The God and Church Award

Eligibility Guidelines:
Girls and boys in grades 6-8 are eligible to participate in the God and Church program even if they do not belong to a Girl Scout, Boy Scout or Camp Fire group (youth group and Sunday School members are eligible to participate in this program). Each participant must have his or her own copy of the student workbook. A pastor's signature is required on the application/order form.

Curriculum:

The God and Church Program provides young people with the opportunity to work with their pastor, to understand the church's structures and objectives, and to participate in service projects that will give them a better understanding of the mission of the church.

Section One is entitled "God at Work" and requires students to identify the major events in the life of Jesus, become acquainted with Jesus' parables, learn about the basic nature of the Bible and the content of the Old and New Testaments, study the important beliefs and practices of the Christian faith, and learn how to keep in touch with God by creating a plan for reading the Bible every day.

Section Two is entitled "Christians at Work" and requires students to learn about the history, structure, and ministry of their congregation. Students also study Christians at work in the community by visiting some helping agencies and a religious institution other than their own. They then study Christians at work beyond their town by researching the history of their denomination and the educational institutions supported by the church. Finally, students are required to look at how the church reaches out into the world by studying the various mission fields and an ecumenical organization that it supports.

In addition to completing the lessons in the student workbook, the young people will be required to complete ten hours of service to the church and ten hours of service to the community. These service projects should be related to the Bible lessons studied in class, and the students should be made to understand that helping others can be an outward expression of their Christian commitment.

The God and Church program can take from five months to a year to complete. The program is very flexible and can be structured in a number of different ways. Ideally, the youth will complete this program in his or her own church under the supervision of his or her own pastor. However, it is possible to teach the course to a group of young people who belong to different denominations. In this situation, the individual churches should be contacted ahead of time. The pastors need to be invited to the class sessions that deal with specific church history and doctrine. The young people can benefit from this type of comparative study and learn to appreciate the unique aspects of their own denomination.

The God and Church curriculum was developed without theological bias; yet it was designed to permit the introduction of particular theological and denominational viewpoints on the material being studied. Therefore all students use the standard God and Church curriculum regardless of church membership. One-page supplements are available for the following denominations: African Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)., United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church.

Several denominational medals are available at the God and Church program: Baptist, Episcopal, United Methodist, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Disciples of Christ, and Lutheran. Information on ordering these recognition items is contained in the Student Workbook. (Note: These denominational medals are available only at the God and Church level.)

Adult Mentor Program The God and Church Adult Mentor program is an optional program for parents. Rather than having just their children go through the program by themselves, parents may choose to work on the program alongside their children. In the Adult Mentor program, parents have a workbook with lessons and projects to complete just like the child. Parents will be challenged to learn more about their faith and to talk about their faith with their children.

Eligibility Guidelines:
Young women and men in grades 9-12 are eligible to participate in the God and Life program even if they do not belong to a Girl Scout, Boy Scout or Camp Fire group (youth group and Sunday School members are eligible to participate in this program). Each participant must have his or her own copy of the student workbook. A pastor's signature is required on the application/order form.

Curriculum:

The God and Life program is the fourth program in the God and Country Series. It is a reflective type of curriculum: students will study the lives of men and women in the Bible and discover what their lives teach them about God. The young people will then be challenged to integrate their faith into their daily lives.

The outline for the God and Life curriculum is based on the life of the Apostle Paul as recorded in Acts 9:1-31. This is a brief account that describes how Paul became a Christian. Five chronological "events" out of this story will be highlighted and used as the focus for the five different sections in this program. Each section will illustrate a key element in learning how to live one's life for Christ:

1. Before his conversion, Paul persecuted Christians.
Theme: God calls all kinds of people.
2. Paul was helped by Ananias and Barnabas.
Theme: God doesn't expect us to do it on our own.
3. Paul was baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. Theme: Each of us must make a personal response to the call of God.
4. Paul led a difficult life: many people wanted him dead.
Theme: God gives strength to face adversities.
5. Because of Paul, the church was strengthened and it grew in numbers.
Theme: God can accomplish great things through those who are willing to do God's will.


Each of the five sections requires the students to STUDY, REFLECT, and SERVE. Students will STUDY the examples of other men and women of the Bible who have had experiences similar to Paul's, and study scripture passages on a related theme. They will REFLECT on the lessons and relate them to their own lives. And then they will SERVE by choosing a project that will help put into action what they have just learned.

As part of the study portion of each section, students will be asked to integrate their faith into their daily lives. For example, they will be required to develop plans to read the Bible every day for a month, take sermon notes for a month, memorize scripture verses for a month, and pray for a person for a month. These required activities are related to the Bible lessons in that section and to its overall theme.

Regardless of the person chosen to lead the class, the pastor is still the only person authorized to sign the God and Life application form. The pastor is required to review the students' work at the end of the program, interview the young people, and then sign their application forms.

The God and Service Award is a national recognition awarded by churches and agencies cooperating in Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). It is given for distinguished 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., and Camp Fire, Inc.).

