God and Service

The Award

The God and Service Award is a national recognition awarded by churches and national youth agencies cooperating with Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through service to the Church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A God and Service recipient should:

• 1. Have a minimum of 5 years of service to the church.
• 2. Have a minimum of 5 years of service (be fully trained and exhibit past and present leadership) in the youth agency (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
• 3. Encourage and assist young people in earning the God and Country award.
• 4. Promote religious observances at youth agency functions at all levels.
• 5. Encourage youth to participate in community service projects.
• 6. Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national youth agency programs.
• 7. Promote the organization of youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
• 8. Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model for young people.

Building Faith in Youth

The Award

Children are a gift from God, and it is our duty to bring them up to know and to love God. The “Building Faith in Youth” Award is designed for Protestant congregations to recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the children’s and youth ministries of their church through the P.R.A.Y. programs (i.e. God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life). The “Building Faith in Youth” emblem has a shield with a four-colored cross. The four colors converge into a point to create an “X” at the center of the cross. “X” is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, and it is symbolic of how Christ should be at the center of our lives. The four colors were chosen because they correspond to the four levels in the P.R.A.Y. series, i.e. God and Me (red), God and Family (yellow), God and Church (blue), and God and Life (green). The colors also embody traditional meanings: red (love, the blood of Christ), yellow (sunlight, joy), blue (truth, loyalty), green (new life, growth, revival). The award package includes a medal that can be worn around the neck, a ¾” lapel pin, and an 8 ½” x 11” certificate.

Eligibility

All nominations must come from the Protestant congregation (self and spouse nominations will not be accepted). The nominee must:

1. Demonstrate exceptional Christian character and be active in a Protestant congregation.
2. Use the P.R.A.Y. programs (God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, God and Life) to disciple young people and their families and to support the Christian Education program of the local Protestant congregation.
3. Have a continuous record of using and supporting a P.R.A.Y. ministry (i.e. teaching God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life) with a minimum tenure of three years.
4. Develop an exceptional program over and above the standard requirements. Some examples are:
   • Utilizing the mentor programs to build up the congregation’s ministry to families.
   • Actively recruiting and training adult counselors .
   • Providing outreach opportunities to young people in the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., American Heritage Girls, and Camp Fire U.S.A.
   • Emphasizing and/or coordinating far-reaching service projects for young people beyond the program requirements

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

God and Service

The Award

The God and Service Award is a national recognition awarded by churches and national youth agencies cooperating with Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through service to the Church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A God and Service recipient should:

1. Have a minimum of 5 years of service to the church.
2. Have a minimum of 5 years of service (be fully trained and exhibit past and present leadership) in the youth agency (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
3. Encourage and assist young people in earning the God and Country award.
4. Promote religious observances at youth agency functions at all levels.
5. Encourage youth to participate in community service projects.
6. Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national youth agency programs.
7. Promote the organization of youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
8. Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model for young people.

Building Faith in Youth

The Award

Children are a gift from God, and it is our duty to bring them up to know and to love God. The “Building Faith in Youth” Award is designed for Protestant congregations to recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the children’s and youth ministries of their church through the P.R.A.Y. programs (i.e. God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life). The “Building Faith in Youth” emblem has a shield with a four-colored cross. The four colors converge into a point to create an “X” at the center of the cross. “X” is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, and it is symbolic of how Christ should be at the center of our lives. The four colors were chosen because they correspond to the four levels in the P.R.A.Y. series, i.e. God and Me (red), God and Family (yellow), God and Church (blue), and God and Life (green). The colors also embody traditional meanings: red (love, the blood of Christ), yellow (sunlight, joy), blue (truth, loyalty), green (new life, growth, revival). The award package includes a medal that can be worn around the neck, a ¾” lapel pin, and an 8 ½” x 11” certificate.

Eligibility

All nominations must come from the Protestant congregation (self and spouse nominations will not be accepted). The nominee must:

1. Demonstrate exceptional Christian character and be active in a Protestant congregation.
2. Use the P.R.A.Y. programs (God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, God and Life) to disciple young people and their families and to support the Christian Education program of the local Protestant congregation.
3. Have a continuous record of using and supporting a P.R.A.Y. ministry (i.e. teaching God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life) with a minimum tenure of three years.
4. Develop an exceptional program over and above the standard requirements. Some examples are:
   • Utilizing the mentor programs to build up the congregation’s ministry to families.
   • Actively recruiting and training adult counselors .
   • Providing outreach opportunities to young people in the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., American Heritage Girls, and Camp Fire U.S.A.
   • Emphasizing and/or coordinating far-reaching service projects for young people beyond the program requirements

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

St. George Cross

The Award

The St. George Cross Award is a national recognition of the Anglican Church in North America that is awarded by churches and national youth agencies cooperating with Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through service to the Church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck and an 8 ½" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A St. George Cross recipient should:

1. Have a minimum of 5 years of service to the church.
2. Have a minimum of 5 years of service (be fully trained and exhibit past and present leadership) in the youth agency (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
3. Encourage and assist young people to earn the P.R.A.Y. award.
4. Promote religious observances at youth agency functions at all levels.
5. Encourage youth to participate in community service projects.
6. Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national youth agency programs.
7. Promote the organization of youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
8. Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model for young people.

Building Faith in Youth

The Award

Children are a gift from God, and it is our duty to bring them up to know and to love God. The “Building Faith in Youth” Award is designed for Protestant congregations to recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the children’s and youth ministries of their church through the P.R.A.Y. programs (i.e. God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life). The “Building Faith in Youth” emblem has a shield with a four-colored cross. The four colors converge into a point to create an “X” at the center of the cross. “X” is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, and it is symbolic of how Christ should be at the center of our lives. The four colors were chosen because they correspond to the four levels in the P.R.A.Y. series, i.e. God and Me (red), God and Family (yellow), God and Church (blue), and God and Life (green). The colors also embody traditional meanings: red (love, the blood of Christ), yellow (sunlight, joy), blue (truth, loyalty), green (new life, growth, revival). The award package includes a medal that can be worn around the neck, a ¾” lapel pin, and an 8 ½” x 11” certificate.

