Overview of the P.R.A.Y. Curriculum Debra Hazlewood The P.R.A.Y. Program

Please note! The P.R.A.Y. Program is created for Protestant and Independent Christian Churches This presentation is specifically on the Protestant Christian series Each religion creates its own curriculum Each religion creates its own guidelines Remember, the information shared in this webinar is strictly for the Christian Protestant Program

Sample listing of denominations Here is a sample listing of denominations: AME ● AME Zion ● Assemblies of God ● Baptist ● Church of God ● Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) ● CME ● Episcopal ● Lutheran ● Nazarene ● Pentecostal ● Presbyterian ● Reformed ● UCC ● United Methodist Church ● and nondenominational congregations

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

God and Me Grades 1-3 Table of Contents: Lesson 1: God Created Me Lesson 2: Jesus Is God’s Gift to Me Lesson 3: I can Talk with God Lesson 4: Because God Cares for Me, I Can Care for Others

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 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

God and Church: Grades 6-8 Table of Contents Unit I - My Journey: Meeting Christ Unit II - My Journey: Worshiping God Unit III - My Journey: Witnessing and Ministering for Christ

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 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 Table of Contents Lesson 1 - God Calls All Kinds of People Lesson 2 - God Doesn’t Expect Us to Do It On Our Own Lesson 3 - Each of Us Must Make a Personal Response to the Call of God Lesson 4 - God Gives Strength to Face Adversities Lesson 5 - God Can Accomplish Great Things through Those Who are Willing to Do God’s Will

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.”

Four-Star Recipients Four-star recipients are those individuals who have earned all four levels of the P.R.A.Y. series. Four-star recipients will receive a certificate and letter of congratulations from P.R.A.Y. A special pin is available at additional cost.

Conclusion: Program Summaries Each of the four programs in the P.R.A.Y. series is an independent unit. The P.R.A.Y. Programs are Bible-based and require service projects. Children and families are brought closer together and closer to Christ.

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

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

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 an Award Intentional milestones

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 the size of the average Cub Scout Pack is 30, there are up to 15 families without a church home perhaps 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

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.

Questions

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

P.R.A.Y. website

Blessings on Your Ministry! Thank you for attending our presentation! Visit our learning center for more webinar opportunities. Programs of Religious Activities with Youth S. Towne Square, Ste. B, St. Louis MO phone or fax