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ROYAL RANGERS #369
To Evangelize, Equip, and Empower the next generation of Christ like men and life Long servant leaders.
To Evangelize, Equip, and Empower the next generation of Christ like men and life Long servant leaders.
Our History and Heritage
Royal Rangers is a church-based mentoring ministry for future men. Since its inception in 1962, millions of boys in the United States and around the world have been guided through the ministry. Today, they are successful businessmen, public servants, pastors, church leaders, missionaries, etc.
Johnnie BarnesFounder & firstNational Commander
1962In January, Rev. Johnnie Barnes, the Assemblies of God youth director from the North Texas district, is invited by the Executive Presbytery to birth a new ministry for boys and young men. Rev. Charles Scott suggested the name Royal Rangers, and Johnnie Barnes is appointed as national commander.
1963The Royal Rangers Leadership Training Course is developed.
1964The first district-wide camps (then called Pow Wows) are held. The Gold Medal of Achievement, Royal Rangers highest achievement, and the Medal of Valor, awarded to men and boys who risk their own lives to save the life of another, are first offered.
1966Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship (then called a Fraternity) is formed, offering boys and young men the opportunity to relive America’s frontier past. The first Royal Rangers week is held in October to spotlight the Royal Rangers ministry and honor its members in churches across the nation.
1968The first National Training Camps for Royal Rangers leaders are held in the states of California, Colorado, Missouri, and New York.
1974The first National Camporama, a camping extravaganza that now attracts thousands of boys every four years, is first held at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
1977The National Royal Rangers Council is formed and meets in Springfield, Missouri. To this day organizational leaders continue to gather annually for instruction, fellowship, and inspiration.
1986The National Royal Rangers Training Center near Eagle Rock, Missouri, is dedicated. The 1,400-acre center is often referred to as Camp Eagle Rock.
1989Beloved founder, Johnnie Barnes, dies after leading the ministry from its inception for twenty-seven years. Rev. Ken Hunt is named national commander, and he guides the ministry skillfully for ten years.
1999Rev. Richard Mariott is appointed national commander, and he ably guides the ministry for eight years.
2002Royal Rangers International is started to establish, strengthen, and serve Royal Rangers development around the world. Today, Royal Rangers is active in over 70 nations.
2007Rev. Doug Marsh is appointed national director. His vision is to “Take Royal Rangers to the iPod® Generation” by helping current and potential leaders enjoy ministerial success by mentoring future men, offering them and their churches a simple and flexible yet robust and relevant ministry to boys and young men.
Johnnie BarnesFounder & firstNational Commander
1962In January, Rev. Johnnie Barnes, the Assemblies of God youth director from the North Texas district, is invited by the Executive Presbytery to birth a new ministry for boys and young men. Rev. Charles Scott suggested the name Royal Rangers, and Johnnie Barnes is appointed as national commander.
1963The Royal Rangers Leadership Training Course is developed.
1964The first district-wide camps (then called Pow Wows) are held. The Gold Medal of Achievement, Royal Rangers highest achievement, and the Medal of Valor, awarded to men and boys who risk their own lives to save the life of another, are first offered.
1966Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship (then called a Fraternity) is formed, offering boys and young men the opportunity to relive America’s frontier past. The first Royal Rangers week is held in October to spotlight the Royal Rangers ministry and honor its members in churches across the nation.
1968The first National Training Camps for Royal Rangers leaders are held in the states of California, Colorado, Missouri, and New York.
1974The first National Camporama, a camping extravaganza that now attracts thousands of boys every four years, is first held at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
1977The National Royal Rangers Council is formed and meets in Springfield, Missouri. To this day organizational leaders continue to gather annually for instruction, fellowship, and inspiration.
1986The National Royal Rangers Training Center near Eagle Rock, Missouri, is dedicated. The 1,400-acre center is often referred to as Camp Eagle Rock.
1989Beloved founder, Johnnie Barnes, dies after leading the ministry from its inception for twenty-seven years. Rev. Ken Hunt is named national commander, and he guides the ministry skillfully for ten years.
1999Rev. Richard Mariott is appointed national commander, and he ably guides the ministry for eight years.
2002Royal Rangers International is started to establish, strengthen, and serve Royal Rangers development around the world. Today, Royal Rangers is active in over 70 nations.
2007Rev. Doug Marsh is appointed national director. His vision is to “Take Royal Rangers to the iPod® Generation” by helping current and potential leaders enjoy ministerial success by mentoring future men, offering them and their churches a simple and flexible yet robust and relevant ministry to boys and young men.
Our Mentoring MISSION
Royal Rangers is America's premier, most sought after mentoring ministry for next generation men!
