You’ve just described Royal Rangers.
In America and more than 60 countries, Royal Rangers motivates boys
spiritually through Bible study and memorization, devotionals and Christian
role models. Participation in age-specific activities and recreation
increases their physical prowess. They are introduced to church, community
and nature-related activities to develop their social skills and awareness.
Royal Rangers began in 1962 under the leadership of Commander Johnnie
Barnes. Rangers outposts have become a centerpiece for outreach to boys
in thousands of Assemblies of God churches, and the ministry is growing
each year.
"We’re totally rewriting the program," says National
Commander Richard Mariott. "We’ve specifically redesigned
Royal Rangers to retain leaders, with complete written weekly curriculum
and a new advancement system for all ages. This will be a big help to
all churches and benefit small churches that are establishing outposts."
The new curriculum is "circular," allowing boys to enter
Rangers at any time and fit into the schedule without having to start
at the beginning. New Rangers can join an outpost and remain with the
friends who brought them in.
Royal Rangers is a powerful tool for drawing families to churches.
Outposts report as high as 70 percent of their Rangers are boys from
outside of the church. Once a boy becomes involved in a Rangers outpost,
his family has a greater chance of being reached.
Royal Rangers targets boys aged 5-17, but several Rangers auxiliaries
involve men. For example, Pathfinders, a church-construction group involving
the Frontier Camping Fellowship members, sends men on projects that
a normal volunteer construction team could not carry out.
Pathfinders may canoe half a day up the Amazon and hike into the jungle
with their equipment another half day before building a church in a
village without electricity or running water.
Every four years, Royal Rangers from across the United States and more
than a dozen countries around the world come to Camp Eagle Rock in Missouri
for Camporama. Thousands attend; as many as half are filled with the
Holy Spirit and many rededicate their lives to Christ.
From local outpost meetings to the national Camporama, the Royal Rangers
mission remains the same: to "reach, teach and keep boys for Christ."
The vision is to see Royal Rangers in every Assemblies of God church.
Royal
Rangers created an incentive for me to stay in church. It was
like a second education for me, teaching me about life, about
the church, about the Bible, about how to be a respected person
in the community and to give back to the community.