National Rangers Ministry Camp- An Empowering Training Event
By Jay M. Woodward
NNED Publications Coordinator
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Over the past couple of years, the Royal Rangers ministry has been undergoing major changes, including the training of its leaders. One of these training changes is the new National Rangers Ministry Camp (NRMC), which has replaced National Training Camp (NTC). I was fortunate to be able to attend NRMC at Camp Roosevelt in Woodstown, New Jersey, the weekend of September 9-11, 2011, alongside 63 other Ranger leaders from across the Northeast Region.
NRMC is an entirely new camp with new training methods that feature a variety of methods to develop mentoring relationships with boys, including arts and crafts, technology, archery, BB gun shooting, team-building activities, trade skills, and basic camping skills. As trainees, we got to see firsthand the direction the Rangers ministry is headed in. During the camp, we worked alongside each other in patrols, working together to achieve our goals and using our own individual strengths. The Staff, led by Regional Coordinator Dwight Walters, exemplified servant leadership and showed us how a boy-led, adult-facilitated ministry is meant to work. In addition to songs, skits, and yells, trainees were also shown new methods of demonstrating patrol spirit, including human videos, which are used in youth group presentations, and have a powerful impact on their audience!
There were also classroom sessions dealing with the different methods of mentoring and building friendships with boys. These sessions were anything but boring! Subjects discussed were accompanied by clips from such films as Gladiator and Braveheart, among others. Most importantly was the spiritual emphasis, as several sessions were devoted to the theme of Biblical manhood, of being set apart for a life of holy discipline, and to Live the Adventure, Defend the Beauty, and Pursue the Cause. These spiritual sessions were presented by National Training Coordinator Steve Schultz, who truly inspired the men to become the men that God has called them to become, love and defend their wives, and live fully the calling that God has placed on their lives. The evening services were amazing times of drawing nearer to our Heavenly Father. This is absolutely crucial if we are to mentor boys for Christ.
On Sunday, there was a special video presentation in remembrance of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and trainees were given their NRMC patches, certificates, and a special commemorative coin inscribed with the words, “I am set apart for a life of holy discipline”, from1 Samuel 1:13(The Message), as a reminder of God’s calling on their lives. Leaders went home newly empowered by the Holy Spirit to make an impact on their churches, Outposts and their families. It is only fitting that the NRMC patch carries a flame with the words, “empowered servant.” NRMC is an event that leaders must personally experience for themselves, especially if they want to become the effective spiritual men that God has called us all to become.
I would like to personally encourage all NNED Ranger leaders to make every effort to attend NRMC at the next available opportunity. Even if you have already attended NTC, there is more to be learned, and more that God has in store for you! NRMC is a life-changing experience, and you will see the Royal Rangers ministry-and your life- in a whole new way!
