September 2014
PRAY UPDATE 
Information on the Protestant Christian Program Series
Meet New Members and Officers of the P.R.A.Y. Board

New officers and members of the P.R.A.Y. Board of Directors were elected at the P.R.A.Y. Annual Meeting September 18, 2014 in St. Louis, MO.

 

Officers for 2014-2015 are: President John Fenoglio (CEO, Mount Diablo Silverado Council, BSA), Vice President J.T. Dabbs (CEO, Greater Alabama Council, BSA), and Secretary/Treasurer Teena Weathersby-Hampton (Director of Mission Delivery, Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana Michiana).

 

The following directors were elected to two-year terms: Star Geisz (American Heritage Girls), Roni Luckenbill (CEO, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio), Kenn Miller (CEO, Heart of America Council, BSA), Brian Steger (CEO, Baltimore Area Council, BSA), and Angela Woods (CEO, Girl Scouts, Hornets' Nest Council).

Installation of officers and new directors. Left to right: J.T. Dabbs (Vice President), John C. Fenoglio (President), and Star Geisz (Director). Not pictured: Teena Weathersby-Hampton (Secretary/Treasurer), Brian Steger (Director), Roni Luckenbill (Director), Kenn Miller (Director), and Angela Woods (Director)
After the installation of the new officers and directors, P.R.A.Y. said good-bye to four directors going off the board and recognized them with the P.R.A.Y. Board of Directors Award: Bobby Madison, Denise Stewart, Jon Wilson, and Jeanne Wurm. For their diligence, hard work, and for the people of character that they are...we will miss them!

 

According to CEO Mark Hazlewood, "The P.R.A.Y. Board has always been richly blessed with people with outstanding leadership and vision. I look forward to working closely with our new Board of Directors to strengthen and grow the P.R.A.Y. ministry."

Denise Stewart and Jeanne Wurm receive the
P.R.A.Y. Board of Directors Award.
Click here to view the complete P.R.A.Y. Board roster.

 

P.R.A.Y. Welcomes Trail Life USA

In response to a letter of petition for membership in P.R.A.Y. from Richard J. Mathews, Director of Administration & General Counsel, Trail Life USA, the P.R.A.Y. Board of Directors approved Trail Life USA as a "Youth Agency Member." Youth Agency Members may designate one representative to attend the P.R.A.Y. Annual Meeting with voice and vote. According to Mathews, "Trail Life USA desires to promote the use of the P.R.A.Y. Program in collaboration with P.R.A.Y. by offering the P.R.A.Y. Program to its Charter Organizations (Christian churches and Christian ministries)."

 

P.R.A.Y. CEO Mark Hazlewood explains, "P.R.A.Y. is all about bringing children, youth, and families to Christ, and Trail Life USA is a perfect fit for us. We welcome them as a member of P.R.A.Y. and look forward to ministry together!"

 

When informed of P.R.A.Y.'s decision, Trail Life USA CEO Mark Hancock responded, "Trail Life USA is excited about our membership in P.R.A.Y. and looks forward to deepening our partnership. Our Christ-centered missions perfectly complement one another; we hope to further impact boys and their families with our shared focus on Christian growth."

 

For information on Trail Life USA, click here.

To receive the Trail Life USA bulletins from PRAY, click on 
the Update Profile/Email Address link at the bottom of this newsletter and be sure to check the box next to Trail Life USA.
P.R.A.Y. Annual Report
The 2013-2014 P.R.A.Y. Annual Report was approved at the Sept 2014 Board Meeting and is available for viewing on the P.R.A.Y. website. Click here. A big "THANK YOU" to our Friends of P.R.A.Y. for supporting us throughout this fiscal year!
Spotlight

Levi Bruner

God and Me

Canyon Lake Community Church

Menifee, CA


 

Mother: "Levi has a lot of conviction and knowledge about what he believes and who Christ Jesus is."


 

Levi sent his God and Me workbook to the P.R.A.Y. office. We could tell he worked hard and had a lot of fun at the same time. We enjoyed getting to know 

Levi through his responses, and we quickly discovered his passion for trains! Here are some of his answers involving trains: 


 

His "Song of Praise" included the line, "Whistle for joy, every steam engine!" 


 

The favorite gift that he drew was a steam engine.


 


 

The picture in the mirror of what he wanted to be when he grew up was a "train engineer."


 


But our favorite was the praying hands with the words, "God created the people who make trains."

 

Logann and Ryan E.
God and Family
American Heritage Girls; Trail Life USA
Zion Lutheran Church
Wentzville, MO

 

Twins Logann and Ryan are 11 years old and earned the God and Family award. Logann completed the award as an Explorer and has advanced to Pioneer in AHG Troop MO-0110. Her brother is a Navigator in Trail Life USA Troop MO-0110 at Zion Lutheran Church in Harvester, MO. 

They are pictured together with the "family pizzas" that they made. Although their pizzas represent the same family, each pizza shows their unique personalities! 

When asked to comment on the God and Family program, Logann said, "It showed me God loves me even more than I thought," and Ryan said, "It helped me to understand the deeper meaning of the Bible stories."

 

Consider Starting a P.R.A.Y. Class at Your Church

GET A SET OF P.R.A.Y. BOOKLETS AT SPECIAL DISCOUNT PRICE

Limited Time Offer!
  • Always wanted your church to offer the P.R.A.Y. classes?
  • Wish your pastor was familiar with the P.R.A.Y. curriculum?
  • Been asked to give presentations on the religious recognitions program?
  • Want to see more young people earn the P.R.A.Y. award?

