It’s time to investigate the FBI!

That is, the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.'s Faith-Based Initiative.

FBI is a strategy for growth and retention. It is an approach to developing partnerships between local GSUSA councils and congregations, creating sustainable troops that benefit from shared resources and goals. It leverages religious recognitions as membership tools and connects Girl Scouting with faith communities, promoting spiritual growth and intergenerational ministry.

This isn’t exactly new for the GSUSA. Faith has been part of Girl Scouting since its beginning. It’s part of the Girl Scout promise: “On my honor, I will try: to serve [God] and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law.” (Girl Scouts may substitute for the word God in accordance with their own spiritual beliefs.)

And Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts, said, "My purpose . . . to go on with my heart and soul, devoting all my energies to Girl Scouts, and heart and hand with them, we will make our lives and the lives of the future girls happy, healthy, and holy.”

Church partnerships with GSUSA can be fruitful. In Girl Scout troops, members receive citizenship training, character development, fitness, leadership experience, life skills, values, etc. They have opportunities to experience high adventure, educational growth, and achievement.

GSUSA vets, trains, and supports its leaders. With self-ownership, the risk is extremely low and the reward incredibly high. A church-Girl Scout partnership can be a stable and significant investment in the community and church.

Here are some ways that churches can get involved:

1. Host a Girl Scout troop. Be an open door to the community and an answer to a prayer.
2. Share in service together. Engage Girl Scouts in service projects within the congregation and the broader community. This can include activities like food drives, community clean-ups, and assisting with congregational events.
3. Religious recognitions. Help girls earn their My Promise, My Faith pin and other religious recognitions. These programs connect Girl Scouting with faith communities, promoting spiritual growth and intergenerational ministry.
4. Collaborative programs: Develop collaborative programs that integrate Girl Scouting with the congregation’s youth ministry. This can enhance both organizations' outreach and impact.
5. Community outreach: Use Girl Scouting as a tool for community outreach and advocacy. This can attract new members to the congregation and strengthen ties with the local community.

Learn more at Faith Based Initiative (P.R.A.Y.)