Reaching Young Families for Christ through an Ongoing Scouting Evangelism/Discipleship Ministry

Mark Hazlewood, P.R.A.Y.

How to Have Pastors and Congregations Begging You to Start a Scouting Program

Vision Where there is no vision, the

people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18

The Great Commission Go ye therefore, and teach all

nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

What does this mean? “Go ye therefore, and teach all

nations”

Whose goals are these? Membership growth Membership Retention Program Money Trained Volunteers

No Church Home 50-60% of America does NOT have

a church home The Lord rejoices more over the

return of one lost soul than a thousand committee meetings!

Matthew 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, “The

harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”

Traditional Church Ideas for Evangelism “They ought to come.” “They really ought to come.” “They really really ought to come.”

Traditional Church Ideas for Evangelism Serve coffee Serve more coffee Serve better coffee Serve more better coffee

Let’s try SCOUTING Train up a child in the way he

should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

Congregation’s Response But we don’t have any kids? What about the girls/boys? I wear too many hats!

Youth Agencies Provide the Children and Young Families The reason Parents sign their

Children up for Scouting is for the VALUES

The Church provides the LEADERSHIP

Ingredients for Success Both sides must clearly understand

the chartered organization or sponsorship agreement before it is signed.

The Youth Agencies should use as many congregational volunteers as is feasible.

The congregation must “invest” their best kid person to be the leader

Ingredients for Success All volunteers must be trained by

the local council Religious emblems must be

promoted by the unit leader Congregations must offer a

religious emblems class

Promoting Religious Emblems AHG – required for Stars and

Stripes BSA – Religious emblems

coordinator GSUSA – My Promise, My Faith

(MPMF) Patch Set www.praypub.org

The P.R.A.Y. Program Christian Education Discipleship Service Projects Adult Mentors Family Involvement EVANGELISM

God and MeGrades 1-3

Theme: “Best Friends with Jesus”

Hands-On: GAMEBox Memory Requirement:

The Lord’s Prayer Schedule: minimum 4

sessions

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 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 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

Religious Emblems Class Your Troop leader promotes the

Religious Emblems of all faiths. Your congregation offers a class to

earn the P.R.A.Y. award.

Growing Your Congregation If your Cub Scout Pack has 10

families 50% may not have a church home That means 5 young families are pre-

qualified as looking for values for their children

That means 5 pre-qualified families are already in your building who don’t have a church home

Growing Your Congregation If your American Heritage Girls

Troop has 10 families 50% may not have a church home That means 5 young families are pre-

qualified as looking for values for their children

That means 5 pre-qualified families are already in your building who don’t have a church home

Growing Your Congregation If your Girl Scout Troop has 12

families 50% may not have a church home That means 6 young families are pre-

qualified as looking for values for their children

That means 6 pre-qualified families are already in your building who don’t have a church home

Growing Your Congregation If your congregation offers a class to

earn the P.R.A.Y. award If you invest your second best kid

person to help teach the class If you include the Adult Mentor Program

you are discipling the family You can have 10 young families meeting

and interacting with your church members

Keeping New Members But research shows that new

members are gone after just one year

ScoutParents gets parents involved with the Pack and your Christian leaders

www.scoutparents.org P.R.A.Y. Curriculum/Mentor

Keeping New Members The Youth Agency Programs

include lots of activities to involve the family

Scout parents Troops are multi-age Father-Daughter activities

What Does Your Congregation Need? Membership – young families Membership – adult males Retention Religious Training Trained Leadership Money

Ingredients for Success Win-win-win situation Collaboration results in:

Stronger youth and families Stronger congregations Stronger councils