Programs of Religious Activities with Youth

P.R.A.Y. God and Country News Bulletin

First Quarter 2006 

Welcome to P.R.A.Y.’s God and Country News Bulletin. This Bulletin is written for pastors, counselors, mentors, and parents associated with Protestant and Independent Christian churches. It includes program helps, best practices, and special features to support a God and Country ministry. We hope you enjoy this bulletin and take the time to share it with others.

GOD AND COUNTRY START-UP KIT
 

The P.R.A.Y. web site now features a new “Start-Up Kit.” This resource is a collection of handouts to help introduce the God and Country program to clergy, youth directors, and other key individuals. Congregations are often approached about the God and Country program. This packet will help them see the big picture and understand that God and Country is more than just a program … it is a ministry.

The Start-up Kit addresses a wide range of topics:

·        What is God and Country?

·        More Than Just an Award: God and Country as Christian Education and Outreach

·        Eligibility Guidelines

·        The Role of the Pastor

·        One-on-one versus Classroom instruction

·        The Adult Mentor Program

·        Setting Up a Class

·        Scouting as Ministry: A Testimony from Buena Vista UMC

·        Incorporating Scouting Programs as Ministry

·        God and Country and the 40 Developmental Assets for Youth

·        Program Descriptions:

·        God and Me

·        God and Family

·        God and Church

·        God and Life

·        Registration Process (paperwork)

·        About P.R.A.Y.

Please take the time to become familiar with these resources. Click here to review these handouts.

P.R.A.Y. CELEBRATES FOUR STAR RECIPIENTS IN 2005

Eighty-eight young people were recognized by P.R.A.Y. as being “Four-Star Recipients” in 2005. A Four-Star recipient is someone who has completed all four levels of the God and Country series (i.e. the God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life awards). The Four Star pin was initiated in 2005. P.R.A.Y. expects the number of four-star recipients to jump in 2006. Recipients receive a letter and certificate signed by Mark Hazlewood, CEO of P.R.A.Y.

2005 GOD AND COUNTRY USAGE

Usage of the God and Country program declined for the third year in a row. The number of God and Country recipients decreased by 1.68% in 2005. Here are the usage figures by program level:

To see a breakdown by denomination or by agency, please click here.

FEATURE STORIES
 

 ·        United Methodist Bishop Tells Of a Lifetime of Scouting Experiences

When Will Willimon worked with his pastor on the God and Country Award, it’s doubtful that either of them would have guessed that the youngster would later become a bishop in the United Methodist Church. However, it was that experience that was instrumental in the bishop’s call to the ministry.

Click here to read this article that was re-printed in the Jan-March edition of UM Men – Used with permission.

·        Puppet Team Learns About God and Family

Austin Cayton, a member of the United Methodist Church in Hermitage, Tennessee, received his God and Family award in November 2005 and shared what he had learned with his puppet team. Although he was recognized by both his church and Pack, it was his presentation to his puppet team that Austin enjoyed the most. Click here to read the entire article.

·     Members of Troop Chartered to Buddhist Temple Earn God and Country Awards

Cerritos Baptist Church located in southern California near Knott’s Berry Farm coordinated God and Country classes for members of a Boy Scout Troop chartered to a Buddhist Temple in Orange County. Classes were voluntary and led by Youth Director Darren Sentani and Junior High Youth leader Damon Gohata. Cerritos Baptist Church is mostly Asian, the majority being Japanese-American. Click here to read the entire article.

·    FOCUS ON RUSTY COWDEN, P.R.A.Y. BOARD MEMBER 

Rev. Rusty Cowden, interim senior pastor at Poland Presbyterian Church in Poland, Ohio, serves as a Director on the P.R.A.Y. Board. He was asked to share his thoughts about the God and Country program and his dreams and hopes for P.R.A.Y. and its mission. Click here to find out what he had to say.

Share this God and Country Bulletin with others

Please forward this email to other people you feel may benefit from this God and Country Bulletin. You could share this information with your pastor, youth group leaders, Sunday school teachers, Scouting leaders, and others.

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