Eligibility

All nominations must come from the Protestant congregation (self and spouse nominations will not be accepted). The nominee must:

1. Demonstrate exceptional Christian character and be active in a Protestant congregation.
2. Use the P.R.A.Y. programs (God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, God and Life) to disciple young people and their families and to support the Christian Education program of the local Protestant congregation.
3. Have a continuous record of using and supporting a P.R.A.Y. ministry (i.e. teaching God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life) with a minimum tenure of three years.
4. Develop an exceptional program over and above the standard requirements. Some examples are:
   • Utilizing the mentor programs to build up the congregation’s ministry to families.
   • Actively recruiting and training adult counselors .
   • Providing outreach opportunities to young people in the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., American Heritage Girls, and Camp Fire U.S.A.
   • Emphasizing and/or coordinating far-reaching service projects for young people beyond the program requirements

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

God and Service

The Award

The God and Service Award is a national recognition awarded by churches and national youth agencies cooperating with Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through service to the Church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A God and Service recipient should:

1. Have a minimum of 5 years of service to the church.
2. Have a minimum of 5 years of service (be fully trained and exhibit past and present leadership) in the youth agency (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
3. Encourage and assist young people in earning the God and Country award.
4. Promote religious observances at youth agency functions at all levels.
5. Encourage youth to participate in community service projects.
6. Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national youth agency programs.
7. Promote the organization of youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
8. Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model for young people.

Building Faith in Youth

The Award

Children are a gift from God, and it is our duty to bring them up to know and to love God. The “Building Faith in Youth” Award is designed for Protestant congregations to recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the children’s and youth ministries of their church through the P.R.A.Y. programs (i.e. God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life). The “Building Faith in Youth” emblem has a shield with a four-colored cross. The four colors converge into a point to create an “X” at the center of the cross. “X” is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, and it is symbolic of how Christ should be at the center of our lives. The four colors were chosen because they correspond to the four levels in the P.R.A.Y. series, i.e. God and Me (red), God and Family (yellow), God and Church (blue), and God and Life (green). The colors also embody traditional meanings: red (love, the blood of Christ), yellow (sunlight, joy), blue (truth, loyalty), green (new life, growth, revival). The award package includes a medal that can be worn around the neck, a ¾” lapel pin, and an 8 ½” x 11” certificate.

Eligibility

All nominations must come from the Protestant congregation (self and spouse nominations will not be accepted). The nominee must:

1. Demonstrate exceptional Christian character and be active in a Protestant congregation.
2. Use the P.R.A.Y. programs (God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, God and Life) to disciple young people and their families and to support the Christian Education program of the local Protestant congregation.
3. Have a continuous record of using and supporting a P.R.A.Y. ministry (i.e. teaching God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life) with a minimum tenure of three years.
4. Develop an exceptional program over and above the standard requirements. Some examples are:
   • Utilizing the mentor programs to build up the congregation’s ministry to families.
   • Actively recruiting and training adult counselors .
   • Providing outreach opportunities to young people in the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., American Heritage Girls, and Camp Fire U.S.A.
   • Emphasizing and/or coordinating far-reaching service projects for young people beyond the program requirements

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

Good Shepherd

The Emblem

The Good Shepherd Emblem is a national recognition for adults who have rendered outstanding service to Baptist youth through their church and one of the national youth-serving agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA or American Heritage Girls). The emblem is made available through the Association of Baptists for Scouting in cooperation with the national youth serving agencies. Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The Good Shepherd award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A Good Shepherd recipient should:

1. Be 23 years or older.
2. Demonstrate leadership as a “Good Shepherd” in his or her service to youth.
3. Have a minimum of five years of active service in local church ministry.
4. Have a minimum of five years of active service in one or more national youth-serving agencies (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
5. Actively participate in the worship life and program of his or her congregation and be of substantial Christian character.
6. Assist in and encourage youth to serve their Lord through the God and Country program.
7. Display outstanding service in organizing, promoting and strengthening youth-serving agency units operated by Baptist churches.
8. Cooperate with youth-serving agencies in promoting a “Duty to God” emphasis.
9. Live the Christ-like life in other community affairs and organizations (Colossians 1:10). This is a most important item. 

Building Faith in Youth

The Award

Children are a gift from God, and it is our duty to bring them up to know and to love God. The “Building Faith in Youth” Award is designed for Protestant congregations to recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the children’s and youth ministries of their church through the P.R.A.Y. programs (i.e. God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life). The “Building Faith in Youth” emblem has a shield with a four-colored cross. The four colors converge into a point to create an “X” at the center of the cross. “X” is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, and it is symbolic of how Christ should be at the center of our lives. The four colors were chosen because they correspond to the four levels in the P.R.A.Y. series, i.e. God and Me (red), God and Family (yellow), God and Church (blue), and God and Life (green). The colors also embody traditional meanings: red (love, the blood of Christ), yellow (sunlight, joy), blue (truth, loyalty), green (new life, growth, revival). The award package includes a medal that can be worn around the neck, a ¾” lapel pin, and an 8 ½” x 11” certificate.

Eligibility

All nominations must come from the Protestant congregation (self and spouse nominations will not be accepted). The nominee must:

1. Demonstrate exceptional Christian character and be active in a Protestant congregation.
2. Use the P.R.A.Y. programs (God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, God and Life) to disciple young people and their families and to support the Christian Education program of the local Protestant congregation.
3. Have a continuous record of using and supporting a P.R.A.Y. ministry (i.e. teaching God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life) with a minimum tenure of three years.
4. Develop an exceptional program over and above the standard requirements. Some examples are:
   • Utilizing the mentor programs to build up the congregation’s ministry to families.
   • Actively recruiting and training adult counselors .
   • Providing outreach opportunities to young people in the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., American Heritage Girls, and Camp Fire U.S.A.
   • Emphasizing and/or coordinating far-reaching service projects for young people beyond the program requirements

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

God and Service

The Award

The God and Service Award is a national recognition awarded by churches and national youth agencies cooperating with Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through service to the Church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A God and Service recipient should:

• 1. Have a minimum of 5 years of service to the church.
• 2. Have a minimum of 5 years of service (be fully trained and exhibit past and present leadership) in the youth agency (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
• 3. Encourage and assist young people in earning the God and Country award.
• 4. Promote religious observances at youth agency functions at all levels.
• 5. Encourage youth to participate in community service projects.
• 6. Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national youth agency programs.
• 7. Promote the organization of youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
• 8. Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model for young people.