Today's boy is tomorrow's man. The best time to train a man is while he's still a boy. By mobilizing, inspiring, and resourcing mentors, Royal Rangers offers character and servant leadership education to boys and young men (K-12) in a highly relational, fun, and interactive environment.
Influence more, more effectively! That is our vision. In 1962, Royal Rangers started with only a few boys. Today, thanks to the innovation and devotion of our mentors "to influence more boys and young men than ever, more effectively than ever," Royal Rangers' influence continues to expand, shaping future generations one boy at a time.
Royal Rangers exists to "evangelize, equip, and empower the next generation of Christlike men and lifelong servant leaders." This is our passion!
Mentoring future men with God's Word as our guide is our aim.
Our Mentoring METHODS
Boys will be boys! They are God-designed to be assertive, competitive, and energetic. Our experienced mentors provide needed guidance, discipline, and structure, using the methods described below.
Friendship
Our mentors are committed to insuring friendship charges our ministry atmosphere. Boys develop lifelong friends in Royal Rangers and meet wholesome men, who will affirm them and who they can look up to.
Activities
Royal Rangers is about hands-on adventure and side-by-side relationship building. It's how boys learn and relate best. Beyond the fun, boys discover they have what it takes to be men as they spend time with mentors outdoors, in the gym, at the computer, on the service project site, or on the stage. Boys are into the great outdoors, sports, technology, tools, and the arts. That is why Royal Rangers is into them!
Advancement System
In Royal Rangers, boys and young men are challenged to embark on an adventure that requires them to participate actively. It is a spiritual journey that will forge their character and maximize their leadership potential. To the uneducated eye, boys are just learning survival skills in the wilderness, playing sports, producing a music video, repairing the home of an elderly person, etc., but in the process, our mentors are intentional about laying biblical foundations of sexual expression, worldview, culture, manhood, and leadership. By awarding merit badges, boys are guided on a measurable, personal, and spiritual growth process. (They think they are just having fun, so let's keep that our secret!)
Interactive Learning
Personal development in Royal Rangers is all about hands-on fun and getting dirty! Boys learn by hearing, seeing, doing, and when appropriate, teaching others. It's learning by doing.
Uniforms
Boys want to belong! Royal Rangers gives young men who want to band together to serve Christ wholeheartedly that place of belonging and an image and identity of which to be proud.
Patrol System
Young men want to influence and try their wings. Guys-only small groups allow boys to have fun together, share responsibility for leadership, learn teamwork, and grow spiritually.
Service
"It's not all about me!" This is a lesson boys learn in Royal Rangers. Meaningful opportunities are provided for young men to move beyond themselves to help others, instilling attitudes and behaviors of lifelong servants.
Our MENTORS and Curriculum
Royal Rangers' success is attributable to its dedicated mentors, called commanders or group leaders, who forge boys and young men (K-12) into exceptional men and lifelong servant leaders.
Their Leadership
Royal Rangers commanders lead the following groups that churches may sponsor to evangelize, equip, and empower the next generation of Christlike men and lifelong servant leaders:
· Ranger Kids- Lower elementary (K-2)
· Discovery Rangers- Upper elementary (3-5)
· Adventure Rangers- Middle school (6-8)
· Expedition Rangers-High school (9-12)
Their Curriculum
Mentors are equipped with easy to use world-class resources-weekly meeting guides and activity-based lessons-that inspire and enable them to lead skillfully boys and young men on an unforgettable journey, culminating in many attaining their groups' top recognition.
· Ranger Kids-Gold Trail Award
· Discovery Rangers-Gold Eagle
· Adventure Rangers-Gold Medal of Achievement
· Expedition Rangers-Activities, Service, Leadership, or Advancement medals
· Honor Gold Medal of Achievement-for young men who earn the top medal in all four groups! (starting in 2010)
Adult Leader Training
Church leadership believes that well trained leaders are the key to any ministry's success. Pastors understand that a trained volunteer is much more likely to commit their time and can be counted on to show up every week. For these reason, and others, the Royal Rangers program places a high priority on leader training.
The fundamental goal of training is to inspire, mobilize, and resource leaders to empower them to achieve their greatest success and effectiveness. Royal Rangers training is based on three core values:
· Spiritual Development. All classroom and event-based leadership training will have a spiritual emphasis.
· Ranger Skills Development. Training will focus on the seven methods Royal Rangers use to minister to boys. Ranger skills are a key component of this success.
· Leadership Development. Leadership development will be key as Royal Rangers moves to become a boy led, adult facilitated ministry.
It takes a leader to mentor new leaders. Training will help Royal Rangers strengthen its leadership core.