Eligibility

The God and Service Award may be given to any adult who is an active member of his or her church and who has rendered a minimum of five years of distinguished service to young people through the church and a minimum of five years of distinguished service to young people through a national youth agency.

Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted: The award seeks the individual; the individual does not seek the award. If possible, the nominee should be kept unaware that he or she is being recommended for the God and Service Award.

Nomination Procedure

Nominations may be initiated by adults who serve alongside the nominee in the youth agency or in the church or by youth who have had their lives enriched through the relationship with the nominee.

A nomination committee shall be formed to gather the information and to submit the application forms and letters of recommendation to the God and Service Review Committee. The nominating committee shall be comprised of three or more people (excluding immediate family members) who are knowledgeable of the nominee's activities in the youth agency and in the church. The majority of the committee members shall hold membership in either the church or the youth agency.

The nominating committee must:

1. Review all criteria.
2. Complete the official application form (page 4).
3. Complete all "Criteria for Nomination" (see page 3 for detailed instructions).
4. Obtain a letter of recommendation from the nominee's pastor or church officer.
5. Obtain a letter of recommendation from an executive of the local youth agency council.
6. Send the completed application form, the letters of recommendation, and a check for $35.00 (payable to P.R.A.Y.) TO:

The God and Service Award
P.R.A.Y.
8520 Mackenzie Rd., Ste. 3
St. Louis, MO 63123-3413
(314) 638-1017


We normally process the awards in 10 to 14 days but request that you allow 30 days for delivery of the medal and certificate.
7. Arrange for the presentation of the God and Service Award at a public meeting appropriate to the occasion. The nominee should be kept unaware that he/she is being nominated.

Review Process

All nominations are reviewed by the God and Service Committee. A decision will be rendered and the nominating committee will be notified of the decision within 30 days of receipt of the nomination. If the nominee is to be recognized, the nominating committee will receive the certificate and the emblem.

If the nominee is not to be recognized, the $35.00 presentation fee will be refunded and the nominating committee will be given a report of the reasons for the decision which may be responded to in person or by mail within 30 days. If the decision is still negative, the nominating committee may request that the Executive Committee of the Commission review the decision of the God and Service Committee. The judgement of the Executive Committee is considered final.

Criteria For Nomination

Provide information about the nominee's qualifications for the categories listed below. Use a separate sheet of paper for each of the seven categories, identify the category and complete the information as requested. (No one person is expected to be outstanding in all characteristics. One whose record reflects distinguished service in most of these areas would be considered a worthy recipient.)

1. Leadership in the Church: List past and present leadership positions held (include dates of service) and special recognitions received.
2. Youth Ministry through the Church: List positions held in Church-Related Youth Ministry (include dates of service) and give examples of the nominee's efforts to encourage youth to be in ministry to others and how the nominee's lifestyle is a model to young people.
3. Leadership in the Youth Agency: List past and present leadership positions held (include dates and length of time served) and special recognitions received by the nominee.
4. Training: List adult training programs of the youth agency completed by the nominee.
5. Service to Youth through the Youth Agency: Give specific examples of how the nominee has assisted and encouraged youth to participate in the Religious Emblems Program and in Community Service Projects.
6. Promotion of Youth Agency Units: Give specific examples of how the nominee has recruited volunteers to give leadership to civic youth agency programs, and how the nominee has promoted the organization of civic youth agency units among churches other than his or her own congregation.
7. Outstanding Contributions: Of all that the nominee has done, what in the committee's estimation are his or her two most outstanding contributions to ministry with youth through the youth agency?

Letters of Recommendation

1. The first letter is required from the pastor (or an officer) of the nominee's congregation. The letter must be written on church letterhead. It should contain information about the nominee's participation in the worship life and programs of the congregation. The letter may be from the regional or national church body.

2. The second letter is required from the executive of the local youth agency council (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., or Camp Fire, Inc.) or the professional superior of the nominee in other agencies. The letter must be written on council letterhead. It should contain information about the nominee's service as an adult volunteer, the training completed, and adult awards received.

3. Additional letters are welcomed.

GOD AND SERVICE NOMINATION FORM

Nominee information:
Name of nominee (exactly as it should appear on the certificate:
Street address:
City:
State:
Zip:

Church Information
Number of years given in volunteer service to the church (minimum of 5 years):
Nominee's Congregation:
Street Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Pastor's Name:
Name of Denomination or National Church Body:

Agency Information:
National Youth Agency in which adult is a member:
Number of years active as adult volunteer in agency (minimum of 5):
Name of Council:
Mailing Information:
Name:
Street Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Phone (day contact):
Date award ceremony planned:

Checklist: (All items below must be submitted to P.R.A.Y. before a nomination can be considered.)
1. Completed application form
2. "Criteria for Nomination"
3. Letter of recommendation from pastor or church officer (on church letterhead)
4. Letter of recommendation from local youth agency executive (on council letterhead)
5. Check for $35 payable to P.R.A.Y.