Building Faith in Youth

The Award

Children are a gift from God, and it is our duty to bring them up to know and to love God. The “Building Faith in Youth” Award is designed for Protestant congregations to recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the children’s and youth ministries of their church through the P.R.A.Y. programs (i.e. God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life). The “Building Faith in Youth” emblem has a shield with a four-colored cross. The four colors converge into a point to create an “X” at the center of the cross. “X” is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, and it is symbolic of how Christ should be at the center of our lives. The four colors were chosen because they correspond to the four levels in the P.R.A.Y. series, i.e. God and Me (red), God and Family (yellow), God and Church (blue), and God and Life (green). The colors also embody traditional meanings: red (love, the blood of Christ), yellow (sunlight, joy), blue (truth, loyalty), green (new life, growth, revival). The award package includes a medal that can be worn around the neck, a ¾” lapel pin, and an 8 ½” x 11” certificate.

Eligibility

All nominations must come from the Protestant congregation (self and spouse nominations will not be accepted). The nominee must:

1. Demonstrate exceptional Christian character and be active in a Protestant congregation.
2. Use the P.R.A.Y. programs (God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, God and Life) to disciple young people and their families and to support the Christian Education program of the local Protestant congregation.
3. Have a continuous record of using and supporting a P.R.A.Y. ministry (i.e. teaching God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life) with a minimum tenure of three years.
4. Develop an exceptional program over and above the standard requirements. Some examples are:
   • Utilizing the mentor programs to build up the congregation’s ministry to families.
   • Actively recruiting and training adult counselors .
   • Providing outreach opportunities to young people in the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., American Heritage Girls, and Camp Fire U.S.A.
   • Emphasizing and/or coordinating far-reaching service projects for young people beyond the program requirements

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

God and Service

The Award

The God and Service Award is a national recognition awarded by churches and national youth agencies cooperating with Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through service to the Church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A God and Service recipient should:

• 1. Have a minimum of 5 years of service to the church.
• 2. Have a minimum of 5 years of service (be fully trained and exhibit past and present leadership) in the youth agency (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
• 3. Encourage and assist young people in earning the God and Country award.
• 4. Promote religious observances at youth agency functions at all levels.
• 5. Encourage youth to participate in community service projects.
• 6. Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national youth agency programs.
• 7. Promote the organization of youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
• 8. Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model for young people.

Building Faith in Youth

The Award

Children are a gift from God, and it is our duty to bring them up to know and to love God. The “Building Faith in Youth” Award is designed for Protestant congregations to recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the children’s and youth ministries of their church through the P.R.A.Y. programs (i.e. God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life). The “Building Faith in Youth” emblem has a shield with a four-colored cross. The four colors converge into a point to create an “X” at the center of the cross. “X” is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, and it is symbolic of how Christ should be at the center of our lives. The four colors were chosen because they correspond to the four levels in the P.R.A.Y. series, i.e. God and Me (red), God and Family (yellow), God and Church (blue), and God and Life (green). The colors also embody traditional meanings: red (love, the blood of Christ), yellow (sunlight, joy), blue (truth, loyalty), green (new life, growth, revival). The award package includes a medal that can be worn around the neck, a ¾” lapel pin, and an 8 ½” x 11” certificate.

Eligibility

All nominations must come from the Protestant congregation (self and spouse nominations will not be accepted). The nominee must:

1. Demonstrate exceptional Christian character and be active in a Protestant congregation.
2. Use the P.R.A.Y. programs (God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, God and Life) to disciple young people and their families and to support the Christian Education program of the local Protestant congregation.
3. Have a continuous record of using and supporting a P.R.A.Y. ministry (i.e. teaching God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life) with a minimum tenure of three years.
4. Develop an exceptional program over and above the standard requirements. Some examples are:
   • Utilizing the mentor programs to build up the congregation’s ministry to families.
   • Actively recruiting and training adult counselors .
   • Providing outreach opportunities to young people in the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., American Heritage Girls, and Camp Fire U.S.A.
   • Emphasizing and/or coordinating far-reaching service projects for young people beyond the program requirements

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

God and Service

The Award

The God and Service Award is a national recognition awarded by churches and national youth agencies cooperating with Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through service to the Church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A God and Service recipient should:

• 1. Have a minimum of 5 years of service to the church.
• 2. Have a minimum of 5 years of service (be fully trained and exhibit past and present leadership) in the youth agency (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
• 3. Encourage and assist young people in earning the God and Country award.
• 4. Promote religious observances at youth agency functions at all levels.
• 5. Encourage youth to participate in community service projects.
• 6. Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national youth agency programs.
• 7. Promote the organization of youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
• 8. Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model for young people.

Building Faith in Youth

The Award

Children are a gift from God, and it is our duty to bring them up to know and to love God. The “Building Faith in Youth” Award is designed for Protestant congregations to recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the children’s and youth ministries of their church through the P.R.A.Y. programs (i.e. God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life). The “Building Faith in Youth” emblem has a shield with a four-colored cross. The four colors converge into a point to create an “X” at the center of the cross. “X” is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, and it is symbolic of how Christ should be at the center of our lives. The four colors were chosen because they correspond to the four levels in the P.R.A.Y. series, i.e. God and Me (red), God and Family (yellow), God and Church (blue), and God and Life (green). The colors also embody traditional meanings: red (love, the blood of Christ), yellow (sunlight, joy), blue (truth, loyalty), green (new life, growth, revival). The award package includes a medal that can be worn around the neck, a ¾” lapel pin, and an 8 ½” x 11” certificate.

Eligibility

All nominations must come from the Protestant congregation (self and spouse nominations will not be accepted). The nominee must:

1. Demonstrate exceptional Christian character and be active in a Protestant congregation.
2. Use the P.R.A.Y. programs (God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, God and Life) to disciple young people and their families and to support the Christian Education program of the local Protestant congregation.
3. Have a continuous record of using and supporting a P.R.A.Y. ministry (i.e. teaching God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life) with a minimum tenure of three years.
4. Develop an exceptional program over and above the standard requirements. Some examples are:
   • Utilizing the mentor programs to build up the congregation’s ministry to families.
   • Actively recruiting and training adult counselors .
   • Providing outreach opportunities to young people in the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., American Heritage Girls, and Camp Fire U.S.A.
   • Emphasizing and/or coordinating far-reaching service projects for young people beyond the program requirements

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

God and Service

The Award

The God and Service Award is a national recognition awarded by churches and national youth agencies cooperating with Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through service to the Church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A God and Service recipient should:

• 1. Have a minimum of 5 years of service to the church.
• 2. Have a minimum of 5 years of service (be fully trained and exhibit past and present leadership) in the youth agency (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
• 3. Encourage and assist young people in earning the God and Country award.
• 4. Promote religious observances at youth agency functions at all levels.
• 5. Encourage youth to participate in community service projects.
• 6. Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national youth agency programs.
• 7. Promote the organization of youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
• 8. Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model for young people.

