Royal Ambassadors Basic Training M. Steve Heartsill, managing editor, RAs/Challengers

Basic Royal Ambassadors Information  SBC church-sponsored and supported  started by WMU in 1908 as a missions education organization for boys  involves over 2½ million boys and leaders

Basic Royal Ambassadors Information  has maintained its missions focus under four national entities: WMU, Brotherhood Commission, HMB, NAMB  focus is missions learning and action  five organizational components: +Chapter Meetings +Individual Achievement +Interest Activities + Missions Projects/Activities +Meaningful Relationships

Foundation of Royal Ambassadors  RA Motto: “We are Ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20 HCSB).  The RA Pledge makes the motto come alive in the daily lives of boys and leaders.  RA biblical virtues: Ten specific biblical virtues that strengthen the motto and the pledge. One virtue is highlighted each month.

Royal Ambassador Pledge As a Royal Ambassador I will do my best: to become a well-informed, responsible follower of Christ; to have a Christlike concern for all people; to learn how to carry the message of Christ around the world; to work with others in sharing Christ; and to keep myself clean and healthy in mind and body.

Royal Ambassador Biblical Virtues  Loyalty  Friendship  Courage  Responsibility  Honesty  Faith  Compassion  Perseverance  Teamwork  Self- discipline

Royal Ambassador Groupings  Royal Ambassadors (Grades 1-6)  Lads (Grades 1-3)  Crusaders (Grades 4-6)

Royal Ambassador Groupings Individual grade  Lad 1 RAs  Lad 2 RAs  Lad 3 RAs  Multiple grade combinations  Page 4 RAs  Squire 5 RAs  Knight 6 RAs

RA Organizational Components  weekly chapter meetings  personal achievement plan  monthly missions projects/activities  weekly interest activities  ongoing meaningful relationships

Weekly Chapter Meetings...  allow for leaders and boys to practice the RA Motto, Pledge, and virtues through activity- based learning and achieving.  give Christian men an opportunity to become leaders and mentors to boys by showing how faith in Christ is shared and lived.  show how Southern Baptists involve themselves in the Great Commission.

Weekly Chapter Meetings Leader Resources:  a bimonthly RA Leader magazine  a bimonthly RA Leader Kit  resources gathered and ordered as suggested in RA Leader magazine  leader edition includes suggestions for each meeting part

Weekly Chapter Meetings Other resource information provided in the leader magazine:  missions project suggestions  interest activity ideas  Bible verse supporting the theme

Weekly Chapter Meetings Other resource information provided in the leader magazine:  information for gathering or ordering resources to use during meetings  instructions incorporating RA Leader Kit items  elective suggestion

Weekly Chapter Meetings The boy’s study resource  bi-monthly student magazine: RA World for boys in grades 1–6

Weekly Chapter Meetings Student magazine resources include  mission stories  interest activities  photos/jokes/submissions from other RAs around country

Weekly Chapter Meetings Student magazine resources include  missionary kid (MK) information  ideas shared by RA chapters

Weekly Chapter Meetings Leaders and boys gather in a four-part weekly meeting format that includes an opening, a story, missions activities, and a closing.

RA Trek (Individual Achievement Plan) RA Trek inspires RAs along their path of spiritual growth and missions education. RA Trek helps boys in grades 1-6 personalize and reinforce the missions concepts they learn during their regular RA chapter meetings.

RA Trek (Individual Achievement Plan) This optional individual achievement plan provides leaders with individual, age- appropriate Treks for Lads and Crusaders, over 120 suggested activities for your RAs, useful forms, award information, and much more!

RA Trek (Individual Achievement Plan) Leaders may purchase the following items to support RA Trek in their church: RA Trek Leader Guide RA Trek Member Log (1-3) RA Trek Member Log (4-6)

RA Trek (Individual Achievement Plan) Leaders may purchase the following items to support RA Trek in their church: Jr. Ambassador Patch (Grades 1-3) Trek 1 (Chevron) Trek 2 (Chevron) Trek 3 (Chevron)

RA Trek (Individual Achievement Plan) Leaders may purchase the following items to support RA Trek in their church: Ambassador Patch (Grades 4-6) Trek 4 (Chevron) Trek 5 (Chevron) Trek 6 (Chevron)

Royal Ambassador Advancement  Each boy can earn achievement awards through a commitment to be involved with the organization.  This commitment includes two preliminary requirements: memorizing the Royal Ambassador Motto memorizing the Royal Ambassador Pledge  Upon completion, the boy earns the membership pin and/or patch to wear on a vest or other apparel.

