There are more than 30 million Baptists in the United States. More than 15 million belong to the Southern Baptist Convention. Over 101,000 local Baptist churches operate over 5,000 Scouting units. At the end of 2009, the Baptist church’s involvement in Scouting included:

70,238 Cub Scouts in 2,069 packs

33,487 Boy Scouts in 1,932 troops

3,355 Venturers in 341 crews

For more information see BSA Fact Sheet: Scouting in the Baptist Church

http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/operating_orgs/Baptist.aspx

MAJOR BAPTIST CONVENTIONS CHARTERING SCOUTING UNITS

There is no central governing authority for the Baptist church. Most Baptist churches are members of regional associations of Baptist churches. There are more than 60 regional Baptist associations in the United States. Most Baptists are represented by one of the groups listed below:

RESOURCES FOR BAPTIST SCOUTS/SCOUTERS

·   Baptists and Scouting: Building Values Together (Southern), No. 5-970A

·   Baptists and Scouting: Building Values Together (Generic), No. 5-971A

·   Baptist Information Packets, No. 77-332

·   Association of Baptists for Scouting fact sheet, No. 77-314

·   Baptists and Scouting: Building Values Together videotape.

·   PRAY-Programs of Religious Activities With Youth: Partner for Baptist religious awards: http://www.praypub.org

·   Training for Baptist Scout Leaders at BSA’s Philmont Training Center. See conference listings for courses http://www.philmontscoutranch.org/PTC.aspx

·   Association of Baptists for Scouting. Broad variety of information regarding scouting in Baptist Churches. http://www.baptistscouters.org

STARTING A BAPTIST SCOUTING UNIT

Following is a link to a PDF document on how to start a Baptist Scouting program: http://www.baptistscouters.org/OrganizingABaptistScoutUnit.pdf

WHY SHOULD A BAPTIST CHURCH USE SCOUTING?

(from Association of Baptists for Scouting)

Local Baptist churches have utilized programs of the Boy Scouts of America for the past 100 years as an effective tool to reach children, youth, and adults for Christ and to minister to families, both churched and unchurched. Because of the unique chartering concept of the BSA, local congregations actually own their Scouting units and are encouraged to make them an integral part of their outreach ministry. Here is a sampling of the ways Scouting can contribute to the local Baptist church’s ministry:

Scouting offers more quality time with children and youth. For instance, if a young person attends the weekly Scout meeting, participates in a monthly campout, goes to summer camp and is involved in the multi-unit events offered throughout the year, he can expect to spend at least 544 hours annually. Consider the potential for personal ministry by a Christian Scout leader. Is it any wonder that many call Scouting the “sleeping giant of outreach” for local churches?

Scouting has appeal to unsaved and unchurched youth as well as “church kids.” While most churches offer a meaningful ministry to their children and youth, Scouting helps congregations to have broad appeal to the unreached, too. A large number of Scouts and their families (20%) have their first encounter with a church through their involvement in the church’s Scouting ministry. And, approximately 60% have no church affiliation. Scouting provides churches with tremendous opportunities for evangelism, ministry, and growth! 

Scouting offers lifesaving skills and skills for living. The various program offerings - from Tiger Cubs and Cub Scouts in grades one through five, to Boy Scouts in grades six through twelve, and Venturing for boys and girls who are 14 years old or 13 and have completed eighth grade – are unexcelled in today’s world. Among the results are: personal preparedness, outdoor skills, vocational training, citizenship education, and character-building. When these programs are under the auspices of a local church with caring Christian leaders, the picture is complete. Furthermore, Baptist churches can stand with the Boys Scouts of America in affirming everyone’s duty to God and the importance of moral uprightness. 

Scouting helps strengthen families. The entire Cub Scout program is family-oriented. Most of the activities are designed to be done with a parent. Other levels of Scouting emphasize the importance of family, too. For instance, every young man attaining the rank of Eagle Scout must have completed the Family Life Merit Badge.

Scouting contributes to personal and church growth by involving more laity. Many church growth experts assert that one of the ways to reverse downward trends in church involvement while stimulating church growth is to create places of service for adults which are hands-on and action-oriented. Not everyone feels gifted to serve in a traditional church leadership role. However, many of these persons can be meaningfully involved in the church’s Scouting ministry, thus enabling them to use their God-given abilities in His service while positively impacting children, youth, and families.

Scouting undergirds the church’s religious education ministry through the PRAY God and Country religious emblems program. Completing requirements for one or more levels of the PRAY program is a memorable experience for the pastor and Cubs, Boy Scouts, and Venturers. Consider these results . . .

God and Country students come to better understand their personal faith in Jesus Christ. It is not unusual for participants to accept Christ as Savior during the study. Other God and Country participants sense their call to vocational ministry. 

·         PRAY participants come to understand the denomination, its basic beliefs, history, structure, and how to support the worldwide missions strategy through praying, giving, and going. An explanation of cooperative efforts among Baptists gives the pupil an appreciation for the roles of various Baptist agencies and institutions in support of the local church.

·         Participants are taught the importance of personal involvement in outreach and missions at home.

·         Completion of the required service projects through the local church helps young people experience the importance of having a servant’s heart.

·         For all of the reasons cited above and many others, Baptist churches and Scouting make ideal partners in the molding of today’s children and youth. And, as the Apostle Paul exhorts us, we should use all legitimate means to reach everyone with the Gospel message!

For all of the reasons cited above and many others, Baptist churches and Scouting make ideal partners in the molding of today’s children and youth. And as the Apostle Paul exhorts us, we should use all legitimate means to reach everyone with the Gospel message!