Building Faith in Youth

The Award

Children are a gift from God, and it is our duty to bring them up to know and to love God. The “Building Faith in Youth” Award is designed for Protestant congregations to recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the children’s and youth ministries of their church through the P.R.A.Y. programs (i.e. God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life). The “Building Faith in Youth” emblem has a shield with a four-colored cross. The four colors converge into a point to create an “X” at the center of the cross. “X” is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, and it is symbolic of how Christ should be at the center of our lives. The four colors were chosen because they correspond to the four levels in the P.R.A.Y. series, i.e. God and Me (red), God and Family (yellow), God and Church (blue), and God and Life (green). The colors also embody traditional meanings: red (love, the blood of Christ), yellow (sunlight, joy), blue (truth, loyalty), green (new life, growth, revival). The award package includes a medal that can be worn around the neck, a ¾” lapel pin, and an 8 ½” x 11” certificate.

Eligibility

All nominations must come from the Protestant congregation (self and spouse nominations will not be accepted). The nominee must:

1. Demonstrate exceptional Christian character and be active in a Protestant congregation.
2. Use the P.R.A.Y. programs (God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, God and Life) to disciple young people and their families and to support the Christian Education program of the local Protestant congregation.
3. Have a continuous record of using and supporting a P.R.A.Y. ministry (i.e. teaching God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life) with a minimum tenure of three years.
4. Develop an exceptional program over and above the standard requirements. Some examples are:
   • Utilizing the mentor programs to build up the congregation’s ministry to families.
   • Actively recruiting and training adult counselors .
   • Providing outreach opportunities to young people in the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., American Heritage Girls, and Camp Fire U.S.A.
   • Emphasizing and/or coordinating far-reaching service projects for young people beyond the program requirements

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

God and Service

The Award

The God and Service Award is a national recognition awarded by churches and national youth agencies cooperating with Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through service to the Church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A God and Service recipient should:

1. Have a minimum of 5 years of service to the church.
2. Have a minimum of 5 years of service (be fully trained and exhibit past and present leadership) in the youth agency (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
3. Courage and assist young people in earning the God and Country award.
4. Promote religious observances at youth agency functions at all levels.
5. Encourage youth to participate in community service projects.
6. Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national youth agency programs.
7. Promote the organization of youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
8. Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model for young people.

Building Faith in Youth

The Award

Children are a gift from God, and it is our duty to bring them up to know and to love God. The “Building Faith in Youth” Award is designed for Protestant congregations to recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the children’s and youth ministries of their church through the P.R.A.Y. programs (i.e. God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life). The “Building Faith in Youth” emblem has a shield with a four-colored cross. The four colors converge into a point to create an “X” at the center of the cross. “X” is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, and it is symbolic of how Christ should be at the center of our lives. The four colors were chosen because they correspond to the four levels in the P.R.A.Y. series, i.e. God and Me (red), God and Family (yellow), God and Church (blue), and God and Life (green). The colors also embody traditional meanings: red (love, the blood of Christ), yellow (sunlight, joy), blue (truth, loyalty), green (new life, growth, revival). The award package includes a medal that can be worn around the neck, a ¾” lapel pin, and an 8 ½” x 11” certificate.

Eligibility

All nominations must come from the Protestant congregation (self and spouse nominations will not be accepted). The nominee must:

1. Demonstrate exceptional Christian character and be active in a Protestant congregation.
2. Use the P.R.A.Y. programs (God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, God and Life) to disciple young people and their families and to support the Christian Education program of the local Protestant congregation.
3. Have a continuous record of using and supporting a P.R.A.Y. ministry (i.e. teaching God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life) with a minimum tenure of three years.
4. Develop an exceptional program over and above the standard requirements. Some examples are:
   • Utilizing the mentor programs to build up the congregation’s ministry to families.
   • Actively recruiting and training adult counselors .
   • Providing outreach opportunities to young people in the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., American Heritage Girls, and Camp Fire U.S.A.
   • Emphasizing and/or coordinating far-reaching service projects for young people beyond the program requirements

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

God and Service

The Award

The God and Service Award is a national recognition awarded by churches and national youth agencies cooperating with Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through service to the Church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A God and Service recipient should:

• 1. Have a minimum of 5 years of service to the church.
• 2. Have a minimum of 5 years of service (be fully trained and exhibit past and present leadership) in the youth agency (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
• 3. Encourage and assist young people in earning the God and Country award.
• 4. Promote religious observances at youth agency functions at all levels.
• 5. Encourage youth to participate in community service projects.
• 6. Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national youth agency programs.
• 7. Promote the organization of youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
• 8. Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model for young people.

Celtic Cross

The Purpose of the Award

Leaders of children in Christian Education programs have given countless hours to prepare and teach values. Therefore it is appropriate to recognize their service to God and the Church and to affirm how much they mean to us and to our children. 

The Church Session will recognize adult leaders who have given exceptional service to children and youth and will grant them The Celtic Cross Award. Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted.   

These adults can come from the church’s own programs, i.e. Sunday School and Youth Fellowship. They may also come from the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, and other youth serving agencies.

The Emblem

The Celtic Cross was used in the Church of Scotland and has had special significance through the history of the Presbyterian Church. The bronze medallion has a yellow cross against a dark blue background. It hangs from a blue and green plaid ribbon. The recipient of the Celtic Cross Award is entitled to wear the Religious Knot on the Boy Scout uniform. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck and an 8 ½” x 11” personalized color certificate.    