Royal Ambassador Advancement Membership Requirements  Learn and recite the Royal Ambassador Motto.  Learn and recite the Royal Ambassador Pledge.  Participate in a new-member ceremony to receive the member pin/patch.

Royal Ambassador Advancement Grade-Level Advancement Pin/Patch Requirements:  Read or listen to 12 missionary stories from the bimonthly RA World magazine, and/or listen to missionary testimonies.  Memorize and recite 12 Bible verses.  Participate in 12 missions projects/activities.

Royal Ambassador Advancement Grade-Level Advancement Bar and Star  Each set of 12 additional tasks from any of above three areas earns first a bar and then stars. (A bar will hold up to three stars.)

Royal Ambassador Advancement Boys may earn awards in Bible verse memory:  three Bible memory medals (25 verses per medal annually) Bronze (25) Silver (50) Gold (75)

Royal Ambassador Advancement Elective Awards  Personal Fitness: Physical Fitness Patch (formerly athletic patch)  Campcraft: Skill level advancement for grades 1–3 (Discover 1, 2, & 3) for grades 4–6 (Hiker, Camper, & Woodsman)  Bible Telling Certificate

Royal Ambassador Advancement Elective Awards  RA Racers, RA Campout, Sports  Hunger Relief, World Walk, Mission Activity  Mission Study: NAMB and IMB Emphasis

Missions Projects and Activities  monthly ideas in RA Leader  churchwide projects  family projects  associational, state, and national projects

Missions Projects and Activities  Boys and leaders help plan, promote, and participate.  Include a report with pictures to the church and the national RA leadership at WMU.

Interest Activities  Suggestions are in RA Leader magazine.  Focus on boy appeal.  Learning to use teamwork and tools to accomplish a goal.

Interest Activities  Teaches listening, problem solving, patience, and skill development—more than just winning or losing.  Blends active and passive learning.

Interest Activities  Begin with things in which you, as leader, have interest or experience.  Build activity around the mission story, the RA Pledge, and the ten virtues.

Interest Activities  Some boys have little or no skill in some areas. Begin with instructions that are simple and basic.  Praise effort as well as achievement.  Have the necessary tools or resources, including additional leaders.

Meaningful Relationships  Be available.  Lead the boys with love and respect.  Be a leader, mentor, and friend—not a pal or buddy.

Meaningful Relationships  Communicate with parents and encourage participation.  Communicate with each boy during and beyond the meeting.  Learn how to share the gospel in a loving and receptive way.

Meaningful Relationships  Involve the church family with the boys.  Have recognitions of boys in front of the church family.  Participate with other RA churches in associational, state, and national events.

Meaningful Relationships  Advocate for Royal Ambassadors.  Participate in training within your state convention or association.

Registering your RA Chapter Developing your RA Network:  National RA Web site (wmu.com/RA)  Facebook (Facebook.com/RoyalAmbassador)  Twitter (Twitter.com/RA_WMU)  Written registration form (download from the RA website)

Registering your RA Chapter Developing your RA Network:  Name your chapter after a missionary or someone who exemplifies the RA Pledge.  This registration will be the communication link between you and your state RA office.

Network Information  wmu.org (Woman’s Missionary Union)  wmu.com/RA (RA leader downloads, videos, and MUCH more!)  Facebook: Facebook.com/RoyalAmbassador  Twitter: RA_wmu

Network Information  lifewaystores.com/specialtyimprints (vests, flag, shirts, caps, pens, imprinted items, etc.)  royalracers.com (RA racer cars, sailboats, linegliders, and race- car tracks)  WMU Customer Service (pins, patches, magazines, resource kit)

Questions ??? M. Steve Heartsill at or (205) or your state RA contact person

Royal Ambassadors Thank you for attending. May God bless you and your Royal Ambassadors this year!