) - parents (to take the Adult Mentor course) 7

Program Elements Johns Creek UMC Recruited parents to lead the courses supported by a minister UMM (United Methodist Men) offered to pay $20/ youth to cover booklet and award costs (all youth participants) Major Recognition Me & Family (Scout Sunday, in February or March) Church & Life (May, in Church) Early years: invited all youth who completed program to be recognized in front of the church Later years: organized a special God & Country Recognition breakfast before 11 am church service to recognize all recipients (and recognized at church service by standing) 8

God & Country Tool Promotional Flyer 9

Organizational Tool to Create Groups 9

Program Coordinator Responsibilities 1.Secure congregation’s approval of program (in the spring) 2.Enlist ministerial support (identify one key minister to provide assistance at appropriate times during program) 3.Schedule Kick-off/ Orientation Meeting for the early fall (coordinating with your church and scout units) 4.Promote Program & Kick-off Meeting early & often Create flyer (distribute at church, at scout meetings of your scout units, at scout unit leader meetings, at the Boy Scout district level, at the Girl Scout Circle level) Put announcement on the websites of all the group’s listed above flyer: to your Scout Unit leaders (asking them to share with their families), to your Scout District and Circle and within your congregation’s or newsletter Send s in May, August and September 8 Added Page Added Page

Program Coordinator Responsibilities 5.Enlist your UMM (United Methodist Men) Fellowship Group’s support (ask them to pay for books and awards for participants; budgeting $20/ participant) 6.Pre-recruit 1-2 parents as Group Leaders before Kick-Off 7.Purchase booklets for Youth participants, Facilitators and Mentors before Kick-off 8.Conduct Kick-off Meeting Manage program to mins Have minister from the church present, start with a prayer, and articulate church’s support of the program Explain the P.R.A.Y. program (how it works, benefits, commitment) Answer questions for those needing more info before signing up Sign up youth, leaders & mentors; collect $ if needed, hand out books Group participants by Program group (Me, Family, Church, Life) Recruit leader for each group; have them select 1 st group meeting date Document all sign ups by group (collecting contact info) 8 Added Page Added Page

Program Coordinator Responsibilities 9.Take sign ups by before Kick-off and up to 1-2 weeks after Kick-off (some people can’t make the meeting); add sign ups to other groups, or start additional groups 10.Coach Group Leaders to ensure they deliver a good program; make sure they know where the online P.R.A.Y. facilitators resources can be found 11.Stay in touch with Group Leaders throughout the course 12.Ensure minister knows when and where to join each group for their last meeting; tell him his responsibilities 8 Added Page Added Page

Program Coordinator Responsibilities 13.Collect program completion forms from group leaders within a couple days of last session; Order awards from P.R.A.Y. to arrive by 1/ Coordinate with Scout Sunday organizer at your church some type of recognition for participants completing program 8 Added Page Added Page

P.R.A.Y. Program Annual Calendar April 30 Set Kick-Off Meeting date with Church (for sometime in the early fall) Create promotional flyer May Distribute flyer (via the church, scout units (their s & website), scout district & website). If your BSA council & district have a Religious Relations Committee, get the flyer to the Chairs of these committees asking them to distribute. Deliver flye to Committee Chair(s) of your scout units early; so they can include on the calendar they create for the coming year (since some packs plan their annual calendars in April/ May) July Re-distribute flyer via to all above Identify and pre-recruit parents as leaders 8 Added Page Added Page

P.R.A.Y. Program Annual Calendar August Re-distribute flyer Identify and pre-recruit parents as leaders September Re-distribue flyer Identify and pre-recruit leaders Start sign-ups via October 1st Sunday: hold Orientation/ Kick-Off Meeting; start forming groups Weeks 1-2: add youth to groups as post-meeting signees come in Weeks 3-4: groups start meeting on their own timing November Groups meet on their own timing December Groups meet on their own timing 8 Added Page Added Page

P.R.A.Y. Program Annual Calendar January Groups meet on their own timing: Me & Family groups finish the program Me & Family groups order awards February Scout Sunday: recognize Me & Family Youth & Mentors who complete the program Church & Life groups continue meeting March Church & Life groups continue meeting April Church & Life groups continue meeting May Church & Life groups finish the program Recognition of Church & Life Youth & Mentors who complete the program 8 Added Page Added Page

Program Impact Johns Creek UMC Have offered program – 10 years Youth completing the program (yrs w/students) God & Me150 (41%) (10 yrs) God & Family144 (39%) (10 yrs) God & Church 45 (12%) (9 yrs) God & Life 29 (8%) (6 yrs). Total368 % Girl Scouts: 45 (12%) % Not in Scouts:20 (5%) Adults who have participated: 40 (not included above) 7

Key Learnings Offer Program Annually: same time of year (early Fall) Assign a Program Coordinator Promote Early & Often (start in the spring if possible) Pre-Recruit Group Leaders from interested parents Use spiritually interested parents as group leaders Have minister attend at least one meeting of each group Typically attends the last meeting Complete “Me” and “Family” programs by Jan 15 th To get awards returned by 1/31 (before Scout Sunday) Recognition: Recognize at a church service Scout Sunday: Me & Family. May Church Service: Church & Life Encourage them to talk with their unit leaders to also get recognition at their B&G or next COH 9

Additional Resources Sat, April 23 (9:00 – 11:00 am) “How to Organize & Conduct a PRAY/ God & Country Program” Atlanta Area Council – Volunteer Service Center 1800 Circle 75 Pkwy, Atlanta, GA Register: 9

Q&A

Final Thoughts We encourage you to launch an annual P.R.A.Y. program in your congregation. Please provide your feedback! For more info: Chris Karabinos Recording of webinar (and copy of today’s slides) will be posted online. Thank you for your Scouting ministry!