Eligibility

The nominee should have an outstanding record of service to youth as determined by the following criteria:

1. The nominee is an adult active as a youth leader associated with a Presbyterian Church program and demonstrates exceptional Christian character OR has given faithful service to a youth program(s) of a congregation by serving in church leadership positions.
2. The nominee has a continuous record of using and supporting youth ministry with a minimum tenure of two (2) years.  These ministries may include Sunday School, Youth Fellowship, Boy Scouts of America, Girl scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA and other youth serving agencies.
3. The nominee has served the organization at a level where he or she works directly with youth.
4. A nominee from the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and other youth serving agencies has encouraged religious growth (i.e. promoted the P.R.A.Y. Programs, promoted the use of religious services when camping or at other activities that have taken youth from regularly scheduled worship services, etc.).
5. The award seeks the individual; the individual does not seek the award.  Self-nominations and spouse nominations will not be accepted.

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

St. George Award of the Episcopal Church

The St. George Award of the Episcopal Church is a national recognition to acknowledge distinguished service by adults in the spiritual, physical, mental and moral development of youth through service to the Church and through national youth agency programs. The award may be presented to any adult (including laypersons, ordained persons, professional church workers, men and women) who are active in their church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, 4-H, Brotherhood of St. Andrew, and Daughters of the King). The award is made available through the Youth Ministries Office of the Episcopal Church Center.Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

Candidates nominated for the St. George Award should:

1. Encourage youth to join a national youth agency program.
2. Promote the organization of agency units in Episcopal churches and recruit volunteers.
3. Exhibit past and present leadership and be fully trained in their area of responsibility.
4. Assist and encourage youth to serve their Lord through the God and Country Program for Episcopal youth, and serve as a counselor.
5. Encourage youth to participate in the religious emblems program and to do service projects for the chartering/sponsoring partner or community.
6. Promote religious observances at national youth agency functions at all levels.
7. Give adequate help to their homes as well as the homes of others.
8. Give evidence that they lead their families into a strong relationship with God.
9. Give outstanding service to the local parish.
10. Be highly regarded by others in the Church for their Christian example.

Building Faith in Youth

The Award

Children are a gift from God, and it is our duty to bring them up to know and to love God. The “Building Faith in Youth” Award is designed for Protestant congregations to recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the children’s and youth ministries of their church through the P.R.A.Y. programs (i.e. God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life). The “Building Faith in Youth” emblem has a shield with a four-colored cross. The four colors converge into a point to create an “X” at the center of the cross. “X” is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, and it is symbolic of how Christ should be at the center of our lives. The four colors were chosen because they correspond to the four levels in the P.R.A.Y. series, i.e. God and Me (red), God and Family (yellow), God and Church (blue), and God and Life (green). The colors also embody traditional meanings: red (love, the blood of Christ), yellow (sunlight, joy), blue (truth, loyalty), green (new life, growth, revival). The award package includes a medal that can be worn around the neck, a ¾” lapel pin, and an 8 ½” x 11” certificate.

Eligibility

All nominations must come from the Protestant congregation (self and spouse nominations will not be accepted). The nominee must:

1. Demonstrate exceptional Christian character and be active in a Protestant congregation.
2. Use the P.R.A.Y. programs (God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, God and Life) to disciple young people and their families and to support the Christian Education program of the local Protestant congregation.
3. Have a continuous record of using and supporting a P.R.A.Y. ministry (i.e. teaching God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life) with a minimum tenure of three years.
4. Develop an exceptional program over and above the standard requirements. Some examples are:
   • Utilizing the mentor programs to build up the congregation’s ministry to families.
   • Actively recruiting and training adult counselors .
   • Providing outreach opportunities to young people in the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., American Heritage Girls, and Camp Fire U.S.A.
   • Emphasizing and/or coordinating far-reaching service projects for young people beyond the program requirements

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

The Lamb Award

THE EMBLEM
The Lamb Award is a national recognition bestowed on Lutheran adults (including laypersons, pastors, prossional church workers, men and women) by the Lutheran Committee on Civic Youth Agency Relationships [LCCYAR]. (The LCCYAR is formed by and responsible to the youth ministry departments of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America [ELCA] and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod [LCMS].)

The purpose of The Lamb Award is twofold: 1) to acknowledge the distinguished service of Lutheran adults in fostering the spiritual growth of youth through church and civic youth serving agency programs (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, and 4-H); 2) to increase the use and quality of the civic agency programs in Lutheran Congregations as a part of their ministries with youth. Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The Lamb award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

ELIGIBILITY
A Lamb Award recipient should:

1. Be an active member of a Lutheran congregation.
2. Have a minimum of 10 years of distinguished volunteer service to the church.
3. Have a minimum of 10 years of distinguished volunteer service to one or more civic youth agencies(BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, 4-H).
4. Serve as a Christian role model and leader to young people encouraging them to participate in the spiritual life of their congregation.
5. Promote the religious growth programs, the observance of Boy Scout, Girl Scout, or Camp Fire Sunday, chaplains and chaplain’s aide program.
6. Exhibit leadership and be fully trained in the civic youth agency.
7. Help organize new units in the nominee’s own and neighboring Lutheran congregations.
8. Recruit youth and promote full involvement of members in the program.
9. Encourage units to support group service projects in response to a community or congregational need.
    

The Servant of Youth Adult Recognition

The Award

The Servant of Youth Adult Recognition is awarded by the Lutheran Committee on Civic Youth Agency Relationships [LCCYAR]. (This committee is formed by and responsible to the youth ministry departments of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America [ELCA] and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod [LCMS].) It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through one or more civic youth agency programs (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, 4-H). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A Servant of Youth recipient should:

1. Be an active member of a Lutheran congregation OR be an active member of another Christian congregation who serves Lutheran young people through a civic youth agency affiliated with a Lutheran congregation.
2. Have a minimum of five years of service to the church.
3. Have a minimum of five years of service to one or more civic youth agencies (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, 4-H).
4. Be one whose Christian lifestyle is a model for young people.
5. Encourage young people to participate in the spiritual growth opportunities in their congregations.
6. Promote the religious growth programs to young people.
7. Recruit adult volunteers, especially Lutherans, to give leadership to civic youth agency programs.
8. Be fully trained in his/her area of responsibility.
9. Reflect one’s Christian faith and the position of his/her church body in discussions and meetings of the civic youth agency at every level at which he/she is involved.

