Photo: Cub Scouts and their leaders celebrate the completion of God and Family courses. First row: Aaron Vardell, Andy Baldacci, Will Meadows, Will Davis, Ian Brown, the Rev. David Bonney. Second row: Mark Vardell, Todd Baldacci, Bill Chaffin, Jim Davis, David Meadows, Davis, and David Brown. Not pictured Jake Sanza, Joshua and James Ganey.

MIDLOTHIAN, Va. –– Eight members of Cub Scout Pack 1879 at St. Marks UMC received God and Family Awards after participating in seven study sessions conducted November, 2010 to January, 2011, by Bill Chaffin, scouting coordinator for the Richmond District, and the Rev. David Bonney, senior pastor. In addition to the square knot for their uniform, PRAY medal and certificate, the boys were also given 2010 Jamboree New Testaments.

Following the studies, the father of Jake Sanza expressed appreciation to Chaffin, a scouting ministry specialist and chief organizer of the studies.

“Jake really appreciated the Bible that you gave him. He asks to read every night before bed and last night on the way home, he asked if he had time to read his new Bible before bed.”

During the classes, the boys compared the ingredients and cooking of pizza pie with Bible characters and the attributes of a Christian family. The crust is the foundation as God is the foundation for a family. The sauce takes time as the biblical and family heritage takes time to develop. Toppings are as unique as Moses and Aaron and as unique as each family member. Cheese holds the pizza together as the 10 commandments hold the family together. Heating the pizza is like the difficult times through which Paul, Silas, and family members travel, and eating is like the feeding of the five thousand and the spiritual nourishment a family receives.

The studies ended with a pizza party.

God and Family is one of four awards presented by Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). The St. Louis based program provides God and Me grades 1-2; God and Family grades 3-5; God and Church, grades 6-8; God and Life, grades 9-12. For information about the program, visit www.praypub.org, or call 1-800-933-7729.