Script to Accompany God & Country
PowerPoint Presentation
Slide 1
Welcome!
Thank you for coming today. My name is __________________ [continue with a
brief introduction of yourself and other presenters].
We have one
objective for you today: To understand how God and Country can support your
congregation’s ministry in the areas of Christian Education and Outreach.
Let’s
begin.
Slide 2
Boy Scouts
profess a “Duty to God”.
Girl Scouts promise “To Serve God”. And the Camp Fire law states
“Worship God”.
We’re here today to learn how the God and Country program is one
way to help young people express their faith in God.
Slide
3
God and
Country is a religious emblems program. This means that:
-
A. It is
created by the national church bodies cooperating with P.R.A.Y.
In other words, God and Country is a CHURCH program, not a scouting
program.
-
B. God and
Country includes emblems/awards which are approved for wear on the official
Boy Scout, Girl Scout, and Camp Fire uniforms. That is why most people
associate God and Country with being a scouting award, but it is a church
award that is approved by the youth agencies.
Slide
4
Now that you
know that God and Country is a religious awards program,
we want to tell you that God and Country is much, much more than just
an award.
We want to
show you how God and Country means:
Christian
education
Family
involvement
Getting to
know the Pastor
Service
projects
Community
outreach,
Real results
/ changed lives
Slide 5
God and
Country is a Christian Education Resource.
It is Bible based curriculum. It requires that students read
scripture and answer questions about the Bible.
This first
quote is from a child: “I learned a lot of Bible stories. I like looking
things up in my Bible!”
The second
quote is from a pastor: “I am very impressed with the material. I will
likely use it as a discipleship curriculum for my church.”
God and
Country should not be pigeonholed as a scouting program.
Many congregations have used the God and Country series in their
Sunday school programs and confirmation classes.
One congregation offers it every year as a special family program
during Lent. God and Country can support your Christian Education
department.
Slide 6
As a
Christian education resource, God and Country is unique because it involves
the family.
These quotes
are from parents:
“[God and
Country] caused my son and me to spend time together with God. It helped us
to pray together as a
family.”
“We enjoy
doing things together as a family, but it tends to be sports. This program
had the family playing games with the thought of love and kindness as the
goal, wonderful!”
Most church
programs are very age segregated. Children
and youth are separated from adults and have separate programs.
God and Country helps the family to interact together and to share
their faith with each other. They enjoy the time learning together about
God.
Slide 7
God and
Country also provides the opportunity for children to get to know their
pastors.
We often
hear this quote from children: “My favorite part was the pastor of my
church doing the program with us.”
This
doesn’t mean that the pastor is the one necessarily teaching the class.
The pastor is the one that must approve the work at the completion of
the program. Children have
valued this aspect of God and Country.
They enjoy connecting with their pastor.
Slide 8
God and
Country is not just book learning: it involves service projects. Students
are challenged to put their faith into action. They choose or design their
own projects. Service projects are often targeted toward the family,
congregation, and community. Here’s a sample list of some projects:
planning a
game night or special night for the family
cleaning the
toys in the church nursery
working in
the food pantry
serving
meals for the homeless
delivering
Christmas gifts for the Angel Tree Project (a project that serves the
children of inmates)
holding a
toy drive for the church day care center
and many
more. God and Country is service oriented.
Slide 9
God and
Country is an effective tool for community outreach.
The first
quote is from a parent: “We are not regular church goers, and this program
has developed my daughter’s interest. I didn’t know how eager she was to
learn about God.”
Congregations
that promote their God and Country classes through the scouting community
are reaching out to scouting families that may not have church homes. These
parents want their children to earn their award, and in the process they
discover how hungry their children are for the Gospel.
Slide 10
This quote
is 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 and again.”
God and
Country is a friendly, non threatening way to get families into your church
building and connected with your people. It can be an additional tool for
your outreach ministry.
Slide 11
The last
thing about God and Country is that it has the potential to change lives.
Here are
some quotes from parents:
“We feel
more open and confident in discussing our faith and beliefs.”
“My son
was able to forgive his step-father…which has brought all of us closer.”
“Through
the God and Me program, my son and wife decided to be baptized into the
church … Thank you!”
God and
Country has helped families re-examine their priorities. Parents realize
they need to take time for faith development, to pray with their children,
to talk about God. As a result, parents also share how they have seen
changes in their children and in the way family members interact with each
other. Family members are closer to each other and to God.
You have
heard about God and Country and how it can impact lives.
Now let’s get down to the nitty gritty.
How do you implement the program?
Slide 12
First,
let’s review the eligibility requirements.
A. God and
Country is for members of Protestant and Independent Christian churches,
which includes Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal,
Episcopal, UCC, Disciples of Christ, and other denominations.