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

The Lamb Award

The Award

The Lamb Award is a national recognition bestowed on Lutheran adults (including laypersons, pastors, professional church workers, men and women) by the Lutheran Committee on Civic Youth Agency Relationships [LCCYAR]. (The LCCYAR is formed by and responsible to the youth ministry departments of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America [ELCA] and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod [LCMS].)

The purpose of The Lamb Award is twofold: 1) to acknowledge the distinguished service of Lutheran adults in fostering the spiritual growth of youth through church and civic youth-serving agency programs (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, and 4-H); 2) to increase the use and quality of the civic agency programs in Lutheran Congregations as a part of their ministries with youth. Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The Lamb award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility
A Lamb Award recipient should:

1. Be an active member of a Lutheran congregation.
2. Have a minimum of 10 years of distinguished volunteer service to the church.
3. Have a minimum of 10 years of distinguished volunteer service to one or more civic youth agencies(BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, 4-H).
4. Serve as a Christian role model and leader to young people encouraging them to participate in the spiritual life of their congregation.
5. Promote the religious growth programs, the observance of Boy Scout, Girl Scout, or Camp Fire Sunday, chaplains and chaplain’s aide program.
6. Exhibit leadership and be fully trained in the civic youth agency.
7. Help organize new units in the nominee’s own and neighboring Lutheran congregations.
8. Recruit youth and promote full involvement of members in the program.
9. Encourage units to support group service projects in response to a community or congregational need.
    

The Servant of Youth Adult Recognition

The Award

The Servant of Youth Adult Recognition is awarded by the Lutheran Committee on Civic Youth Agency Relationships [LCCYAR]. (This committee is formed by and responsible to the youth ministry departments of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America [ELCA] and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod [LCMS].) It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through one or more civic youth agency programs (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, 4-H). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A Servant of Youth recipient should:

1. Be an active member of a Lutheran congregation OR be an active member of another Christian congregation who serves Lutheran young people through a civic youth agency affiliated with a Lutheran congregation.
2. Have a minimum of five years of service to the church.
3. Have a minimum of five years of service to one or more civic youth agencies (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, 4-H).
4. Be one whose Christian lifestyle is a model for young people.
5. Encourage young people to participate in the spiritual growth opportunities in their congregations.
6. Promote the religious growth programs to young people.
7. Recruit adult volunteers, especially Lutherans, to give leadership to civic youth agency programs.
8. Be fully trained in his/her area of responsibility.
9. Reflect one’s Christian faith and the position of his/her church body in discussions and meetings of the civic youth agency at every level at which he/she is involved.

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

God and Service

The Award

The God and Service Award is a national recognition awarded by churches and national youth agencies cooperating with Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through service to the Church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A God and Service recipient should:

1. Have a minimum of 5 years of service to the church.
2. Have a minimum of 5 years of service (be fully trained and exhibit past and present leadership) in the youth agency (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
3. Encourage and assist young people in earning the God and Country award.
4. Promote religious observances at youth agency functions at all levels.
5. Encourage youth to participate in community service projects.
6. Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national youth agency programs.
7. Promote the organization of youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
8. Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model for young people.

Building Faith in Youth

The Award

Children are a gift from God, and it is our duty to bring them up to know and to love God. The “Building Faith in Youth” Award is designed for Protestant congregations to recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the children’s and youth ministries of their church through the P.R.A.Y. programs (i.e. God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life). The “Building Faith in Youth” emblem has a shield with a four-colored cross. The four colors converge into a point to create an “X” at the center of the cross. “X” is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, and it is symbolic of how Christ should be at the center of our lives. The four colors were chosen because they correspond to the four levels in the P.R.A.Y. series, i.e. God and Me (red), God and Family (yellow), God and Church (blue), and God and Life (green). The colors also embody traditional meanings: red (love, the blood of Christ), yellow (sunlight, joy), blue (truth, loyalty), green (new life, growth, revival). The award package includes a medal that can be worn around the neck, a ¾” lapel pin, and an 8 ½” x 11” certificate.

Eligibility

All nominations must come from the Protestant congregation (self and spouse nominations will not be accepted). The nominee must:

1. Demonstrate exceptional Christian character and be active in a Protestant congregation.
2. Use the P.R.A.Y. programs (God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, God and Life) to disciple young people and their families and to support the Christian Education program of the local Protestant congregation.
3. Have a continuous record of using and supporting a P.R.A.Y. ministry (i.e. teaching God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life) with a minimum tenure of three years.
4. Develop an exceptional program over and above the standard requirements. Some examples are:
   • Utilizing the mentor programs to build up the congregation’s ministry to families.
   • Actively recruiting and training adult counselors .
   • Providing outreach opportunities to young people in the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., American Heritage Girls, and Camp Fire U.S.A.
   • Emphasizing and/or coordinating far-reaching service projects for young people beyond the program requirements

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

God and Service

The Award

The God and Service Award is a national recognition awarded by churches and national youth agencies cooperating with Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through service to the Church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A God and Service recipient should:

1. Have a minimum of 5 years of service to the church.
2. Have a minimum of 5 years of service (be fully trained and exhibit past and present leadership) in the youth agency (BSA,GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
3. Encourage and assist young people in earning the God and Country award.
4. Promote religious observances at youth agency functions at all levels.
5. Encourage youth to participate in community service projects.
6. Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national youth agency programs.
7. Promote the organization of youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
8. Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model for young people.

Building Faith in Youth

The Award

Children are a gift from God, and it is our duty to bring them up to know and to love God. The “Building Faith in Youth” Award is designed for Protestant congregations to recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the children’s and youth ministries of their church through the P.R.A.Y. programs (i.e. God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life). The “Building Faith in Youth” emblem has a shield with a four-colored cross. The four colors converge into a point to create an “X” at the center of the cross. “X” is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, and it is symbolic of how Christ should be at the center of our lives. The four colors were chosen because they correspond to the four levels in the P.R.A.Y. series, i.e. God and Me (red), God and Family (yellow), God and Church (blue), and God and Life (green). The colors also embody traditional meanings: red (love, the blood of Christ), yellow (sunlight, joy), blue (truth, loyalty), green (new life, growth, revival). The award package includes a medal that can be worn around the neck, a ¾” lapel pin, and an 8 ½” x 11” certificate.

