You are receiving this newsletter because you have expressed an interest in P.R.A.Y. and Building Faith in Youth.   P.R.A.Y. handles the Protestant Christian program and provides resources to support clergy and lay leaders as well as scouting professionals and volunteers.
P.R.A.Y. Newsletter - June 2020
Information on the Protestant Christian Program Series

Revised God and Me Curriculum Coming this Fall
There are some exciting changes for the new God and Me booklets coming out this Fall in time for the new program year. P.R.A.Y. assembled a Team of writers (see article further below) to put a fresh look and feel to the God and Me program. Response to a P.R.A.Y. survey indicated overwhelming support for the core curriculum. While the primary outline and GAMEBox remained intact, all lessons were fine-tuned with new artwork to give the Student Workbook the feel of an activity book (rather than homework). Emphasis was placed on the Counselor Manual and making it easier for adults to deliver the program, reduce preparation time, and get the learners out of their chairs and engaged in fun learning activities.
Sneak Peak at New Changes
Grade Guidelines - New eligibility guidelines will restrict God and Me to grades 2 & 3 (1st graders will shift to the Jesus and Me program for K-1). This has been a long-anticipated change.

Self-Contained Student Workbook – All GAMEBox handouts (i.e. hands, memory game cards, prayer cube, board game, etc.) will be included as cut-out sheets in each Student Workbook. Counselors will no longer have to make copies and provide these handouts. These handouts will still be available for download from the online Resource Library, but students will have their own copies in the new Student Workbooks.

Side-by-Side Counselor Manual – The new Counselor Manual will include full-size pages of the Student Workbook matched to corresponding instruction pages in a side-by-side format. This will not only streamline lesson preparation, but also improve program delivery. 

Integrated Adult Mentor Workbook – The new Mentor Workbook will integrate the Student curriculum by including quarter-size student pages making an important visual connection.

These changes have long been on the wish list for P.R.A.Y. The new revision process provides the opportunity to implement these important improvements.

Note: The revised God and Me booklets will be rolled out this Fall in time for the new program year. However, the current booklets may still be used and will not be considered obsolete. Congregations and scouting groups can transition to the new curriculum on their own timeline as appropriate.  
Thank You to Survey Participants!
Last year P.R.A.Y. posted a survey to gather responses from clergy, counselors and parents on the God and Me program in general, and also on each specific individual lesson. It was quite lengthy, but the response was incredible. Comments were detailed, reflective, and showed depth of knowledge and familiarity with the program. P.R.A.Y. is humbled by the number and quality of the responses and the dedication and commitment expressed by these volunteers. Thank you!
God and Me Revision Team
It has been the vision of P.R.A.Y. CEO Jason Noland to have a multi-denominational team of volunteers with unique gifts and backgrounds to conduct curriculum revisions. The God and Me Revision Team had the task of sifting through the many comments and suggestions, deciding a course of action, and introducing new lessons while upholding the essence of God and Me. P.R.A.Y. is indebted to the following volunteer writers:

Rev. Barry Chance – Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
First Presbyterian Church, Hammond, LA

Caroline Honeycutt – Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Redeemer Lutheran Church, Claremore, OK

Rev. Dr. Christopher Rodkey – United Church of Christ
St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Dallastown, PA
Welcome Back, Heidi!
P.R.A.Y. welcomes back AHG Patriot Heidi S. as the Volunteer Artist for the revised God and Me curriculum. Her artwork provides style and flair for the revised curriculum, and P.R.A.Y. is pleased to be working with her again.

P.R.A.Y. is grateful to these team members for their commitment of time and talent and for investing in the P.R.A.Y. ministry!
Training Opportunities and Virtual Conferences
The Center for Scouting Ministries of the United Methodist Church is offering a Virtual Workshop June 27 & 28, 202. There are 3 courses offered Saturday morning, and 3 courses offered Sunday afternoon. The conference will focus on practical tools and keys to strengthen and improve your Scouting program. Registration is free.








The BSA National Religious Relationships Committee is hosting "Virtual Interfaith Week 2020" from June 29th to July 5th. With more than 60 different program options throughout the week, there is something for unit, district, and council leadership, all free of charge.


The P.R.A.Y. Resource Library
Check out Resources for Virtual Learning
P.R.A.Y.'s YouTube Videos - Find general overviews for parents/guardians and also detailed teaching videos for P.R.A.Y. Counselors.

Virtual Learning - Find sample announcement, letter to the pastor, 30 Day Challenges, and other helpful resources.

Teaching Handouts - P.R.A.Y.'s Resource Library has the handouts needed for each program and makes it easy to send "supplies" to families.

Covid-19 Statement - Read about P.R.A.Y.’s special eligibility extension in effect until December 31, 2020.
P.R.A.Y. Awards Are Family Affair
Four Siblings Earn their Respective P.R.A.Y. Awards

Annabelle – 11th Grade, God and Life, Four Star Recipient
Lillian – 8th Grade, God and Church (has 3 awards)
Bennett - 5th Grade, God and Family (has 2 awards)
Flynn - 1st Grade, God and Me (his first award)
When P.R.A.Y. received Laura’s order for her four children, we contacted her. After all, how often does one family earn every level of the P.R.A.Y. Series? We discovered it is through intentional planning and purpose.  Click here  to find out how the family got started on the P.R.A.Y. awards, what their program looks like, why they continue to do the P.R.A.Y. program, and how this year was a big milestone for them!
Please join P.R.A.Y. in congratulating this family for growing stronger in faith TOGETHER. We pray God’s continued blessings upon you!
Stories to Inspire
P.R.A.Y. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and relies on gifts to develop and produce new programs and resources. Your gift of any size will help support the work that P.R.A.Y. does in Building Faith in Youth. Click here to make your gift today!
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P.R.A.Y.
Building Faith in Youth
www.praypub.org