The P.R.A.Y. Program
Overview of the P.R.A.Y.
Curriculum
Remember!
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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
presentation is strictly for the Protestant and
Independent Christian 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
Overview of the P.R.A.Y. Program
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Created by the churches
For boys and girls in grades 1-12
Young people do not need to
belong to a Scouting agency
Young people do not need to
have official membership in the
congregation
Clergy reviews the work and
signs it off
Program Summaries
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Favorite activity:
making a real pizza!
God and Family:
Award
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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
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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
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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
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Favorite activities:
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Making videos
Learning about their own
congregations
Interviewing clergy
Visiting other churches
God and Church:
Award
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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
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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
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Favorite Activities
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Bible Study
Leading a worship
service
Doing the children’s
sermon
God and Life:
Award
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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
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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.
The P.R.A.Y. Program:
More than Just an Award
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Christian Education
Christian Education
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Bible-based curriculum
Appropriate for Sunday
school programs,
confirmation classes, and
small group opportunities.
Christian Education
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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
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Servant leadership
Participants must put
their faith into action by
designing meaningful
service projects.
Service projects target
the family, the
congregation, and the
community.
Christian Education
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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: More than Just a
Sunday School Curriculum… it’s Evangelism
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The P.R.A.Y. Program is an
Evangelism tool that
congregations can use to
grow their membership
The P.R.A.Y. Program: More than Just a
Sunday School Curriculum… it’s Evangelism
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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
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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.
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Roughly half of a typical
scouting group will not be
active in a congregation.
Scouting Provides “Pre-Qualified”
Families
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Why do families sign up
for Scouts?
VALUES
Congregations can
have unchurched
families in their building
who want values.
Be Intentional About Ministry
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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
its membership.
Turning Scouting into a Ministry
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Offer a P.R.A.Y. class.
Use the P.R.A.Y. classes
as an opportunity for the
members of the
congregation to interact
with the Scouting
families.
Goal: Make Scouting a Ministry
(not just a group that meets in the basement)
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Use people from the church (i.e. Sunday school
teachers, pastors, parents, etc.) to teach the classes
so that the Scouting families can get to know some of
the church members.
Consider using the Mentor program as an opportunity
for Scouting parents to interact with each other and
with members of the church.
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)
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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.”
Conclusion
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Scouting is a rich mission
field.
A P.R.A.Y. class is a nonthreatening way for
unchurched families to
connect with a church.
It is this type of Scouting
MINISTRY that can bring
young families into a
congregation.