Eligibility

All nominations must come from the Protestant congregation (self and spouse nominations will not be accepted). The nominee must:

1. Demonstrate exceptional Christian character and be active in a Protestant congregation.
2. Use the P.R.A.Y. programs (God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, God and Life) to disciple young people and their families and to support the Christian Education program of the local Protestant congregation.
3. Have a continuous record of using and supporting a P.R.A.Y. ministry (i.e. teaching God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life) with a minimum tenure of three years.
4. Develop an exceptional program over and above the standard requirements. Some examples are:
   • Utilizing the mentor programs to build up the congregation’s ministry to families.
   • Actively recruiting and training adult counselors .
   • Providing outreach opportunities to young people in the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., American Heritage Girls, and Camp Fire U.S.A.
   • Emphasizing and/or coordinating far-reaching service projects for young people beyond the program requirements

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

God and Service

The Award

The God and Service Award is a national recognition awarded by churches and national youth agencies cooperating with Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through service to the Church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A God and Service recipient should:

• 1. Have a minimum of 5 years of service to the church.
• 2. Have a minimum of 5 years of service (be fully trained and exhibit past and present leadership) in the youth agency (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
• 3. Encourage and assist young people in earning the God and Country award.
• 4. Promote religious observances at youth agency functions at all levels.
• 5. Encourage youth to participate in community service projects.
• 6. Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national youth agency programs.
• 7. Promote the organization of youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
• 8. Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model for young people.

Celtic Cross

The Purpose of the Award

Leaders of children in Christian Education programs have given countless hours to prepare and teach values. Therefore it is appropriate to recognize their service to God and the Church and to affirm how much they mean to us and to our children. 

The Church Session will recognize adult leaders who have given exceptional service to children and youth and will grant them The Celtic Cross Award. Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted.   

These adults can come from the church’s own programs, i.e. Sunday School and Youth Fellowship. They may also come from the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, and other youth serving agencies.

The Emblem

The Celtic Cross was used in the Church of Scotland and has had special significance through the history of the Presbyterian Church. The bronze medallion has a yellow cross against a dark blue background. It hangs from a blue and green plaid ribbon. The recipient of the Celtic Cross Award is entitled to wear the Religious Knot on the Boy Scout uniform. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck and an 8 ½” x 11” personalized color certificate.    

Eligibility

The nominee should have an outstanding record of service to youth as determined by the following criteria:

1. The nominee is an adult active as a youth leader associated with a Presbyterian Church program and demonstrates exceptional Christian character OR has given faithful service to a youth program(s) of a congregation by serving in church leadership positions.
2. The nominee has a continuous record of using and supporting youth ministry with a minimum tenure of two (2) years.  These ministries may include Sunday School, Youth Fellowship, Boy Scouts of America, Girl scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA and other youth serving agencies.
3. The nominee has served the organization at a level where he or she works directly with youth.
4. A nominee from the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and other youth serving agencies has encouraged religious growth (i.e. promoted the P.R.A.Y. Programs, promoted the use of religious services when camping or at other activities that have taken youth from regularly scheduled worship services, etc.).
5. The award seeks the individual; the individual does not seek the award.  Self-nominations and spouse nominations will not be accepted.

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

God and Service

The Award

The God and Service Award is a national recognition awarded by churches and national youth agencies cooperating with Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through service to the Church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A God and Service recipient should:

1. Have a minimum of 5 years of service to the church.
2. Have a minimum of 5 years of service (be fully trained and exhibit past and present leadership) in the youth agency (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
3. Encourage and assist young people in earning the God and Country award.
4. Promote religious observances at youth agency functions at all levels.
5. Encourage youth to participate in community service projects.
6. Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national youth agency programs.
7. Promote the organization of youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
8. Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model for young people.

Celtic Cross

The Purpose of the Award

Leaders of children in Christian Education programs have given countless hours to prepare and teach values. Therefore it is appropriate to recognize their service to God and the Church and to affirm how much they mean to us and to our children. 

The Church Session will recognize adult leaders who have given exceptional service to children and youth and will grant them The Celtic Cross Award. Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted.   

These adults can come from the church’s own programs, i.e. Sunday School and Youth Fellowship. They may also come from the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, and other youth serving agencies.

The Emblem

The Celtic Cross was used in the Church of Scotland and has had special significance through the history of the Presbyterian Church. The bronze medallion has a yellow cross against a dark blue background. It hangs from a blue and green plaid ribbon. The recipient of the Celtic Cross Award is entitled to wear the Religious Knot on the Boy Scout uniform. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck and an 8 ½” x 11” personalized color certificate.    

Eligibility

The nominee should have an outstanding record of service to youth as determined by the following criteria:

1. The nominee is an adult active as a youth leader associated with a Presbyterian Church program and demonstrates exceptional Christian character OR has given faithful service to a youth program(s) of a congregation by serving in church leadership positions.
2. The nominee has a continuous record of using and supporting youth ministry with a minimum tenure of two (2) years.  These ministries may include Sunday School, Youth Fellowship, Boy Scouts of America, Girl scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA and other youth serving agencies.
3. The nominee has served the organization at a level where he or she works directly with youth.
4. A nominee from the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and other youth serving agencies has encouraged religious growth (i.e. promoted the P.R.A.Y. Programs, promoted the use of religious services when camping or at other activities that have taken youth from regularly scheduled worship services, etc.).
5. The award seeks the individual; the individual does not seek the award.  Self-nominations and spouse nominations will not be accepted.

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Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

God and Service

The Award

The God and Service Award is a national recognition awarded by churches and national youth agencies cooperating with Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through service to the Church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A God and Service recipient should:

1. Have a minimum of 5 years of service to the church.
2. Have a minimum of 5 years of service (be fully trained and exhibit past and present leadership) in the youth agency (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
3. Encourage and assist young people in earning the God and Country award.
4. Promote religious observances at youth agency functions at all levels.
5. Encourage youth to participate in community service projects.
6. Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national youth agency programs.
7. Promote the organization of youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
8. Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model for young people.

Building Faith in Youth

The Award

Children are a gift from God, and it is our duty to bring them up to know and to love God. The “Building Faith in Youth” Award is designed for Protestant congregations to recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the children’s and youth ministries of their church through the P.R.A.Y. programs (i.e. God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life). The “Building Faith in Youth” emblem has a shield with a four-colored cross. The four colors converge into a point to create an “X” at the center of the cross. “X” is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, and it is symbolic of how Christ should be at the center of our lives. The four colors were chosen because they correspond to the four levels in the P.R.A.Y. series, i.e. God and Me (red), God and Family (yellow), God and Church (blue), and God and Life (green). The colors also embody traditional meanings: red (love, the blood of Christ), yellow (sunlight, joy), blue (truth, loyalty), green (new life, growth, revival). The award package includes a medal that can be worn around the neck, a ¾” lapel pin, and an 8 ½” x 11” certificate.

