The P.R.A.Y. Program is a Bible-based religious emblems program for Protestant and Independent Christian churches, with its mission designed to bring children, youth, and families to Christ. The program is designed for girls and boys in kindergarten through 12th grade. P.R.A.Y. offers a curriculum, awards, and resources. The Religious Emblems programs are developed by the national religious organizations to encourage their members to grow stronger in their faith. These emblems are made available through P.R.A.Y., however, the full responsibility for the eligibility guidelines and curriculum development of their emblem programs lies with the respective religious committees. The program has impacted the lives of thousands of children nationwide. https://www.praypub.org/about-us

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) have embraced the program. BSA has approved the P.R.A Y. program and allows the emblems to be worn on the official uniform. “A Boy Scout is Reverent. Be reverent toward God. Be faithful in your religious duties. Respect the beliefs of others.” Duty to God is a cornerstone of the Boy Scout program. The Scout Oath begins with duty to God; the Scout Law ends with reverence. The BSA recognizes that religious instruction comes from the family and faith community. P.R.A.Y. upholds Duty to God by 1) promoting the Protestant Christian religious emblems program and 2) encouraging churches to embrace scouting as ministry i.e., Faith Based Initiative (FBI). “I can tell you personally that through programs such as PRAY, our Council’s youth retention is positively affected.” Kendrick Miller, Scout Executive, Baltimore Area Council.

As the BSA’s Declaration of Religious Principle states, “The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God and, therefore, recognizes the religious element in the training of the member, but it is nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the home and organization or group with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life.”

The P.R.A.Y. Award is the linchpin connecting scouting and churches to benefit young people. The result is stronger youth, stronger families, stronger congregations, and stronger councils. https://www.praypub.org/bsa 

The Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) works to encourage all Girl Scouts to fulfill their promise “To Serve God” through the Religious Recognitions Programs. “To Serve God. We, the members of the Girl Scouts if the United States of America, (are) united by a belief in God…”. “Everything in Girl Scouting is based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law, which includes many of the principles and values common across religions.” — Girl Scouts and Faith

All Girl Scouts promise TO SERVE GOD. Girl Scouts encourages girls to grow in their religious beliefs by earning Religious Recognitions offered by their faith communities and by earning the My Promise, My Faith pin, which helps a girl strengthen the connection between the Girl Scout Law and her faith.

While Girl Scouts is a secular organization, Girl Scouts of the USA has always encouraged girls to take spiritual journeys via their faiths’ religious recognitions. Girl Scouts recognizes that religious instruction must come from the family and faith community.

P.R.A.Y. encourages collaborations between churches and youth agencies to the advantage of young people. We believe that children, youth, and families benefit most when churches and youth agencies intentionally work together. Both organizations, working together for youth, can reach objectives not attainable by either working alone. “The motivating force in Girl Scouting is spiritual.” — Constitution of  Girl Scouts of  The United States of America.  The P.R.A.Y. Award is the linchpin connecting scouting and churches to benefit young people. The result is stronger youth, stronger families, stronger congregations, and stronger councils.

P.R.A.Y. draws young people closer to Christ and helps them grow stronger in faith and in service to God. “Bible Basics RP3” is a patch series from P.R.A.Y. It is designed to help families, Sunday school classes, and scouting groups get into the Bible. We firmly believe that time spent in the Bible can be precious time with God. The series is designed to teach both Bible STORIES and Bible STUDY.

The program includes a curriculum that focuses on: Jesus and Me (K -1); God and Me (2 – 3; God and Family (4 – 6); God and Church (6 – 8); God and Life (9 – 12). Bible Basics is a patch series about learning Bible STORIES. Each patch in this series focuses on a simple object (i.e., water, birds, books, etc.) and includes 3 Bible stories that feature that object. Each patch will require 3 separate sessions (one session for each Bible story).

RP3 is about learning Bible STUDY. Each Bible story will utilize the RP3 outline: participants will Read the passage, answer questions to Picture the story, discuss issues to Ponder its meaning, and choose an activity to Put into action. Patches are independent study units. The Good Book patch is considered the anchor patch and the first patch that should be earned. After that, the patches may be earned in any order.  

Martin Luther said “The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid.” It is our dream that “Bible Basics RP3” will be a catalyst in bringing children, youth and families to Christ and nurturing in them a lifelong love of Holy Scripture. 

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