Bode W. - Forest Lake United Methodist Church, Tuscaloosa, AL

Jeremiah J. - Carroll's Creek Baptist Church, Northport, AL

Bode and J.J. from Troop 316 in Northport, Alabama achieved Four Star status and each received a special display case of the P.R.A.Y. awards earned on their faith journey. Both say that the P.R.A.Y. program helped them grow in faith. Bode remembers most "learning and growing with friends," while J.J. says his best memories are "visiting a nursing home."

Kieran W. completed the God and Church requirements through Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Rockville Centre, New York. His favorite part was “making the scrapbook and reviewing pictures of my First Communion and my Baptism.” His mother Diana participated in the mentor program and they did a joint scrapbook of their faith journey together. According to Diana, “My child learned how to research, and we learned a lot about our church history. We enjoyed putting together a scrapbook of Our Faith Journey. My son learned about my religious education and how active his great-grandparents were. We learned and shared our views on activities in our workbooks. Being a Mentor has helped nurture the relationship between my son and I; as we explored our connection with God and our Church.”

These images from their scrapbook give an inkling about the faith conversations that Kieran and his mom might have had while working on God and Church. For information on the Adult Mentor Program, click here.

Riley worked with Phillip Davis through Grace Episcopal Church under the direction of the Reverend Mother Rose Anne Lonsway to complete the God and Church award. According to his mother Sharon, “It has been such a rewarding experience for Riley and all involved. So much so…that his younger brother, Mason, has begun to work on the God and Family Workbook!”

Congratulations, Riley, for earning the God and Church award, and Good Luck, Mason, as you complete God and Family!

Riley is pictured performing a reading on Scout Sunday. Mason displays his pizza crust for lesson 1.

Liam B. and Keaton H. are upholding the now ten-year tradition of the “EGYY” Project (i.e. “Easter Goodies from Youth to Youth”). Started in 2009 by Justin B. as part of his Webelos’ God and Family requirement, the EGYY Project has been assembling and delivering Easter baskets to children in domestic crisis centers in the Paducah, KY area for ten years. This year the project expanded to include the Louisville area where Justin is attending college and studying Biomedical Engineering. 28 baskets were assembled and delivered by Liam and Keaton in Paducah, and 24 baskets were assembled and delivered in Louisville by Justin, making the grand total 261 baskets over the last ten years.

Thanks to Liam, Keaton, and Justin for delivering not just Easter baskets, but Easter BLESSINGS to children and young people!

See related story from two years ago.

Sixteen Girl Scouts from the Heart of Texas Girl Scout Council earned both their My Promise, My Faith pin as well as a Bible Basics RP3 Patch at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church on April 13, 2019. The girls studied the line “Responsible for what I say and do” from the Girl Scout Law and paired it with the “Tents and Shelters RP3” patch.

Click here for a sample program to combine MPMF with the RP3 patches.

Sam L. received his God and Life award at First United Methodist Church in Fairbanks, Alaska and was also recognized as a Four-Star Recipient. Sam’s Four-Star journey began in 2010 when he earned the God and Me award along with his Girl Scout sister Sarah. Together they also earned the God and Family award in 2014. Sam continued working in his congregation with other Scouts to earn God and Church in 2015, and God and Life in 2019. The pictures show Sam’s growth over the years, but he also grew spiritually. Here is Sam’s reflection on the four religious awards he earned: “I enjoyed working with other Scouts and learning about my congregation’s history in the God and Church program.” Sam is an Eagle Scout in the Midnight Sun Council.

Eagle Scouts Henry H., Daulton C., and Curtis M. received their God and Life awards on Scout Sunday at Chestnut Memorial United Methodist Church.  And that was just the beginning. Other scouts and adults were recognized with several awards, i.e. God and Church Award, Cross and Flame Award, God and Service Recognition, and Good Samaritan Award. Troop 11 had much to celebrate! Chestnut Memorial United Methodist Church also received the Shepherd Church Charter Recognition for the third year in a row. Blessings on a growing scouting ministry!

Over 30 Girl Scouts gathered to lead worship and celebrate Girl Scout Sunday on March 10, 2019 at Mount Zion United Methodist Church in the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri Council. This annual event is girl-led, including the flag ceremony, call to worship, scripture reading, and even the message.

Four Star Recipient Samantha T. delivered the message and told how the P.R.A.Y. religious awards have impacted her: “Not only did my Faith grow through this program but so did my confidence in myself. I grew closer to God and was finally able to open up to the people and world around me.” Samantha went on to explain what she learned at each program level and how “the colors red, yellow, blue, and green mean so much to me” (referring to the four-color cross on the P.R.A.Y. awards displayed proudly on her uniform). Not only did Samantha earn all four levels, she also assisted with the younger classes.  

Girl Scouts were recognized by the Christian Protestant Girl Scout Committee for earning the My Promise, My Faith pin. Girl Scouts who earned a P.R.A.Y. award received a special patch. All Girl Scouts in attendance received a Girl Scout Sunday patch.

Thank you to Rev. Kyle Butler and Mount Zion United Methodist Church for hosting the event. Thank you to Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri for their support!

Photo: Four Star Recipient Samantha T. is pictured with Kathy Dabrowski from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri Council.

From Tricia Burgess: "I am so proud of these two Cub Scouts from Pack 125 from Salem, South Carolina. Ray G. and Harley W. worked hard on their God and Family workbooks. In class, Ray was always eager to look up the Bible verses and read the stories out loud. And I was so proud when we were playing the "Jeopardy Game" at the end of the sessions, Harley picked the question that asked him to recite the 10 Commandments. He was able to say them all, and in order, using his 10 Commandment Finger Counting that he learned in Lesson 4. On our last night of class, they made their own individual pizzas and Ray even tried anchovies for the first time. Thank you to Salem United Methodist Church for providing location for our classes."

Here are the resources mentioned above from the P.R.A.Y. Resource Library:

Jeopardy Game Questions

Jeopardy Game Cards

Ten Commandment Finger Counting

Charles Howard Miller received the Lutheran Servant of Youth award on a blustery winter day from Rev. Dee Pederson of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud, Minnesota on February 10, 2019. Charles was recognized for his service to the church (as Sunday School music leader, confirmation guide, and Wednesday evening service musician) and also to the Boy Scouts of America (as Pack Committee member, den leader, Webelos leader, Pack trainer, and now as Troop Committee member and member of the Scenic District in the Central Minnesota Council).  Presenting the award were Loren Meinke (National Lutheran Association on Scouting), Pastor Dee Pederson, and Jon Meinke (long-time friend, fellow professional and troop member).