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

1. Reaching Young Families for Christ through an Ongoing Scouting Evangelism/Discipleship Ministry Mark Hazlewood, P.R.A.Y.

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

3. Vision • Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18

4. 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.

5. What does this mean? • “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations”

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

7. 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!

8. Matthew 9:37 • Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”

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

10. Traditional Church Ideas for Evangelism • Serve coffee • Serve more coffee • Serve better coffee • Serve more better coffee

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Promoting Religious Emblems • AHG – required for Stars and Stripes • BSA – Religious emblems coordinator • GSUSA – My Promise, My Faith (MPMF) • Patch Set • www.praypub.org

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

18. God and MeGrades 1-3 Theme: “Best Friends with Jesus” Hands-On: GAMEBox Memory Requirement: The Lord’s Prayer Schedule: minimum 4 sessions

19. God and Family:Grades 4-5 Theme: “Growing in God’s Love” Hands-on: PIZZA Memory Requirement: The Ten Commandments Schedule: minimum 6 sessions

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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.

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. Keeping New Members • The Youth Agency Programs include lots of activities to involve the family • Scout parents • Troops are multi-age • Father-Daughter activities

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

30. Ingredients for Success • Win-win-win situation • Collaboration results in: • Stronger youth and families • Stronger congregations • Stronger councils