If your church was offered an opportunity to have weekly life-on-life contact with both churched and unchurched youth — social activities, opportunities to discuss the important things in life, service projects in the community — what would you say?
The churches that are hosting Boy Scout troops are saying “yes,” according to R. Chip Turner. Turner is the former president of the Association of Baptists for Scouting, a group that tries to connect and encourage Baptist churches who host Boy Scout troops.
Scouting “offers opportunities for kids to be involved in something wholesome and neighborhood-based,” Turner said. The Scout Oath involves piety, patriotism, helpfulness and proper care for oneself — qualities that make for a healthy individual if nothing else. Hosting a Scout troop is “a great way of demonstrating the church’s love for the community,” he added.
But even more than that, Scouting is “a tremendous evangelism and church growth tool,” Turner said. The average unit may be 60 percent unchurched or un-Christian, which demonstrates the attraction Scouting can have for nonbelievers. The unique activities and community Scout troops provide can draw in people who otherwise would not be interested in church.
Turner described the impact Scouting had on a church in central Louisiana to which he belonged at one time. The church started a Boy Scout troop in 1921 and a Cub Scout pack (for age 7 to 10) while Turner was with the church. After a few years Turner decided to see if he could find out how many people had joined the church after getting involved with Cub Scouts.
It turned out that in about four years, 300 people joined the church whose initial contact had been through the Cub Scout pack, Turner said.
Scouting has had a positive impact on First Baptist Church, Pelham, as well. Pastor Mike Shaw reported that First, Pelham, has had “some excellent members” come in through Scouting. The Scouts also donate a tithe of the proceeds from their Christmas tree sale each year to the church missions fund, he said.
Gary Cambron, Scoutmaster of First, Pelham’s, Boy Scout troop, said they “try to use [Scouts] as a vehicle for ministry.”
“We don’t discriminate against anyone, but we try to promote a positive and Christian program,” Cambron said. He added that the troop encourages boys who have service projects to do to look first to the church, the troop’s charter organization.
Turner said thinking of a Scout troop as a ministry is the best way to undertake it.
“From a technical sense it takes next to nothing to start one,” he said — the only thing a chartering organization requires is a place to meet. But if a church takes an active part in providing leadership for a Scout troop, they will be able to have a much richer impact on it, he said. Turner recommended that the church provide as many of the troop’s key leaders as possible.
“There are highly skilled people who have never found the best place to serve in the church, and this might be it,” he said. People who love the outdoors and care to connect with and mentor youth are perfect for Scouting ministry.
And if a church can promote Scouting within itself — holding a Scout-led Sunday service once a year, for example — it can greatly encourage the boys who participate, Turner added.
The state of Alabama is divided into five councils that oversee Scout troops. For more information on starting a Scout troop, email Brent Pritchard, director of field service for the Greater Alabama Council, at bpritchard@1bsa.org or call 205-969-4248.
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