Take advantage of this special offer to get a complete set of P.R.A.Y. booklets for only $29.95 including Media Mail shipping!  The complete set includes 12 booklets:  the Student, Counselor, and Mentor books for God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life. This represents a 50% savings over the retail price of $4.50 per booklet and shipping costs.  

[Please note: substitutions not allowed.] 

 

Resources to Promote your P.R.A.Y. Classes

Don't forget that the P.R.A.Y. website provides some resources to help you promote your P.R.A.Y. classes. Check these out:

 

P.R.A.Y. Awards Brochure - A brief outline of each award along with Frequently Asked Questions

http://www.praypub.org/god_country/PRAY_brochure.htm

 

Sample Table Top Display - everything you need to create a simple display

http://www.praypub.org/god_country/GCDisplay.htm

 

Colorful P.R.A.Y. Program and Recipient Posters

http://www.praypub.org/store/Promotional-Posters-C28.aspx

 

Downloadable artwork (high quality images) of P.R.A.Y. medals and books

The P.R.A.Y. Award as Evangelism

The P.R.A.Y. Program has been used as a tool for Christian Education and Discipleship. Congregations have embraced our Bible-based curriculum and used it in their ministry to children and families. But don't forget that it can also be an effective tool for evangelism.

 

Congregations that promote their P.R.A.Y. program classes through the scouting community are reaching out to scouting families that may not have church homes.  These parents want their children to earn their award, and in the process they discover how hungry their children are for the Gospel.  The P.R.A.Y. program is a friendly, non-threatening way to get families into your church building and connected with your people.  It can be an additional tool for your outreach ministry.

 

Share your success story! If your church has gained members because of a P.R.A.Y. ministry, please let us know. Your story can encourage others! Contact Deb Hazlewood at [email protected] or call 1-800-933-7729. Blessings on your ministry!
P.R.A.Y. Program Guidelines

The P.R.A.Y. curriculum is very flexible and has been used in many different settings, but there are some key guidelines that you need to keep in mind when starting P.R.A.Y. classes:

  • Grade guidelines - please adhere to the grade guidelines for each level. Children are to jump in at their appropriate grade level and not go backwards to earn younger awards.
  • Final review by clergy - Children and families do not have to have official membership in a church to be eligible to earn a P.R.A.Y. award, but they do have to present their work to clergy and get it signed off. This final review is not done by parents or scout leaders or counselors, but by clergy.
  • Register All Recipients- Students who successfully complete the P.R.A.Y. program must register with P.R.A.Y. even if they do not want to purchase an award. Students must register after EACH program they complete.
  • Four Star Award - Young people who have earned the P.R.A.Y. awards in the correct order while in the appropriate grade (as evidenced by the P.R.A.Y. database) are eligible for the Four Star Award.
  • No Child Left Behind - Families do not have to wait for a church to offer a P.R.A.Y. class. The P.R.A.Y. program can be done at home. Be sure to talk to the pastor ahead of time because the final review will have to be done by the pastor. 

Price Increase

P.R.A.Y. has announced new prices effective July 1, 2014. Click here.
Place your order through our online store or print out new Multiple Order Forms with the current prices.

Second Quarter Usage of the P.R.A.Y. Award

The Second Quarter Usage reports for the P.R.A.Y. Program have been posted online. The overall program is showing an 18% decline (see chart below). There are a few highlights that should be mentioned. The following program levels had increases: God and Life, and Four Star Awards. The following denominations had increases: Christian and Missionary Alliance, Christian Methodist Episcopal, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Second Quarter

 

2014

2013

Percent

God and Me

6573

8731

-25%

God and Family

5714

6840

-16%

God and Church

1850

2021

-8%

God and Life

905

841

8%

Four Star Award

189

182

4%

Total

15231

18615

-18%


P.R.A.Y. RECEIVES $5000 MATCHING PLEDGE

THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!

P.R.A.Y. was challenged to raise $5,000 by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2014, and thanks to generous donors, we reached our goal! We are grateful for the financial support, but more importantly, we are grateful for the many people that support our mission. What a tremendous boost to know that so many people are eager to reach young people through the P.R.A.Y. religious growth programs!

 

And P.R.A.Y. is not only reaching young people, but also their parents, and congregations. Here's what they all have said:

 

"My son Ethan really loves the PRAY program! He says that it has made him a better Scout, Christian, and person! THANK YOU!"

- God and Church award; Owensboro, KY

"Thank you for a fun and inspirational opportunity to learn more about our God and his awesome Family".

- God and Family award; Marietta, GA

"Shane and I loved working on this book!"

- Mother of God and Me recipient; Laurel Springs, NJ

"Thank-you for making a way to show others Jesus."

- God and Me Counselor; Lebanon, VA

"Your materials can be used by the smallest church with only one youth or with a congregation so large they are perpetually learning new names. That is an amazing achievement in educational--as well as faith -growth. Thank you for that!"

- Presbyterian Scouter, Batesburg-Leesville, SC

Thank you to everybody who made it possible to receive the $5000 matching pledge! Thank you to everybody whose passion is Building Faith in Youth!

Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.) is a not-for-profit organization created in 1976 whose national board of directors includes representatives from Protestant and Independent Christian Churches and the national youth agencies. Click here to read more about P.R.A.Y.
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