Bringing Youth to Christ Through a Scouting Ministry

Adapt for your congregation's newsletter or bulletin.

The Scouting program at (name of congregation) is more than just an activity for our youth to learn about the outdoors.

Scouting provides fun, fellowship, and training to our youth as well as youth in our community. It emphasizes honesty, self-reliance, and respect. Through a year-round program, it affects character, citizenship, and personal fitness.

But the success of our Scouting depends on our volunteers, who serve in a variety of leadership roles so that our young people may benefit from our Scouting ministry.

As the Boy Scouts of America celebrates its anniversary, we salute the splendid volunteers who serve as Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, and Venturing Advisors, and in other positions of leadership.

"I think the Gospel is a very powerful, yet a very simple message. It is a message of love, respect, and responsibility. Scouting is all of that."

—Pastor Peter Paine, Waukegan, Illinois

"It (the God and Country program) really made me think about my relationship with God and made me evaluate it."

—Scout Robert Lalley, Princeton, New Jersey

"When you look at the Scout Law and the principles which Scouting teaches young people, all those things are basically biblical principles."

—Pastor Robert Cushman, Princeton, New Jersey

"I've seen him study the Bible more in preparation to do devotions, that all the boys participate in . ..."

—Elinor Dalene, Parent, Wyckoff, New Jersey

"It is our troop, we can really build it the way we want, we can determine those factors that are important to us to build into the program, just as God would have us to do."

—Pastor Don James, Wyckoff, New Jersey

Many volunteers give their time so Scouting's members will be involved in a quality program. Merit badge counselors help Scouts learn more about vocations and hobbies. Volunteers see that the Scout camps of the (name) Council have the necessary physical facilities and that all camp activities meet the high health and safety standards of the national organization.

Volunteers serve behind the scenes on committees so that community organizations using the Scouting program can find the best leadership possible for the youth related to their organizations. Volunteers, too, provide training for these leaders and offer a continuing service to every Cub Scout pack, Boy Scout troop, and Venturing crew.

Many men and women offer their services to Scouting, but more volunteers are always needed to serve as leaders or share their special skills with young people and other adults. All these people experience a special sense of achievement through their work in Scouting.

We congratulate all the volunteers who are active in Scouting throughout (insert name of community) and want to offer a special prayer and word of the thanks to the leaders of (insert Pack, Troop, or Crew number) chartered to (name of congregation).