If you have a child who wants to take your class, be sure that God
and Country is the appropriate program for them.
B. God and
Country is for boys and girls in grades one through twelve.
All church youth (whether or not they belong to a scouting group) are
eligible to participate in the God and Country program.
Children should start at their appropriate grade level.
C. God and
Country is an interdenominational resource, which means that all
denominations use the standard curriculum.
The curriculum allows each church to introduce the unique
characteristics of their denomination.
D.
Students are required to present their work to the pastor for final
approval. God and Country classes must be taught under the auspices of the
church. It
is the pastor who does the final review with the student.
This does not mean that the pastor is the only one who can serve as
counselor or teach a class.
The pastor may appoint a parent, Sunday school teacher, or other lay
leader in the church to serve as God and Country counselor.
But it is the pastor who approves the work in the end.
Slide 13
God and
Country has four different programs based on grade level.
These grade
levels roughly correspond to the different ranks in the scouting programs,
but since God and Country is a program of the church, it goes strictly by
grade level (not by rank).
Slide 14
There are
three books at each level.
A. Student
Workbook: Each child is required to have a student workbook.
It contains all the Bible lessons and requirements that the child
must complete. It also contains
the application form to order the award upon completion of the program.
B. The
Counselor Manual is the “teacher’s edition.” It provides handouts,
answers to all questions, and lesson plans. It also provides
suggestions for starting a program, whether you plan to offer classes or set
up independent programs where the students work at home and then report to a
counselor.
C. The Adult
Mentor Workbook is an optional program for parents.
Parents may participate in the program alongside their children by
serving as mentors. Mentors
have lessons to complete in the Mentor Workbook to prepare them to work
side-by-side with their children as they share and grow in faith together.
We’ve been
talking in general terms about the God and Country series.
Now let’s take a deeper look at each specific program level.
Slide 15
God and Me
is the first program in the God and Country Series for children in grades 1
through 3.
Slide
16
The God and
Me program has four lessons. It
typically requires 4-6 meetings to complete if you include an introductory
session and a party at the end.
Slide
17
The God and
Me program will help children become best friends with Jesus and help them
tell their story of “God and Me” together. Children will make a game in
each lesson and keep their games in a GAMEBOX (God And
Me Exploring BOX). These games will
reinforce the Bible lessons and provide opportunities for families to
explore God's love together.
Slide 18
There are
several recognitions. The God and Me medallion and patch are pictured
here. The application form to order these items is found in the back of
each student workbook.
Slide 19
The second
program in the series is called God and Family. It is for children in grades
4 and 5.
Slide
20
The God and
Family program has six lessons. It
will require 6-8 meetings to complete.
Slide
21
In the God and
Family program children will compare families and “pizza.” The six steps
for making pizza will be compared to God’s plan for strengthening families.
Children will make a pizza as they study how families can grow together in
God’s love.
Slide 22
This is the
God and Family medallion and patch.
Slide 23
God and
Church is the third program in the God and Country series. It is for young
people in grades 6 through 8.
Slide
24
The God and
Church program has seven lessons. It
generally requires 10-11
meetings to complete.
Slide
25
The God and
Church program uses the theme of a journey: young people will embark on
faith journeys to meet Jesus, worship God, and witness and minister for
Christ. Participants will create
videos or photo albums to share their faith journeys with others.
Slide 26
This is the
God and Church medallion and patch.
It is at
this level, when students study their specific denominations, that
denominational awards are available. The standard medal is pictured
here, but there are other awards available: AME, Baptist, Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ), Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and
United Methodist.
Slide 27
The last
program is called God and Life and it is for young people in high school.
Slide
28
The
God and Life program has five lessons.
It will require 3-5 months to complete.
The theme of God and Life is based on the life of the Apostle
Paul as recorded in Acts 9. Students
will study what it means to live their lives for Christ, and will be
challenged to integrate their faith into their daily lives.
Slide 29
This is the
God and Life medallion and patch.
Slide 30
[If
possible, allow some time for participants to ask questions.]
Questions
about the God and Country program may be directed to P.R.A.Y. The P.R.A.Y.
web site is an excellent resource. Also, the P.R.A.Y. staff can answer any
questions that you have. Be sure to write down P.R.A.Y.’s web address and
toll free number.
Slide 31
After
talking about how God and Country can be used to support your Christian
Education and Outreach programs, I have one last quote to read to you from a
God and Country recipient:
“I
didn’t have a favorite lesson in God and Family … I liked them all! I
didn’t want the program to end. I can hardly wait until I’m old enough
to do the next program!”
Of all the
things that you learned about God and Country today, don’t forget that God
and Country can be FUN.
May God
bless your ministry with young people.