FEB 2014 HELP PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATIONS ATTRACT YOUNG FAMILIES

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FEB 2014 HELP PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATIONS ATTRACT YOUNG FAMILIES

WELCOME! Introduction of Mark Hazlewood, CEO of P.R.A.Y.

HELP PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATIONS ATTRACT YOUNG FAMILIES Challenge: How to get young families from UNIT involvement to CHURCH involvement This webinar will look at strategies for getting your Scouting families involved in the life of your church

THE CHARTERED ORGANIZATION CONCEPT First you need to make sure your church is functioning as a chartered organization Chartered Organization vs. sponsor A Chartered Organization integrates Scouting as part of their congregation’s mission A sponsor allows the Scouting unit to meet in the basement Homeowner vs. Landlord Goal: move congregations from sponsors to become Chartered Organizations

THE CHARTERED ORGANIZATION CONCEPT QUESTION: What is the role of Scouting as it relates to the Chartered Organization? ANSWER: Scouting should further the aims and goals of the Chartered Organization. In other words, Scouting should further the aims and goals of the Presbyterian congregation

WHAT ARE THE “AIMS AND GOALS” OF YOUR CONGREGATION? “To know Christ and to make Christ known” Discipleship and Evangelism Use BSA to help strengthen both of these ministries!

THE P.R.A.Y. PROGRAM CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & DISCIPLESHIP Bible-based curriculum Appropriate for Sunday school programs, confirmation classes, and small group opportunities. Family ministry: Parents may choose to participate in the Adult Mentor Program The Adult Mentor Program is an intentional program for parents to share their faith with their children.

THE P.R.A.Y. PROGRAM God and Me, gr. 1-3 God and Family, gr. 4-5 God and Church, gr. 6-8 God and Life, gr. 9-12

THE P.R.A.Y. PROGRAM God and Me, gr. 1-3 Theme: “Best Friends with Jesus” Read Bible stories and make games Keep your games in a GAMEBox Do 4 lessons and 4 family projects Memorize the Lord’s Prayer Present your work to your pastor

THE P.R.A.Y. PROGRAM God and Family (grades 4-5) Theme: “Growing in God’s Love” Meet Bible families Learn how a pizza is like a family Make a pizza Do 6 lessons and 6 family projects Memorize the Ten Commandments Present your work to your pastor.

THE P.R.A.Y. PROGRAM God and Church (grades 6-8) Theme: “My Journey with Christ” Meet Jesus, the head of the Church Learn about your congregation Record your “journey” on a video or in a photo album Do 7 lessons and 3 service projects Read the Bible daily for at least 30 days Memorize a creed Present your work to your pastor

THE P.R.A.Y. PROGRAM God and Life (grades 9-12) Theme: “Called by Christ to Serve” Get to know the Apostle Paul Study the examples of other men and women in the Bible Find out how your faith impacts your daily living Do 5 lessons and 5 service projects Read the Bible every day for 3 months Write a Statement of Commitment Present your work to your pastor

THE P.R.A.Y. PROGRAM OUTREACH & 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 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 the size of the Cub Scout Pack is 10, there are up to 5-7 families without a church home perhaps meeting in your church building.

SCOUTING PROVIDES “PRE-QUALIFIED” OR LIKEMINDED FAMILIES Why do families sign up for Scouts? VALUES You have unchurched families in your building who want values. 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. 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 families. Include Scouts (and parents) 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.

THE P.R.A.Y. AWARD IS AN OBVIOUS CONNECTION TO YOUR CHURCH Let’s find out how well you’re taking advantage of this program

POLL WE WANT YOUR INPUT! Let’s hear from all the participants Look for a question to pop up on your screen You will have several seconds to select an answer

POLL RESULTS Choose the statement that best describes your current situation: Our church sponsors our unit (they provide a meeting place) We are a chartered organization with a Scouting ministry Religion Emblems: Choose the statement that best describes your current practice. We tell our Unit about religious emblems & hope they do it We regularly offer the P.R.A.Y. programs to our youth

SCOUTING & THE P.R.A.Y. PROGRAM CAN HELP MEET YOUR NEEDS Young families Retention Leadership Program Money

YOUNG FAMILIES Scouting attracts young families that want values. We already talked about using the P.R.A.Y. award to connect them with your church. BSA – Religious Emblems Coordinator

YOUNG FAMILIES R.E.C. = Religious Emblems Coordinator R.E.C. positions exist at the Council, District and now UNIT levels R.E.C. positions show that BSA is strengthening the core value of Duty to God Religious emblems will be promoted like all other rank advancement Each Unit/District/Council should set goals for the number of religious emblems to be earned

YOUNG FAMILIES Encourage each congregation to recruit a UNIT REC The Unit REC makes a presentation on all religious emblems using the R.E.C. / Duty to God resources The chartering congregation offers their religious emblems program for their youth members and extends an invitation to the Scouting unit, especially the 50% without a current congregational home. Congregations need to invite the parents to the first class or two and start building relationships.

LEADERSHIP As a Chartered Organization, you “own” the unit. It’s like a franchise. You, the church, must provide much of the leadership Church members may volunteer to be leaders because they see it as service to their congregation Select child-friendly adults

LEADERSHIP You need your best kid person to be the leader. The leader can be the first connection to the church. Your leaders must be trained. Church members need training? Ask your council if they can attend

RETENTION Involve the Scouting families in short episodic volunteer roles Get them working with your congregations core leadership Build/strengthen relationships

PROGRAM Use Scouting to enrich your church programs Scouting has high brand recognition Membership opportunities Proven youth program: citizenship training, character development, fitness Outdoor resources (local and national facilities) Venturing Program

MONEY Low-cost evangelism; more volunteer cost More church members mean more revenue

CONCLUSION: SCOUTING CAN HELP YOU GROW The P.R.A.Y. Award can be a tool for Discipleship & Evangelism Scouting can help meet your needs: Young families Leadership Retention Program Money

UNDERSTAND THE BSA RESOLUTION Understand what the Resolution is Scout Oath and Scout Law Duty to God Behavior that exemplifies the highest level of good conduct Sexual conduct, whether homosexual or heterosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to our values. Also understand what the Resolution is NOT Does not endorse homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle Does NOT prohibit our faith based charter partners from requiring that the members of its unit abide by the moral values of the chartered organization.

UNDERSTAND THE BSA RESOLUTION A BSA Code of Conduct is being created (based on Scout Oath and Law) A committee has been formed to strengthen the Duty to God component in the Scouting program The “Scout Spirit” requirement for Tenderfoot): Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how you have done your duty to God and how you have lived four different points of the Scout Law in your everyday life.

GSUSA The MPMF Pin: Is created by the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Girls will examine a line of the Girl Scout Law and consider how it ties to their faith Girls are to find out about the national recognitions Leaders should help girls find out if their faith community offers a Religious Recognition; churches can offer classes

QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION Please submit your questions. We will try to answer them all. If we run out of time, we will contact you!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION! Reminder: Visit the P.R.A.Y. Website The recording of this webinar will be available online (along with the PowerPoint slides) Join P.R.A.Y.’s list to be notified of future webinars Mark’s THANK YOU!