Earning the God and Country Badge
We recommend encouraging students to earn their God and Country badge for their specific religion.
You do NOT have to be a scout, any youth group or Sunday school pupils are encouraged and eligible to participate in this program.
Contact praypub.org for your specific workbook. All students must fulfill the requirements given by their specific religious group.
At this time, these are the religions they have available:
African Methodist Episcopal |
Islamic – Boy Scout |
African Methodist Episcopal Zion |
Islamic – Girl Scout |
Armenian Apostolic Church of America |
Jewish – Boy Scout |
Armenian, Diocese of the Armenian Church |
Jewish – Girl Scout |
Assembly of God |
Jewish Camp Fire |
Association of Unity Churches |
Lutheran |
Baha’i |
Meher Baba |
Baptist |
Mennonite |
Brethren |
Moravian |
Buddhist |
Nazarene |
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) |
Pentecostal |
Christian Methodist Episcopal |
Polish National Catholic |
Christian Missionary Alliance |
Presbyterian Church (USA) |
Christian Scientist |
Presbyterian Church in America |
Church of Christ |
Protestant, Independent Christian, and Non-denominational |
Church of God |
Reformed |
Church of Jesus Christ LDS – Boy Scouts |
Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ LDS |
Church of Jesus Christ LDS – Girl Scouts |
Roman Catholic – Boy Scouts |
Cumberland Presbyterian |
Roman Catholic – Girl Scouts and Campfire |
Eastern Orthodox |
Seventh Day Adventist |
Eastern Rite Catholic |
The Salvation Army |
Episcopal |
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations |
First Church of Christ, Scientist |
United Church of Christ |
Friends |
United Methodist |
General Church of the New Jerusalem |
Wesleyan |
Hindu |
Zoroasterian |
Contact praypub.org for additional programs for boys and girls in 1st grade through 8th grade.
Here is a report of one Sunday school teacher whose students have been working on this for a year.
I have four 6th and 7th grade girls in my class. Two of them are girls scouts and the others are not. When the two scouts talked about earning their God and Country badge, all the girls wanted to work on this activity. Fortunately, the God and Country badge can be earned by any boy or girl regardless of affiliation with the scouts.
They have workbooks available for approximately 50 different denominations. We selected our religion’s guidelines and began work to understand the Bible and the framework of our own church.
When the girls had completed all the requirements, we had a special award assembly on Mother’s Day. The Mother’s pinned the medals on their daughters after the girls made a presentation of what they had learned.
Here are a few of their comments about what they learned:
I just loved the Commandment work. I could see why Jesus divided them into two. Obviously, loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind is first. The first five commandments teach us how to do that. The second commandment Jesus said was to love our neighbor as ourselves. Commandments 5-10 explain how we achieve that level of love. The fifth commandment gets double duty in that we are shown how to honor our divine Parent as well as our human parents.
I like all the Commandments but I especially like the 4th commandment. That we get to rest the way God did. I never thought of just being willing to quiet my day so as to think about Him and His creation. It’s really not a day to spend at the mall or movies. I really want to rest the way God does - in absolute appreciation of His creation.
E.S. 6th grade
The next girl recited the 23rd Psalm and explained what it meant to her.
What I love about this Psalm is that it is a prayer. In some translations the first verse is:
“Because the Lord is my shepherd I have everything I need.”
It is clear that God provides a place for us to feel His presence and peace. It’s green pastures – not rocks and weeds. If you are a lamb – you can rest because your next meal is in front of you. All our needs are covered – He makes us lie down and rest even if we’d rather be doing something else. He supplies water for nourishment, He restores us after a long day. Just as the Lord’s prayer asks that we be not led into temptation – this Psalm tells us He leads us into paths of doing His will. This prayer tells me I have nothing to fear – God is preparing a table for me – even in the midst of my enemies. He offers me all the comfort and discipline that I need. He fills me with the oil of consecration.
When they would anoint a king they poured oil over his head. Well, God is anointing us daily for His service – and it’s not just a drop of oil. And then we have the wonderful assurance that we dwell in His house securely, safely, happily, with love – forever.
MV 7th grade
I love the beatitudes. Just the name gives you a hint. These are the be – attitudes. The attitudes we get to bring to every day.
Every one tells us to be happy. The word blessed is translated happy.
We are happy when we are so poor in spirit that we’ll do everything to get rich in our understanding of God – and then we receive the kingdom of heaven as our prize. Each beatitude tells us when we live this way we get a reward. Like a prize in a cereal box: you just have to open it and it is in there.
I like that the fourth beatitude reminds me to “hunger and thirst after righteousness,” not French fries and a milkshake. To be truly filled, we just need to seek the right things.
But my favorite of all the beatitudes is “blessed (or happy) are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Did you know that to be a peacemaker meant to practice the presence of God? I want to practice the presence of God. When I do, I bring peace to any situation. And we are all children of God, so we all must be peacemakers.
N.M. 6th grade
I love knowing the Lord’s prayer is a way of looking at how to pray. Jesus said to pray on this manner – not just memorize his words. So what is this manner? What should prayer include?
The first four points are all about God.
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Our Father which art in heaven – tells us to talk directly to God.
- that we should praise and honor God’s name.
- to recognize that His kingdom is come – that was Jesus’ message – the kingdom of heaven is at hand, it’s not some far off place.
- that we really want God’s will to be done, rather than just hoping He’ll go along with our will.
5-7 is our wish list
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We want to be fed – nourished –
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Forgiven –
- And kept from temptation. The interesting thing about this verse is that the translation isn’t “don’t lead us into temptation” as if God ever could or would – but do not let us enter into temptation – in other words – keep me awake and alert so I know what I’m getting into.
Then the 8th line takes us back to God. We start and end with God.
I like learning to pray this way. Prayer is just a conversation with God.
TK 6th grade
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