Scouts Read Sacred Texts
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Scouts Read Sacred Texts 2025
Last year, 3673 Scouts from 174 councils made history on May 2, the National Day of Prayer. Check the website to see if anyone from your council participated in 2024.
https://stlbsa.org/Scouts-read-sacred-texts-worldwide/
Here’s what Bob Wedig, Chair of the National Religious Relationships Committee, said about the program,
“The Scouts Read Sacred Texts event gives scouts the opportunity to practice their Duty to God. While reading the sacred texts of their faith, scouts will be part of a larger movement of scouts doing the same and, in the process, learn more about their faith traditions. Through the support of their fellow scouts and by understanding their faith better, scouts can grow closer to God and learn what He wants them to do to become a better person.”
The first Scouts Read Sacred Texts Worldwide event greatly exceeded everyone’s expectations. Scouts read sacred texts for over 800 hours. Nearly 3900 patches were ordered. We encourage ordering in advance so patches can be given out that week.
Click to watch our three-minute video on YouTube:
https://tinyurl.com/scoutsreadsacredtextsvideo
Most Scouts read at home with their families. In addition to the United States, we had Scouts from Kenya, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Belgium, Bangladesh, Chile, Singapore, Okinawa, and the Philippines.
Scouts had never done this before. We made history.
I think we have a tremendous opportunity to use this program to grow membership and get positive PR.
If we asked every Scout volunteer next week to go to their Church, Parish, Synagogue, Mosque to talk to the leader about starting a Scout unit, I doubt 5% would do that. Either they've been turned down before or they're uncomfortable.
Now, if you asked the same volunteers to go to their faith leader and ask them to have their youth join us in reading the Bible, Torah, Quran or their Sacred Texts, I'll bet the overwhelming majority would consider doing that. What's uncomfortable about asking youth to read their Sacred Texts on the National Day of Prayer? It's what most Faith leaders are trying to do anyway.
The Faith leader asks, who is sponsoring that? Scouts, of course, because we believe in Duty to God. This opens a conversation and plants a seed for the future.
Imagine having thousands of our volunteers having that conversation with their faith leaders. Guess what? This is an annual event, so they get to have that discussion every year.
We don't have the budget for the PR this could bring. If they participate, it might be in the bulletin of that Church/Parish/Synagogue/Mosque announcing to all the members that their youth are going to be reading their sacred texts on the National Day of Prayer (Sponsored by Scouts). I know at least one church that's planning on doing a YouTube live stream. Kids love stuff like that.
Scouts may be mentioned in the bulletin – perhaps for the first time? That's an impression! How much do advertisers pay to get an impression? On YouTube, it's $9.68 per 1000 impressions. If they don't participate, I suspect they'll still have a warm feeling for Scouts – and that is another positive impression.
We are going to read our Sacred Texts in the week of May 1, 2025. We are significantly expanding our participation and inviting other youth organizations plus youths from all faiths to join us.
We have made some important changes:
All Scouts and should read on the evening of May 1 (U.S. National Day of Prayer) or anytime that week that is convenient.
Will you help promote Duty to God in all youth:
1. Ask your Council to participate.
2. Add this event to your council’s calendar.
3. Post video and flyer on social media (use Scout flyer at roundtables).
Our worldwide Sacred texts event is much more than the reading that will occur on the week of May 1, 2025. Each youth that participates will have engaged in a discussion with their Scout leader, Faith leader, family or friend about their Duty to God. For some, it may be the first time they have read their sacred texts. Our hope is it will not be the last. We are encouraging a practice which will continue to change lives.
Map of Event
