| The Lutheran "God and Country" Awards Program & Medals |
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| "The Scout, in his promise, undertakes to do his duty to his king and country only in the second place; his first duty is to God. It is with this idea before us and reckoning that God is the one Father of us all, that we Scouts count ourselves a brotherhood despite the differences among us of country, creed, or class. We realize that in addition to the interest of our particular country, there is a higher mission before us - namely, the promotion of the kingdom of God; that is, the rule of peace and goodwill on Earth. In the Scouts, each form of religion is respected and its active practice encouraged, and through the spread of brotherhood in all countries, we have the opportunity of developing the spirit of mutual goodwill and understanding. "There is no religious side of the movement. The whole of it is based on religion that is, on the realization and service to God. "Let us, therefore, in training our Scouts, keep the higher aims in the forefront, not let themselves get too absorbed in the steps. Don't let the technical outweigh the moral, field efficiency, backwoodsmanship, camping, hiking, good turns, jamboree, and comradeship are, by all means not the end. The end is character with a purpose. "And that purpose, that the next generation may be sane in an insane world, and develop the higher realization of service, active service of love, and duty to God and neighbor. "Our objective in the Scout movement is to give such help as we can in bringing about God's kingdom on Earth by inoculating among the youth the spirit and the daily practice in their lives of selfish goodwill and cooperation". -Baden-Powell |
| God and Me |
| God and Family |
| God and Church |
| Living Faith |
| The God and Country Program is a set of programs for religious studies. These programs are built around a workbook style of learning, following step-by-step lessons designed by the publishing group P.R.A.Y. (Program for Religious Activities for Youth). In these books, you can find activities that involve study, prayer, service projects, and a time of sharing religious values between a parent and a child and/or a mentor. The workbooks are school grade specific so that the concepts being shared are not beyond the comprehension of that child. Some children's learning style does not lend itself to group sessions. Parents may choose to "home school" their children through this process, however, it is noted there is a lower success rate using this method. Part of P.R.A.Y.'s mission statement is to "actively promote relationships between churches and youth - serving agencies in order to encourage Christian spiritual growth of children, youth, and families". This is centered on two parts of this mission statement: collaborations between churches and agencies, and the God and Country Program. P.R.A.Y oversees the God and Country Program, develops curriculum, and establishes all guidelines. Some organizations that commonly work with this program are Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, 4H, and Camp Fire Boys and Girls. Church youth and Sunday School members are also eligible for this program. More information regarding this program may be obtained @ www.praypub.org and www.nlas.org. |
| This award is for boys and girls in grades 1, 2, & 3. The God and Me curriculum is designed to help children become best friends with Jesus and tell their story of "God and Me" together. Children will make a game in each lesson and keep their games in a GAMEBOX (God and Me Exploring BOX). These games will reinforce the Bible lessons and provide opportunities for families to explore God's love together. |
| This award is for boys and girls in grades 4 & 5. The God and Family curriculum is designed to help youth understand the importance of family and God's role in a healthy family. The God and Family Program provides an opportunity for young people and their families to explore their faith together. Children will compare families and "pizza." The six steps for making pizza will be compared to God's plan for strengthening families. The pizza theme is meant to give students a concrete, "hands-on" model on which to build their understanding of God's love for their families. They will make a pizza as they study how families can grow together in God's love. |
| This award is for young people in grades 6, 7, & 8. 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. 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. The God and Church program can take from five months to a year to complete. Ideally, the youth will complete this program in his or her own church under the supervision of his or her own pastor. |
| This award is for young people in grades 9 - 12. 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. 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. This program will take a minimum of five months and may take up to several years to complete. (As a note, the Living Faith program was replaced by the God and Life program. However, the Living Faith program is still recognized as there may still be programs currently in progress. All new requests for this program will receive the God and Life program). |
| Lamb |
| The "Servant of Youth" Adult Recognition is awarded by the Lutheran Committee on Civic Youth Agency Relationships [LCCYAR]. It is given to acknowledge distinguished volunteer service by adults in ministry to young people through one or more civic youth agency programs. Eligibility: any adult who is an active member of a Lutheran (or another Christian) congregation who has given a minimum of five years of service as a Christian role model and leader to young people, in any capacity, in any of the Civic Youth Agencies cooperating in the LCCYAR (Boy Scouts of America, Camp Fire Boys and Girls, Girl Scouts of the USA, and 4-H). This award is considered by nomination only. Recipients of this award should not be aware they have been nominated. |
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| Along with the medal, the Scout gets a square knot badge to be worn on the uniform. While the Scout may only earn one knot for the religious program, he may complete each level in the program and earn pins to identify each program. These pins would then be worn on the knot. |
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| Cub Scout Level Award |
| WEBELOS Level Award |
| Boy Scout & Varsity Scout Level Award |
| Venturer, Older Boy Scout & Varsity Scout Level Award |
| Adult Recognition Awards |
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| Religious Program Links |
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| God and Life |
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| Servant of Youth |
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| 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 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 USA, Camp Fire Boys and Girls, and 4-H); 2) to increase use and quality of the civic agency programs in Lutheran congregations as a part of their ministries with youth. Eligibility: any adult who is an active member of a Lutheran congregation who has given a minimum of 10 years distinguished volunteer service as a Christian role model and leader to young people, in any capacity, through the church and one or more civic youth agencies is eligible for nomination. Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted (the award seeks the individual; the individual does not seek the award). Recipients of this award should not be aware they have been nominated. |
| Mentor |
| 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. |
| Adult Mentor Program |
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| Counselor |
| Counselor |
| 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 leads each program. Both mentors and children work under the supervision of the pastor or counselor. |
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| Unit Award |
| Lutheran Recognition of Excellence |
| The Lutheran Recognition of Excellence is given to recognize outstanding Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Varsity Scout Teams, and Explorer Posts chartered to Lutheran congregations and associated organizations that have met the criteria established by the National Lutheran Association of Scouters. Qualifications: within the past twelve (12) months (since the last charter renewal), the unit shall have accomplished all of the following: 1. Earned the Quality Unit Award of the Boy Scouts of America. 2. Fifty percent or more of the registered youth members of the unit were enrolled in or completed the appropriate Religious Growth Program for their age level and religious affiliation. 3. The Pastor serves as the Religious Growth Counselor or has appointed someone to serve in that capacity for the Lutheran God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life (Lutheran Living Faith) Programs. 4. The units participated in the local Lutheran congregation's Scout Sunday observance preferably with youth members and leaders in uniform. 5. The unit provided regular worship opportunities when away from home congregation on Sundays for camping trips and other outings and provided the appropriate religious setting for banquets, ceremonies, and other unit events. 6. The Chartered Organization Representative (COR), as a minimum, shall be a communicant member of a Lutheran congregation. (While not required, it is preferable that the unit leader and/or the committee chairperson also be a communicant members of a Lutheran congregation). The LRE insignia is issued only to members of units chartered to Lutheran congregations that have earned the Lutheran Recognition of Excellence. The insignia may be worn by Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Explorers and Scouters. The patch may be worn as a temporary insignia centered on the right pocket of the shirt. Additional recognition for the unit is provided with a unit ribbon and certificate for each year that the LRE is earned. |