Eligibility

All nominations must come from the Protestant congregation (self and spouse nominations will not be accepted). The nominee must:

1. Demonstrate exceptional Christian character and be active in a Protestant congregation.
2. Use the P.R.A.Y. programs (God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, God and Life) to disciple young people and their families and to support the Christian Education program of the local Protestant congregation.
3. Have a continuous record of using and supporting a P.R.A.Y. ministry (i.e. teaching God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life) with a minimum tenure of three years.
4. Develop an exceptional program over and above the standard requirements. Some examples are:
   • Utilizing the mentor programs to build up the congregation’s ministry to families.
   • Actively recruiting and training adult counselors .
   • Providing outreach opportunities to young people in the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., American Heritage Girls, and Camp Fire U.S.A.
   • Emphasizing and/or coordinating far-reaching service projects for young people beyond the program requirements

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

God and Service

The Award

The God and Service Award is a national recognition awarded by churches and national youth agencies cooperating with Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through service to the Church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A God and Service recipient should:

1. Have a minimum of 5 years of service to the church.
2. Have a minimum of 5 years of service (be fully trained and exhibit past and present leadership) in the youth agency (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
3. Encourage and assist young people in earning the God and Country award.
4. Promote religious observances at youth agency functions at all levels.
5. Encourage youth to participate in community service projects.
6. Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national youth agency programs.
7. Promote the organization of youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
8. Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model for young people.

Building Faith in Youth

The Award

Children are a gift from God, and it is our duty to bring them up to know and to love God. The “Building Faith in Youth” Award is designed for Protestant congregations to recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the children’s and youth ministries of their church through the P.R.A.Y. programs (i.e. God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life). The “Building Faith in Youth” emblem has a shield with a four-colored cross. The four colors converge into a point to create an “X” at the center of the cross. “X” is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, and it is symbolic of how Christ should be at the center of our lives. The four colors were chosen because they correspond to the four levels in the P.R.A.Y. series, i.e. God and Me (red), God and Family (yellow), God and Church (blue), and God and Life (green). The colors also embody traditional meanings: red (love, the blood of Christ), yellow (sunlight, joy), blue (truth, loyalty), green (new life, growth, revival). The award package includes a medal that can be worn around the neck, a ¾” lapel pin, and an 8 ½” x 11” certificate.

Eligibility

All nominations must come from the Protestant congregation (self and spouse nominations will not be accepted). The nominee must:

1. Demonstrate exceptional Christian character and be active in a Protestant congregation.
2. Use the P.R.A.Y. programs (God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, God and Life) to disciple young people and their families and to support the Christian Education program of the local Protestant congregation.
3. Have a continuous record of using and supporting a P.R.A.Y. ministry (i.e. teaching God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life) with a minimum tenure of three years.
4. Develop an exceptional program over and above the standard requirements. Some examples are:
   • Utilizing the mentor programs to build up the congregation’s ministry to families.
   • Actively recruiting and training adult counselors .
   • Providing outreach opportunities to young people in the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., American Heritage Girls, and Camp Fire U.S.A.
   • Emphasizing and/or coordinating far-reaching service projects for young people beyond the program requirements

Adult Mentor Award

Adult Mentor Program

Parents have the option of enrolling in the Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.

What is the difference between a "counselor" and a "mentor?"

The counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives assignments to the young people, and it is the young people who do all the work.

Mentors are parents who have chosen to work alongside their children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor.

What is the difference between the mentor pin and an adult recognition award?

The mentor pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on while they lead their children through the God and Country Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.

The Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their church and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation and resume.

God and Service

The Award

The God and Service Award is a national recognition awarded by churches and national youth agencies cooperating with Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through service to the Church and one or more of the national youth agencies (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls). Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted. The adult award package contains a medal that can be worn around the neck, a lapel pin and an 8 1/2" x 11" personalized color certificate.

Eligibility

A God and Service recipient should:

1. Have a minimum of 5 years of service to the church.
2. Have a minimum of 5 years of service (be fully trained and exhibit past and present leadership) in the youth agency (BSA, GSUSA, CFUSA, AHG).
3. Encourage and assist young people in earning the God and Country award.
4. Promote religious observances at youth agency functions at all levels.
5. Encourage youth to participate in community service projects.
6. Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national youth agency programs.
7. Promote the organization of youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
8. Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model for young people.

Building Faith in Youth

The Award

Children are a gift from God, and it is our duty to bring them up to know and to love God. The “Building Faith in Youth” Award is designed for Protestant congregations to recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the children’s and youth ministries of their church through the P.R.A.Y. programs (i.e. God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life). The “Building Faith in Youth” emblem has a shield with a four-colored cross. The four colors converge into a point to create an “X” at the center of the cross. “X” is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, and it is symbolic of how Christ should be at the center of our lives. The four colors were chosen because they correspond to the four levels in the P.R.A.Y. series, i.e. God and Me (red), God and Family (yellow), God and Church (blue), and God and Life (green). The colors also embody traditional meanings: red (love, the blood of Christ), yellow (sunlight, joy), blue (truth, loyalty), green (new life, growth, revival). The award package includes a medal that can be worn around the neck, a ¾” lapel pin, and an 8 ½” x 11” certificate.

Eligibility

All nominations must come from the Protestant congregation (self and spouse nominations will not be accepted). The nominee must:

1. Demonstrate exceptional Christian character and be active in a Protestant congregation.
2. Use the P.R.A.Y. programs (God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, God and Life) to disciple young people and their families and to support the Christian Education program of the local Protestant congregation.
3. Have a continuous record of using and supporting a P.R.A.Y. ministry (i.e. teaching God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life) with a minimum tenure of three years.
4. Develop an exceptional program over and above the standard requirements. Some examples are:
   • Utilizing the mentor programs to build up the congregation’s ministry to families.
   • Actively recruiting and training adult counselors .
   • Providing outreach opportunities to young people in the Boy Scouts of